--- ames_version: "0.9" canonical_url: "https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/estate-planning/" publisher: "Heritage Law Partners" title: "Estate Planning | Heritage Law Partners" locale: "en" permissions: index: 1 ephemeral: 1 store: 1 train: 1 content: zone: "article" --- [//]: # (ames:zone site-wrapper) [//]: # (ames:zone site-header) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone site-header) ![Heritage Law Partners](https://heritagelawpartners.com/assets/images/temp/logo-lg.png) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone site-header) - [Client Login](https://clients.heritagelawpartners.com/) - [(314) 325 -9444](tel:3143259444) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone primary-navigation) - [Home](https://heritagelawpartners.com/) - [Services](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services) - [Estate Planning](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/estate-planning) - [Special Needs Planning](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/special-needs-planning) - [Elder Law](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/elder-law) - [Trust Administration](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/trust-administration) - [Probate](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/probate-and-estate-administration) - [Adult Guardianships](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/adult-guardianships) - [Entity Formation](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/entity-formation) - [Articles](https://heritagelawpartners.com/resources/articles) - [About Us](https://heritagelawpartners.com/about-us) - [Contact](https://heritagelawpartners.com/contact) [//]: # (ames:zone page-main) [//]: # (ames:zone article) [//]: # (ames:zone section) [//]: # (ames:zone article) # Estate Planning [//]: # (ames:zone section) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ### Securing Your Present, Protecting Your Future Estate planning is about more than legal documents. It's a comprehensive approach to safeguarding your family's future, preserving your legacy, and ensuring your values endure for generations to come. A well-crafted estate plan addresses three crucial areas: what happens if you become disabled or incapacitated, what happens when you die, and how your assets and loved ones are protected along the way. At its core, estate planning is an act of love and responsibility. Without a proper plan, you leave critical decisions about your health, your finances, and your legacy to chance, or worse, to a default government plan that may not align with your wishes. State laws will determine who makes decisions for you if you're incapacitated, how your assets are distributed, and even who cares for your minor children. These default provisions rarely reflect what a family actually wants and often lead to unnecessary confusion, cost, and conflict. Want to learn more before scheduling a consultation? Download our free guide, *Seeds of Security: An Introductory Guide to Essential Estate Planning Tools Every Family Needs*, written by Managing Partner Eliana J. Emery, J.D., LL.M. This comprehensive guide covers wills, trusts, probate avoidance, powers of attorney, and how to prepare for your first meeting with an estate planning attorney. [Download the Free Guide](https://heritagelawpartners.com/assets/downloads/seeds-of-security-guide.pdf) ##### Preparing for Life's Uncertainties Many people think of estate planning primarily in terms of what happens after death, but it's equally important for navigating life's unexpected challenges. A comprehensive estate plan includes durable powers of attorney so someone you trust can manage your affairs, healthcare directives that ensure your medical wishes are honored, and potentially living trusts that provide for the management of your assets during incapacity. For parents of minor children, it means designating the right guardians. For business owners, it means ensuring continuity. ##### Planning That Fits Your Family Every family is unique, with its own circumstances, values, and goals. Whether you're starting a family, building wealth for the first time, or approaching retirement, a tailored estate plan addresses your specific needs. Cookie-cutter solutions rarely hold up when it matters most. At Heritage Law Partners, we guide you through every step of the process with compassion and precision, ensuring your plan reflects your family's real life, not a template. Contact us today to start building an estate plan that protects what matters most, both now and for generations to come. [//]: # (ames:zone related) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone related) ### Related Pages & Resources Explore our practice areas and resources to learn more about estate planning, special needs planning, and how Heritage Law Partners can help protect your family's future. [//]: # (ames:zone related-navigation) - [About Us](https://heritagelawpartners.com/about-us) - [Contact Us](https://heritagelawpartners.com/contact) - [Articles](https://heritagelawpartners.com/resources/articles) - [Client Login](https://clients.heritagelawpartners.com/) - [Estate Planning](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/estate-planning) - [Special Needs Planning](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/special-needs-planning) - [Probate](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/probate-and-estate-administration) - [Trust Administration](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/trust-administration) - [Guardianships](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/adult-guardianships) [//]: # (ames:zone consultation) #### Schedule a Consultation Take the first step towards comprehensive estate planning, special needs planning, or probate