Our Tools
Estate planning isn't one-size-fits-all, and there are several tools that can work together to fit your family's needs. A Will or Living Revocable Trust says who receives your property and who will be in charge of handling it. Powers of attorney let you choose someone you trust to make financial and medical decisions if you can't. For families planning ahead for long-term care, a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust can help preserve assets for the next generation. The right mix depends on your goals, and Emily will walk you through each option so you can choose what fits you best.
A Last Will and Testament is essentially an instruction to the court. It says who receives your property after you die and who will be in charge of handling it (your Executor). A Will doesn't take effect until your death. At that point, your Executor will go through the probate process with the court to obtain authority to act on your behalf and distribute your property the way your Will directs.
Last Will & Testament
A General Durable Power of Attorney lets you choose someone you trust, called your "agent," to manage your money and property on your behalf. Your agent can pay bills, handle bank accounts, file taxes, and manage real estate or other property. Because it's set up ahead of time, your family won't need to go to court to get that authority if something happens.
General Durable Power of Attorney
A Healthcare Power of Attorney with Advance Directive lets you choose someone you trust, called your "agent," to make medical decisions for you if you can't make them yourself. Your agent can talk with your doctors, review your medical information, and make choices about your care. The advance directive portion lets you put your wishes in writing, such as whether you'd want life support or other treatments at the end of life. Together, they help make sure your voice is heard and take the guesswork off your loved ones during a difficult time.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
A Living Revocable Trust is a document that holds your property while you're alive and says who receives it after you pass away. You can serve as your own trustee, so you stay in full control of your assets, and you can change or cancel the trust at any time. If you become unable to manage things or pass away, the person you've chosen, called your "successor trustee," steps in to handle your property according to your instructions. Because property placed in the trust isn't in your name individually, it can pass to your loved ones privately and without going through probate.
Living Revocable Trust
Medicaid Asset Protection Trust
A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust is a way to plan ahead for the cost of long-term care, like a nursing home. You move certain assets, such as your home, into the trust, and someone you trust manages them for you. After five years, those assets generally won't count against you if you apply for Medicaid (TennCare). You can't change the trust or take the assets back, but for many families, it's a meaningful way to help preserve what they've worked so hard for and leave a lasting legacy for the people they love.
Special Needs Trust
A special needs trust lets you leave money to a loved one with special needs without risking their government benefits, like SSI or Medicaid. Someone you trust manages the money and uses it for extras benefits don’t cover, like therapies, education, travel, or home updates. When it’s set up as part of your plan, anything left over stays with your family, not the government.
Probate & Estate Administration
Probate is the court process that takes place after someone passes away with property in their name. The court confirms the Will (if there is one), officially appoints the Executor or Administrator, and gives them the authority to act on the estate's behalf. Estate administration is the work that follows: gathering the person's property, paying debts and final bills, filing any required paperwork, and distributing what's left to the right people. Because the court oversees each step, the process comes with deadlines and requirements that can feel overwhelming during an already hard time, which is why many families choose to have an attorney guide them along the way.
Conservatorship
When a loved one can no longer make decisions or manage their money, and there’s no power of attorney in place, a conservatorship may be needed. This court process appoints someone to step in and care for them. We’ll guide your family through each step, so you can focus on your loved one.