At Colleen Marie & Associates, we work with attorneys to utilize available resources that will help your family avoid the expensive financial and emotional costs of probate. We assist with document preparation and make both a self-directed and an attorney directed product available for individuals, partners, spouses and families.

The term “Estate Planning” addresses the steps taken by you to facilitate the care and preservation of the estate for you and/or a spouse/partner, minor children and heirs allowing you to stay in control as long as possible. You may direct who is going to receive and care for your estate and clearly provide instructions for who, when and how it should be managed and distributed. High priced lawyers, probate, banks, trust mills and all unnecessary fees, costs, and commissions that diminish an estate, can be avoided with proper and timely planning.

A team of professionals able to coordinate the legal, tax, financial and insurance objectives is a recommended and cost-effective approach. Proper funding of a trust is tailored to your situation. Some funding and estate cost mitigation options include establishing a life insurance trust. While you continue to control your policies, this option provides a method to reduce or eliminate estate and/or inheritance taxes. This means your loved ones will get more of your estate and the government will get less. Annuities are another estate planning option. Annuities are often a good way to provide for members of a blended family, or for non-family members for whom you hope to provide a monthly income while avoiding probate.