St. Louis Estate Planning & Administration

A carefully crafted estate plan will ease the burden on your loved ones by designating decision makers and carrying out your wishes with minimal administrative burden.

At Beckemeier LeMoine Law, our estate planning attorneys are experienced in developing personalized estate plans to fit every family’s needs. From drafting wills and trusts to more complex tax and asset planning, our team is ready to help you craft your legacy.

In addition to planning needs, after the death of a loved one our team can assist you and your family with trust administration and probate. We take the legal and administrative burden, so you can focus on the more personal demands related to the loss of a loved one.

If you find yourself in need of a litigator to represent you in a probate or trust litigation matter, we can help you navigate your way through the courts to achieve the best possible result.

If you are in need of an estate plan, have lost a loved one, or find yourself involved in probate or trust litigation, contact us today to schedule a consultation.

What Is Estate Planning?

Estate planning can come in many forms, depending on your age, family, and the nature and extent of your assets.  In addition to the distribution of property at death, there are decisions that might need to be made beforehand, in the event of incapacity.

At Beckemeier LeMoine Law, we are available to explore your needs and wishes to prepare all the documents needed to effectuate your estate planning goals:

• Revocable and irrevocable trusts
• Financial durable powers of attorney
• Health care powers of attorney
• Medical directives
• Wills
• Beneficiary deeds and other non-probate transfers

Our Estate Planning Services 

Estate planning requires thoughtful conversations about difficult topics. Together we can explore strategies to provide for your loved ones and craft your legacy.  There are a variety of possibilities:

• Asset protection planning
• Charitable trusts, foundations, and donor advised funds
• Family limited partnerships and business succession planning
• Life insurance trusts and gift planning
• Special needs trusts

Trusts

A trust allows you to gather your assets into one place to be distributed according to your wishes.  A revocable lifetime trust is often used as the cornerstone of an estate plan. Trusts can be used to protect assets from certain taxes and creditors, or to preserve assets for minor beneficiaries. A special needs trust can be used to provide for a beneficiary while protecting his or her eligibility for government benefits. 

Wills

A will ensures your individually owned assets are distributed according to your wishes.  That can be a distribution to your trust or directly to named beneficiaries. Without a will, property is distributed according to the probate code, which may or may not conform to your desires.

Powers of Attorney

In the event you become incapacitated, it is important to choose a trusted family member, friend, or professional to pay bills, make investment decisions, and continue your business and personal affairs. In addition, it is important to choose someone to make health care decisions for you and to give them some direction regarding your wishes.

Contact Us

At Beckemeier LeMoine Law, our team is available for a thoughtful discussion about your estate planning needs. Our goal is to match your wishes with effective legal vehicles to ensure that your wishes are carried out in the event of your death or incapacity.  We listen and then offer our clients options to guide you through the complexities of estate planning. We have the knowledge and experience to devise a strategy that responds to your wishes.

Are you ready to discuss your estate planning needs? At Beckemeier LeMoine Law, we have a rich history of experience and trusted counsel in helping our clients solve their legal problems.

If you need legal assistance, contact us or submit a consultation request to get started.