Personal Matters

 

Estate Planning

 

 

 

 

 

"Beginning your Estate Plan is a painless, but necessary process

that can be made easier with the proper help."

 

 

As you think about your future and the future of your family, let Eskridge & Eskridge help you make sure that your needs are met and your wishes are carried out. At Eskridge & Eskridge we will work with you to design an Estate Plan that accomplishes your short and long term goals. Attorneys Reginald and Janelle Eskridge offer private, personalized and confidential care. We often meet with Clients in their home and we will meet with you in your home should you desire. We even make hospital calls! We handle each case personally and you will always be able to reach us to ask questions or to discuss your concerns. “We'll Take Care Of You.”

 

Many people feel they do not need an Estate Plan. They mistaken feel that Estate Plans are only for the wealthy. Nothing could be further from the truth. Whether you are a retired school teacher, factory worker, doctor, lawyer, civil service worker, minimum wage employee, no matter what you do or have done for a living, you do have a family and if you do not specify what you want to happen with your property now and in the future, the government will decide for you. Countless family homes, homes that people have worked their whole lives to pay for, have been lost when family members pass away, because of a failure to plan.

 

At Eskridge & Eskridge we have helped many of our clients get their affairs in order. We will guide you through the process of planning for your future long term needs and the needs of your family and loved ones. A complete Estate Plan includes several components and although each Estate Plan will be different, at a minimum, we recommend the following:

 

 

 

Last Will and Testament

 

 

 

 

"Your Last Will and Testament can accomplish several objectives."

 

A Will is a legal document by which you instruct what is to be done with your property after your death. It must be properly signed and properly witnessed. Any person who is of sound mind and is eighteen (18) years of age may make a will in Tennessee.

 

 

Eskridge & Eskridge can assist you in drafting your Last Will and Testament, the document which allows you to designate:

 

•	Your Wishes for the Distribution of Your Property
•	Who will receive your property
•	Special gifts to friends
•	Donations to your Church or special Charity
•	How you wish to provide for the future of your children and grandchildren
•	Who will raise your children if you die while they’re still minors, and your spouse is unavailable to care for them
•	Whether your Beneficiaries receive their inheritance outright or in a trust
•	Who will distribute your estate to your beneficiaries

 

 

 

Durable Power of Attorney

 

 

 

"Who will handle your business affairs if you are not physically or mentally able to do so? A Durable Power of Attorney will answer that question."

 

 

A Durable Power is a document in which you authorize another person, who is called your agent or attorney in fact, to act for you. In the Power of Attorney document you give your agent the right to transact business on your behalf. The agent my sign your checks, pay your bills, sign legal documents, even sell real property. Your agent can handle all matters that you normally would.

 

At Eskridge & Eskridge, we believe that making the decision to execute a Durable Power of Attorney is one of the wisest steps our clients can take in completing their Estate Plan. This document can save you and your estate thousands of dollars should the need arise that you become incapacitated by illness, accident or disease and are unable to handle your affairs and require a Conservatorship. (See our section on Conservatorship for more information)

 

In selecting a person to have your Power of Attorney, it is important to select someone that you trust completely. A durable power of attorney can take effect in one of two ways. If you wish, it can take effect immediately. Or you can provide that before the durable power of attorney takes effect, two physicians must state, in writing, that you are incapable of handling your affairs. The latter is called a “springing” durable power of attorney. During your personalized consultation with us we will explain every aspect of this document and discuss in detail with you and why we at Eskridge & Eskridge feel the Durable Power of Attorney document is one of the most essential elements of a complete Estate Plan.

 

A Durable Power of Attorney ends at your death. Your agent retains no further authority to handle your finances. If you want your agent to settle your financial affairs after you die, you need to name that person as your personal representative in your will.

 

 

 

Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare

 

 

 

"We must all consider the possibility that healthcare decisions may need to made in the event of our inability to make them on our own."

 

 

A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care gives your agent the authority to make health-care decisions for you when you are unable to make them yourself. This is a very important responsibility, so, just as selecting a person to serve as your attorney or agent in your Durable Power of Attorney, make sure you trust the judgment of the person you select. Be sure you discuss your health-care preferences with your agent, so he or she knows what you would want to happen with your medical care if you are unable to voice your opinion at the time of your illness. Your Living Will can also make your wishes known concerning medical decisions near end of life.

 

 

 

Living Will

 

Health Care Directive

 

 

 

 

"Take the burden of making end of life decisions away from your loved ones and make your true wishes known."

 

 

A Living Will, sometimes referred to as a Health Care Directive, is a separate legal document, not a part of your will. A Living Will, allows you to state in writing your preferences about life-prolonging medical treatment, taking this burden away from family members who often are not emotionally able to make such life and death decisions. We at Eskridge & Eskridge can explain in detail the purpose of this document. “We'll Take Care Of You.”

 

In a Living Will, you can advise all parties concerned whether you wish medical professionals to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining procedures or food and water – if you are in an incurable condition, or you’re near death.

 

Your Living Will takes effect only when you become incapacitated, cannot speak for yourself, and there’s no hope for your recovery.

 

 

 

 

 

Peace of Mind

 

 

 

 

"Completing your Estate Plan can bring you peace of mind, knowing that your wishes will be carried out."

 

 

You can breathe a sigh of relief when you have done the proper estate planning. And with the help of Eskridge & Eskridge this process is painless. If prepared in time, a proper Estate Plan can save your estate potentially thousands of dollars by avoiding court intervention should you become incapacitated. Call our attorneys at Eskridge & Eskridge, remember for all of your Estate Planning needs, "We'll Take Care Of You."

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

 

Should you desire additional information concerning our firm and the firm's practice areas, contact us today to be added to our mailing list and and to request our brochure entitled, "Wills" and our firm's Personal Care Brochure. You can now sign up to receive our upcoming Quarterly Personal Newsletter.

 

 

Contact Eskridge & Eskridge

Contact us to discuss your Estate Plan with our experienced attorneys. You can reach us several ways, you may contact us via telephone by calling our offices on (901) 522-9600, or if you are out of the local calling area you may call us toll-free on (800) 881-5574, or e-mail us here at info@eskridgefirm.com, or simply use our convenient online form. We make Home and Hospital calls.

 

 

We will gladly speak with you by the end of the day.

 

 

 

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