services with a personalized consultation with one of our attorneys. [//]: # (ames:zone section) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ### Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Planning [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone details) [//]: # (ames:zone summary) [//]: # (ames:zone article) A will is a legal document that directs how your assets should be distributed after your death and allows you to nominate guardians for minor children. A will only takes effect after death, and assets controlled by a will typically pass through probate court. A revocable living trust takes effect during your lifetime. It can hold and manage assets while you are alive, provide instructions if you become incapacitated, and guide how assets pass after death. When assets are properly titled in the trust, they can often pass to beneficiaries without going through probate. In most trust-based plans, the trust works together with a will, powers of attorney, and healthcare documents to create a coordinated plan. [Learn more about Trust Administration →](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/trust-administration) [//]: # (ames:zone details) [//]: # (ames:zone summary) [//]: # (ames:zone article) Yes. Estate planning is not limited to people with large estates. It is how you decide who can manage your finances, who can make medical decisions if you cannot, and who would care for minor children. Without a plan, those decisions may be left to state law or to a court. Even modest estates can create administrative burdens or family disputes if there are no clear instructions in place. [//]: # (ames:zone details) [//]: # (ames:zone summary) [//]: # (ames:zone article) If someone dies without a will, Missouri law determines who inherits their probate assets. This process is called intestate succession. State law provides a formula for distributing property among spouses, children, and other relatives. While the system is designed to be fair in general situations, it may not reflect the wishes of a particular family. Unmarried partners, stepchildren, and other loved ones may receive nothing under the default rules. [Learn more about Probate →](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/probate-and-estate-administration) [//]: # (ames:zone details) [//]: # (ames:zone summary) [//]: # (ames:zone article) Probate is the court-supervised process for administering a person's estate after death. The court oversees the identification of assets, payment of debts and taxes, and distribution of remaining property to beneficiaries. In Missouri, probate can take many months and sometimes longer than a year depending on the circumstances of the estate. Because probate proceedings are filed with the court, they also become part of the public record. Many estate plans are designed to reduce or avoid probate where appropriate. [Learn more about Probate →](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/probate-and-estate-administration) [//]: # (ames:zone details) [//]: # (ames:zone summary) [//]: # (ames:zone article) Estate planning also addresses what happens during life if you cannot manage your affairs. A financial power of attorney allows someone you trust to handle financial matters such as paying bills or managing accounts. Healthcare documents allow someone to make medical decisions and communicate with doctors if you cannot speak for yourself. Without these documents, family members may need to ask a court to appoint a guardian or conservator in order to make decisions on your behalf. [Learn more about Adult Guardianships →](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/adult-guardianships) [//]: # (ames:zone details) [//]: # (ames:zone summary) [//]: # (ames:zone article) It can be helpful to bring a general picture of your finances and family structure. This might include a rough list of major assets, existing estate planning documents, and the names of people you might consider for roles such as trustee, personal representative, or guardian for minor children. You do not need to have every decision made ahead of time. The consultation is designed to help you think through the issues and determine what kind of plan fits your goals. [Learn about our process →](https://heritagelawpartners.com/our-process) [//]: # (ames:zone details) [//]: # (ames:zone summary) [//]: # (ames:zone article) A review every three to five years is generally a good practice. Plans should also be revisited after significant life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a death in the family, or major financial changes. Even when documents remain legally valid, the people named in them or the overall structure of the plan may no longer reflect your current circumstances. [//]: # (ames:zone details) [//]: # (ames:zone summary) [//]: # (ames:zone article) The cost of estate planning depends on the type of plan and the complexity of the client's situation. Some plans involve only core documents, while others include trusts, tax considerations, or specialized planning. Many firms, including Heritage Law Partners, use flat fees for common planning arrangements so that clients understand the cost in advance. [Schedule a consultation →](https://heritagelawpartners.com/appointments) [//]: # (ames:zone details) [//]: # (ames:zone summary) [//]: # (ames:zone article) Online forms can produce basic documents, but they are designed for general use and do not take into account specific family dynamics, state laws, or unusual assets. Estate planning also involves coordinating documents, beneficiary designations, and asset ownership. A document that appears complete may not function as intended if it is not signed correctly, funded properly, or integrated with the rest of a person's financial picture. For straightforward