Hamden Estate Planning Lawyers Help Clients Create Legacies

Connecticut attorneys serving New Haven County protect assets and facilitate wealth transfers

The passing of a loved one is always difficult for a family, so while we are able, we should do everything in our power to lighten the burden on those we love. With smart, detailed estate planning, you can spare your loved ones the emotional turmoil that comes with dealing with conflicting opinions about what you would have wanted. The experienced attorneys at Gesmonde, Pietrosimone & Sgrignari, L.L.C. work with Connecticut residents to create legally enforceable documents such as wills, trusts and other instruments for managing and transferring wealth. Our goal is to give our clients and their loved ones the security they deserve. From offices in Hamden and East Haven, our firm can offer insightful advice on accomplishing your estate planning objectives.

What is estate planning?

Estate planning is the means by which individuals and couples can protect their wealth for their own retirement, prepare for the expenses of possible health infirmities and provide for a smooth transition of property to their heirs. This involves using a number of legal devices, such as:

• Wills — This document gives your directions for how your estate should be distributed upon your death. Our attorneys handle both wills and probate, so we know how to draft a precise and comprehensive will that can withstand challenges.
• Trusts — A revocable or irrevocable trust can fulfill a number of objectives in managing and transferring your property without having it go through probate. With wide experience in trusts and estates, our attorneys are adept at creating trusts that address our clients’ particular needs and concerns.
• Living wills and advance healthcare directives — These documents are used to give instructions regarding the medical attention you wish to be provided or withheld in extreme circumstances.
• Powers of attorney — These allow you to name a trusted person to act in your behalf to protect your health and welfare if you become disabled.

We are also experienced in elder law, which involves attending to the special health and financial needs of seniors. We design comprehensive plans to meet all potential circumstances our clients might face.

Firm offers comprehensive counsel on wills

With decades of experience as Connecticut estate planning and elder law attorneys, we are able to provide personalized guidance on each aspect of developing a proper will, including:

• Will drafting — We draft personalized documents that allocate your assets according to your wishes. No matter what your estate entails, we make sure that your directives are clear and complete and that your will is executed according to all legal requirements.
• Choosing an executor — The person you name as executor will be legally responsible for carrying out the instructions you set forth in your will. The executor should be trustworthy and be able to manage legal and financial details.
• Changing your will — It is wise to review your will and other estate planning documents periodically to ensure that they fit your changing situations and wishes. For example, you might have had a shift in your financial circumstances or family relationships. Our firm can answer any questions you might have and can implement any will revisions that may be warranted.

Having an effective will means that your intentions, rather than the state’s intestacy laws, will be followed when you pass away.

When will my beneficiaries’ inheritance be taxed?

Connecticut has a flat 12 percent estate tax. Starting in 2023, the Connecticut estate tax exemption will match the federal exemption of $12.92 million, so an estate will be taxed only if it meets or tops that amount. Prudent estate planning can get your estate’s value below the threshold, so it does not trigger either state or federal tax.

Dedicated firm handles guardianships and conservatorships

Parents of minor children should thoughtfully consider who should be legally responsible for raising their children in the event that they are orphaned. We take the time to assist with guardianship instructions that can be included with a will and other testamentary documents. Our firm also handles guardianship proceedings involving adults with intellectual disabilities — sometimes referred to as conservatorships. You can also establish a conservatorship for handling financial matters for that adult but not concerns relating to personal care.

Contact a thorough New Haven County estate planning attorney

Gesmonde, Pietrosimone & Sgrignari, L.L.C. in East Haven and Hamden advises Connecticut residents on wills, trusts and other methods of achieving their estate planning goals. To set up a consultation with an experienced lawyer, please call 203-745-0942 or contact us online.