Wills & Trusts
Wills and trusts are legal tools that can work together within an estate plan. Each serves a distinct purpose in documenting your wishes, naming who will act, and directing how property will be managed or distributed.
Wills
Seneca Law helps clients prepare and update wills that put their wishes in writing and identify the people responsible for carrying them out after death.
A will allows you to name beneficiaries, select a personal representative, direct how property should be distributed, and state your wishes regarding guardianship for minor children and other important matters.
Without a will, state law may determine who receives your property, and your choices for handling important responsibilities may not be documented.
Wills services may include:
- Last wills and testaments
- Updates and revisions
- Personal representative appointments
- Guardianship provisions
- Coordination with beneficiary designations and other planning documents
Trusts
Seneca Law helps clients create and update trusts that provide a structure for managing property during life, after death, or both.
A revocable living trust can identify who will manage property if you become unable to do so and direct how trust property will pass after death. When assets are properly transferred to the trust, they generally do not pass through probate.
Other trusts may be created for goals such as supporting a person with disabilities, providing for younger beneficiaries, charitable giving, or long-term family planning.
Trust services may include:
- Revocable living trusts
- Trusts for family wealth transfer
- Supplemental or special needs trusts
- Trust updates and revisions
- Coordination with wills, beneficiary designations, and other planning documents