Estate Planning

Planning your estate is one of the most important decisions you will ever make for your family. It deserves more than a stack of template documents.

At Bertholomey Law, I approach estate planning as something deeper than a legal transaction. It's a conversation about your life, your values, and the legacy you want to leave behind.   Our goal will be to ensure the people you love are cared for on your terms - your children raised by the right people, your assets protected, nothing left to chance or to a court to decide.

That conversation takes time, attention, and a willingness to truly understand your family. It's not something that can be reduced to a form or rushed through an intake process. Every family is different, and your plan should reflect that.

A great estate plan isn't just about getting it right the first time, it's about keeping it right. Life changes. Families grow. Assets shift. Laws evolve. What made sense for your family five years ago may not serve you as well today. At Bertholomey Law, my goal is to be more involved than a lawyer you hire once and never hear from again. I see myself as your family's attorney, a long-term partner who stays engaged, checks in, and makes sure your plan grows with you.

That commitment to ongoing client service is at the core of everything I do.  My background working with professional athletes, clients who expected excellence and accessibility at all times, shaped a standard I bring to every family I serve.  You deserve an attorney who is proactive, responsive, and invested in your family's future for the long haul.

Protecting your assets and the people you love isn't a one-time event. It's an ongoing responsibility and one I take seriously.

Services

We will build your plan to be specifically tailored to your family’s unique circumstances. Estate planning services include:

  • A properly drafted will ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes and designates who will care for your children if you are no longer able to. Without one, those decisions are left to the courts.

  • Trusts offer a powerful layer of control and protection beyond a will, allowing you to manage how and when assets are distributed, minimize estate taxes, avoid the delays and costs of probate, and protect your family’s financial future with precision.

  • Life doesn’t always give warning. A power of attorney designates someone you trust to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so, ensuring your affairs are managed without interruption or court intervention.

  • Also known as a living will, an advanced healthcare directive puts your medical wishes in writing so that your family and healthcare providers know exactly how to honor them, relieving your loved ones of an incredibly difficult burden during an already painful time.

  • For parents, this may be the most important document in any estate plan. A detailed guardian designation goes beyond simply naming a caregiver, it speaks to your values, your parenting philosophy, and the environment in which you want your children raised. This is a fundamental document for any couple or individual with minor children.