Johnson Dowe Brown Barbarotta

Almost everyone has an "estate".
An "estate" is the property a person owns and controls.
Estate planning concerns the management and distribution of that property when the owner is no longer able to do so.
This is most often at the time of the owner's death but can be before death if the owner becomes incapable.
A good estate plan addresses distribution and management of the owner's property in both circumstances.
Although not concerned with property, most estate plans also include some provision dealing with medical matters.

We have heard clients and children of clients tell us that documents we have drafted to provide for disability have been extremely helpful to them in troubled times.
These documents are intended to assist your family at a time when you are unable to give direction and counsel.
They are drafted and signed when you are fully competent and they empower persons you select to make decisions on future issues you cannot foresee at the time of signing.
Powers of Attorney.
You probably have someone you trust fully to act in your best interest and would want that person to act for you in the event you become incapable of managing your affairs.

If you die without an estate plan in place, what happens?
Your beneficiary designations and survivorship rights in jointly held property will often determine who receives some of your property at your death.
Property you own individually at the time of your death will first be used to pay your bills and then distributed in accordance with the state of Connecticut default plan (intestate succession) if you are domiciled in Connecticut at the time of your death.
If you are domiciled in another state at the time of your death, that state has an intestate succession law which may differ from Connecticut's.

Probate assets require an appropriate court to intervene before your beneficiaries receive your assets.
The court must determine that the document offered as your will is, in fact, your valid last will and must supervise the process of settling your estate in accordance with your will.
If you do not have a will, the court must appoint an administrator to settle your estate and then must supervise the process in accordance with state statutes.
The appropriate court is usually the probate court for the district in which you are domiciled at the time of your death.

The administration of an estate involves the management and distribution of a decedent's assets remaining after all final debts, taxes and expenses have been paid.
During the estate administration process, we assist the Court appointed fiduciary by providing counsel in connection with the collection, valuation and disposition of the decedent's assets.
Administration of an estate typically involves the preparation and filing of probate documents, attendance at hearings, evaluation of claims, post- mortem tax planning, accounting, and preparation and filing of federal and state individual and fiduciary income and estate tax returns.