Dedicated Estate Planning Lawyers in South Carolina
Experience Firm Serving Greenville, Easley and Pickens, SC
Without proper estate planning, your final wishes might not be honored and your loved ones could have trouble dealing with the probate process after you’ve passed on. At Acker Lambert Hinton P.A., our South Carolina attorneys assist individuals and families in the creation of comprehensive estate, asset protection, and long-term care plans that provide financial security, legal protection, and peace of mind. Regardless of the size of your estate or the complexity of your goals, we can prepare your will, establish a trust when one suits your needs and draft documents such as a health care power of attorney, durable power of attorney or a living will to protect your interests in the event of death, divorce or incapacitation. We are located in Pickens, but serve clients in Greenville, Easley and throughout South Carolina.
Drafting a will
Our established firm gives clients the personalized advice they need regarding wills and other estate planning concerns, including counsel pertaining to:
- Will drafting — South Carolina law requires that a will be signed the presence of two attesting witnesses. We make sure that your testamentary documents conform with the law, reflect your intentions accurately and are written in authoritative language to ease the probate process when the time comes. Our firm also revises existing wills when the testator’s priorities shift.
- Guardianship — If you have one or more minor children, you should take great care to prepare a document discussing who should be their guardian(s) in the event they are orphaned. Should you require assistance making this decision, we can discuss the legal responsibilities linked to this important role and can also prepare instruments to provide financial support for your children.
- Estate tax — There is no state-imposed estate or inheritance tax in South Carolina. Accordingly, an estate tax will only be collected if the value of the decedent’s property being transferred through probate exceeds the federal exemption level ($11.7 million in 2021). If you have concerns about whether your estate or that of someone you love will be subject to taxation, we can evaluate the situation and suggest useful strategies to lower tax liability.
As lawyers who represent parties in probate and trust litigation, we know how the failure to form a coherent estate plan can lead to serious problems down the road. We make every effort to develop a clear, comprehensive program that minimizes the chances for conflict.
Drafting a power of attorney document
Complete estate planning involves more than distributing assets upon your death. If you are incapacitated while you are alive, there could be problems with trying to determine who is qualified to act on your behalf. With a durable power of attorney, you have a document in place that names a trusted person to handle key decisions if something unexpected occurs. After discussing your particular situation, we can draft a durable power of attorney as well as other documents you might want to execute, such as a limited financial or healthcare power of attorney, or a living will to address end-of-life medical treatment.
Contact a thorough South Carolina estate planning lawyer for a free initial consultation
Acker Lambert Hinton P.A. in Pickens advises residents of South Carolina and their families on a wide array of estate planning issues, including the creation of wills and trusts. Please call 864-668-1013 or contact us online to make an appointment for a free initial consultation.
