In about an hour or two, you can take estate planning off your to-do list: Yep, it’s that’s easy

By Patricia Nugent

With a host of pressing items on anyone’s to-do list, planning for your final wishes by drafting a will is an easy one to put off. The thought of it seems like loads of details, documents and hefty lawyer bills.

But in reality, the process is far from it. And the payoff of peace of mind is priceless.

According to local Attorney Margaret T. Karl, most people can have estate planning done in an hour or two, for only a couple hundred dollars. And all she needs is a basic idea of your assets and the addresses of anyone you’d name as an executor or guardian for your children. It’s that simple.

“I realize that planning for your final wishes can be emotional and stressful, and that people might be dealing with these issues for the first time,” she says. “I remain professional and make sure they understand the documents we work with.”

When to Will
“There isn’t really a magic age to have a will drafted,” she says. “Since the purpose of a will is to protect your assets, declare how you want them to be distributed and name guardians for your children in the event you pass away, it’s wise to have a will in place when you feel you have enough assets to protect. Oftentimes when people get married, they draft a will.”

She mentions that this time of year, with people having a little more time off over the holidays, is a busy season for her.

“It’s also common for people to give someone, like their adult children, a gift certificate for me to do their estate planning,” she says. “It makes a perfect and thoughtful gift for the person who has everything.”

In addition to wills and trusts, other specialties Margie handles include power of attorney agreements, setting up limited-liability companies and operating agreements, real estate transfers, guardianship proceedings, Medicaid planning and applications, probate court filings, long-term care planning and tax advice.

Five-Star Reviews
Hiring an attorney is one of those things people ask around about first. Luckily for Margie, her name comes up as a trusted legal professional and her clientele is built on word-of-mouth referrals. Here are a few of the five-star online reviews:

“Margie listened. She was responsive and caring. Her fees are more than reasonable. She has attended to my situation quickly and professionally. I totally trust her,” says Marianne S.

“Margaret was very easy to work with and to set up a trust and a will for me and my husband. Very friendly and covered everything we needed, plus extras we did not think of. Price is very reasonable,” says Lisa R.

And Laura M.’s review points out the ease of the process, “Margie knew exactly what we needed. She listened patiently and explained what documents we needed. Her assistant was very welcoming and made the overall experience less stressful than we anticipated. Thanks to the Margaret T. Karl team!”

Margaret T. Karl, Attorney at Law, is located at 25800 North Depot Street, Suite 102, in Olmsted Falls. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Margie makes appointments on evenings and weekends if necessary and also makes house calls and visits to senior care facilities. Call 440-782-5051or visit OlmstedOhioLaw.com.