Estate planning is the process of arranging for the management of an individual’s estate throughout their life and after their death. It can be as simple as creating a Power of Attorney document for health care or finances — which only assist a person while living, to more complex planning of Wills and Trusts. The latter, along with beneficiary designations, are tools for assuring a person’s assets are distributed according to their wishes after death.

While chatting with Attorney Anthony J. Schmoldt of Schmoldt Law Office, LLC and his office manager, Grace Schmoldt, we learned what their team does to support people during the estate planning process — including peace of mind. Anthony and his team ensure clients’ legacies and wishes are honored, while adapting to life’s changes.

“Everyone has a passion for something,” Anthony said. “(We) figure out what a client’s goals and desires are and implement them into an estate plan, leaving a legacy that fulfills their purpose.”

Crafting your estate plan is a highly personalized process. Schmoldt Law tailors estate plans to individual and family needs and prioritizes each client’s unique story.

Anthony sits down with clients to discuss details of their lives and how these would potentially match a customized estate plan. More times than not, these consultations are brought to life by personal experiences — chatting about family, hobbies, and activities in order to dig deeper than a generic legal document.

Whether you are purchasing a home, getting married, navigating the nuances of aging, or considering the future well-being of your children and grandchildren, it’s important to be prepared.

“Plans need to have the ability to flex and should be reviewed on a regular basis as many life events could result in changes being warranted,” Anthony said.

With intention and care, Anthony and his team guide clients through the process of planning, with a focus on education and building trustworthy relationships.

Schmoldt Law provides general estate planning definitions — breaking down the complexities of different types of Power of Attorney documents, unique Will structures, and purposes of Revocable Trusts and Irrevocable Trusts — to ensure clients are creating a plan they understand.

All too often, clients think of contacting a law office during or after an emergency — such as a hospital stay or a serious diagnosis — when it’s often too late for thoughtful planning. “It’s better to have a plan and amend it than to not have a plan and be in a crisis,” Anthony said.

The Schmoldt Law Office team encourages clients old and new to review their estate plans every two to three years. The office offers consultations to curious clients who think they are in need of updates to their existing plans or are beginning the journey for the first time.

Many may not realize, when a person fails to prepare a personalized estate plan, the State has specific provisions that will kick in. Those provisions are standardized and require court involvement, typically with greater expenses to the family. Having a personalized plan can give you the control to choose who will make decisions on your behalf if and when you are unable to do so yourself, and lay out who you may want managing your affairs and distributing your assets after you pass away.

In the end, it is clear Schmoldt Law Office is not just a cookie-cutter process for completing an estate plan but rather a way to design a personalized plan, leaving a legacy while eliminating governmental involvement. “(We are here) to help each person understand and clarify their goals and desires, ensuring that they have a plan that will work in the best way possible,” Grace said.

To schedule a consultation with Schmoldt Law Office, visit their website schmoldtlawoffice.com or call (715) 726-3070.

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