It is a wise move for single people to engage in estate planning. The probate lawyers at Pater, Pater & Halverson Co. in Hamilton, Ohio, are here to explain why unmarried individuals need to establish a plan for the distribution of their property after they die. The firm has more than 100 years of legal experience in drafting wills and creating trusts for their clients, and they use this knowledge to assist clients looking into responsible estate planning.

An individual who dies without a will is said to die intestate. When such a death occurs, Ohio law determines who receives the deceased person’s property. Under the state’s intestate succession law, property of single individuals who do not have children passes to surviving parents, siblings, or other individuals. It's even possible for the property to pass on to the state. However, estate planning eliminates the state’s role in distributing property.

Probate lawyers use wills and trusts as basic estate planning tools. These tools allow individuals to name the people and entities that will receive their property, as well as the amounts and timing of the gifts. Single people with pensions or retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and bank accounts can choose beneficiaries for those accounts as part of their estate plan. Other estate planning tools for single individuals include documents such as an advance health care directive for end-of-life decisions and a general power of attorney.

Pater, Pater & Halverson Co. provides extensive estate planning services to single individuals, whether they are single parents, divorced, widowed, or never married and have no children. The firm’s probate lawyers offer legal advice and representation with compassion and practicality. Their goal is to give their clients sound counsel and peace of mind as they make these important personal decisions.

When you are ready to discuss wills, trusts, and your estate plan, contact an attorney at Pater, Pater & Halverson Co. Call (513) 867-1411 to schedule a consultation, and visit their website and Facebook page for more about their practice.