situations, forms may sometimes work. More complex family or financial situations often benefit from individualized planning. [//]: # (ames:zone details) [//]: # (ames:zone summary) [//]: # (ames:zone article) A trust is one of the most common ways to avoid probate, but it is not the only method. Certain assets pass outside probate by design, such as life insurance, retirement accounts with beneficiaries, or property held jointly with survivorship rights. However, these methods do not provide the same structure or flexibility as a trust. Trust planning can allow for coordinated management of assets, protection for beneficiaries, and continuity if someone becomes incapacitated. [Learn more about Trust Administration →](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/trust-administration) [//]: # (ames:zone details) [//]: # (ames:zone summary) [//]: # (ames:zone article) Funding a trust means transferring assets into the name of the trust or coordinating beneficiary designations so the trust controls those assets. If assets are never transferred or coordinated properly, the trust may not control them and they may still pass through probate. Funding is therefore an important part of making sure the estate plan works as intended. [//]: # (ames:zone details) [//]: # (ames:zone summary) [//]: # (ames:zone article) Yes. Trusts are often used to manage assets for children until they reach an age where they are ready to handle them directly. Instead of receiving everything outright at a young age, a trustee can manage the funds and distribute them for education, housing, health care, or other needs according to the terms of the trust. [//]: # (ames:zone details) [//]: # (ames:zone summary) [//]: # (ames:zone article) Families with a loved one who has disabilities often require more specialized planning. Inheritances must sometimes be structured carefully so they do not unintentionally interfere with eligibility for certain public benefits. A properly designed trust can allow funds to be used for the person's benefit while preserving access to programs that support medical care, housing, or other essential services. [Learn more about Special Needs Planning →](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/special-needs-planning) [//]: # (ames:zone details) [//]: # (ames:zone summary) [//]: # (ames:zone article) Owning real estate in more than one state can complicate estate administration. In some situations, property located in another state may require a separate probate proceeding there. Planning strategies such as trusts are often used to simplify the transfer of out-of-state property and reduce the risk of multiple probate cases. [Learn more about Probate →](https://heritagelawpartners.com/services/probate-and-estate-administration) [//]: # (ames:zone section) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ## Latest Articles on Estate Planning, Elder Law, and Special Needs Planning [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ![photo of a couple considering whether they need a will or a trust](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ea5fe8en/production/e25717260e3b599648fa49084c725a2ae71937a1-4096x2160.jpg) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ##### [Revocable Living Trust vs. Will: Which Does a Missouri Couple Actually Need?](https://heritagelawpartners.com/resources/articles/revocable-living-trust-vs-will-which-does-a-missouri-couple-actually-need) Most Missouri couples assume a will is enough. Learn when a revocable living trust makes more sense, what it actually does, and how to know which plan is right for your family. [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ![photo of a baby - an example of when to update a trust](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ea5fe8en/production/8ef205bcdc35417a36d878d0c0539af369d1b2fc-3072x2048.jpg) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ##### [When Should You Update Your Trust? A Guide for Missouri Families](https://heritagelawpartners.com/resources/articles/when-should-you-update-your-trust-a-guide-for-missouri-families) A trust is not a one-and-done document. Learn which life events require an update, what goes wrong when families skip the review, and when to call your estate planning attorney. [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ![photo of a child with down's syndrome who will need a special needs trust](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ea5fe8en/production/35159a6b56b3e7c86df92d66ad0afecb8865fca3-8256x5504.jpg) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ##### [What Is a Special Needs Trust and How Does It Protect My Child’s Benefits?](https://heritagelawpartners.com/resources/articles/what-is-a-special-needs-trust-and-how-does-it-protect-my-childs-benefits) A special needs trust lets your child with a disability receive an inheritance without losing SSI or Medicaid. Learn the difference between first-party and third-party SNTs and how to choose the right one. [//]: # (ames:zone section) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone article) ![](https://heritagelawpartners.com/assets/images/temp/ico-quotes-lg.png) > Eliana is the most helpful attorney I have ever worked with. She is always kind, and extremely efficient in what she does. She is wonderful attorney who will treat you with respect and get the job done right. Heritage Law Partners Client [//]: # (ames:zone consultation) [//]: # (ames:zone div) [//]: # (ames:zone consultation) ## Schedule a Consultation ### Get Experienced Guidance When It Matters Most [//]: # (ames:zone consultation) Take the first step towards comprehensive estate planning, special needs planning, or probate services with a personalized consultation with one of our attorneys. 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