Colorado Springs Estate Planning, Probate, & Guardianships / Conservatorships
Serving Colorado Springs and Surrounding Areas
Colorado Springs Estate Planning
Having a solid estate plan in place is essential, regardless of your age or the value of your assets. It is especially imperative if you have young children or children with special needs. Our Colorado Springs Estate Planning attorney will make the process of preparing for death and disability as straightforward and smooth as possible, and our hope is that you will leave our office with a huge sense of relief.
Make an Estate Planning Appointment.
The first step in the process is to book a complimentary estate planning consultation. We are available to take your call Monday through Friday, 9:00-5:00. The scheduling process takes less than five minutes. You can also set up an appointment by via email.
Preparing for your Estate Planning Consultation.
Once you have your appointment scheduled, you will need to fill out our confidential estate planning questionnaire and bring it with you to the appointment. If you have any old estate planning documents in place, please bring those to the consultation, as well. Should you need to bring your children to the appointment, they are more than welcome.
Initial Estate Planing Consultation.
The initial consultation will take about an hour. Our office is conveniently located in northern Colorado Springs near I25 and North Gate Blvd. When you enter the building, our office is directly ahead on the main floor. If you cannot meet in person, we will arrange a virtual appointment for you. During the consultation, you will meet with an experienced estate planning attorney and have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss your concerns. We’ll use the consultation to develop a plan moving forward, which may include Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and Living Wills.
Signing Your Estate Planning Documents.
After the consultation, the attorney will draft your documents and send them to you to review. You will then return to our office to sign the documents. The time between the consultation and signing appointment is usually about four weeks. At the signing appointment, the attorney will review all your documents with you in detail and make any last-minute changes. We will also discuss any remaining action items and give you instructions on where to store your documents and who to give copies to. After the signing is complete, you will leave our office with originals and copies of all your documents.
Keeping Your Estate Plan Up to Date
At Goines Law, we do not charge an annual maintenance fee for your estate plan. If you have questions or changes over the years, we will be available to assist you on an as-needed basis. We recommend that you touch base with us every 5-10 years, or if there are any major changes in your family situation or estate plan.
We know that the estate planning process can be emotionally difficult, but we make every effort to make it logistically easy. By making these decisions during your lifetime, you are often able to minimize conflict, uncertainty, probate expenses, and taxes at your death. The peace of mind you and your family will feel when you complete the estate planning process will be invaluable. Call our office to get started today.
Colorado Springs Probate
Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult, overwhelming experiences in life. Though we cannot take the pain away, at Goines Law, we will help you through the Probate process with gentleness, compassion, and understanding.
If you have lost a loved one, please call us. We will set up a complimentary consultation, either in person or virtually, so you can discuss the situation with an experienced probate attorney.
Is Probate Necessary?
One of the goals of our complimentary consultation is to determine whether probate is necessary. In many cases, it is not. However, if we determine that the estate will require probate, we will discuss the process in detail and gather the necessary information to open probate with the Court.
How Does Probate Work?
Probate can be a scary word, and it is one that is often misunderstood. The goal of probate is to distribute a decedent's probate assets at death. During the process, the Probate Court will appoint a Personal Representative to gather the decedent's assets, pay any valid creditor's claims, and distribute the remaining property according to the terms of the decedent's Will, or if there was no Will, according to the laws of intestate succession.
We understand that the Probate process can seem complicated and emotional. With an experienced Colorado Springs probate attorney by your side, it doesn’t have to be. We will be with you every step of the way.
Guardianships / conservatorships
Preparing for incapacity is a very important part of the estate planning process, and our firm will help you put the appropriate documents in place to avoid the need for a guardian or conservator, if at all possible. However, even with a solid estate plan, there are times when a guardian or conservator must be appointed for a minor child or incapacitated person. Our firm handles the required paperwork and procedures to have a guardian or conservator appointed when the circumstances call for one.
Special Needs Planning
At Goines Law, we understand that special needs parenting requires an extra level of courage, patience, and planning for the future. Parents of special needs children are often fearful about what the future looks like for their child, particularly when the child becomes an adult. Our firm helps special needs families put the appropriate estate planning documents in place to help ensure these precious children are provided for throughout their lifetimes, without losing access to public benefits. In addition, we will walk your family through the guardianship process when your child turns eighteen, so you, as their parent, are able to continue to adequately care for and make decisions for them as they enter into adulthood. Our goal is to ease your concerns with care and compassion, while helping you navigate through this often difficult season of life.
