Law Office of Kristina Z. Kisiel, Esq., PC

PEACE OF MIND PLANNING FOR NOW...AND THEN

Have you considered what will happen to your assets and your loved ones after you're gone?

ESTATE PLANNING is about organizing your affairs in preparation for the end of your life or if you should become incapacitated.  This type of planning helps determine who can make decisions on your behalf, who takes care of your dependents, and how to avoid unnecessary taxes and waiting periods.  Estate planning covers any decisions regarding money, property, medical care, dependent care, and other matters that can arise when a person becomes incapacitated or dies. Having a plan is also one of the greatest gifts you can give your family since it tells them what is where, who should deal with it, and how it should be handled.  Everyone needs an essential estate plan.

ADVANCED ESTATE PLANNING is necessary when your situation calls for more complex planning. Let me help you protect your legacy with these advanced strategies.  This area of practice focuses on the wealth transfer process, asset protection, and irrevocable trusts.  Together with your financial advisor, tax professional and insurance profession, we will use the tools available to minimize your potential tax liabilities and protect your assets.

PROBATE AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION is the process after you've gone. Losing a loved one is very hard; often just coping with the loss is as much as the family can handle.  At the same time, there is so much to do. Friends and relatives to contact. A funeral to arrange. Obituaries to write. Visitors to host.  And even after all that, the work isn’t over. The estate still needs to be settled, which is a heavy burden often involving the Probate Court.  The probate process is meant to help collect and inventory the assets of the estate, resolve creditor claims, make sure the wishes of the deceased are honored, and ultimately provide an orderly process for the distribution of assets either per the wishes of the deceased (if there is a Will) or by statute (if there is no Will).

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE SERVICES for those clients for whom there is no other clear responsible person likely able to do the work.  Choosing the responsible party to administer your estate or settle your trust after you’re gone is among the most important decisions anyone will make. This person will have responsibility to ensure your wishes are carried out. The most obvious (and common) choice is to name one’s spouse or life partner or a responsible adult child or relative. Sometimes a close friend can be a good choice as well.  But having a professional trustee, who is not and never will be a beneficiary, allows for discretionary decisions to be more fact based and less emotional and an independent fiduciary familiar with the estate plan and how it was intended to work enhances the likelihood that the decedent’s wishes will actually be carried out as intended. 

CLIENT MAINTENANCE PROGRAM is a subscription program that allows for us to establish a long-lasting relationship and ensure that we are taking a consistent approach to the client's long-term needs.  The relationship doesn't end with the signing of your documents! We will perform an annual review of the client's documents and assets to make certain that both conform to the client's goals, and account for any changing circumstances.

Law Office of Kristina Z. Kisiel, Esq., PC

CONTACT ME and let's get started with a free, initial consultation. We can meet at my office, in your home, or via Zoom.  To do my job right, I need to talk to you, get to know you, fully understand your circumstances--what you need, what you want, and what keeps you up at night. By building a solid relationship, I can give you the advice and guidance that are best for you and your family.