Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts

More than almost any other area of the law, estate planning requires both technical skill and a personal connection. A lawyer must, of course, create an estate plan for each client that complies with the law. But an estate plan that is technically correct still falls short if it doesn’t meet the needs of the people for whom it is created. That’s where the personal connection comes in: to meet your estate planning needs, a lawyer needs to spend the time to find out what those needs are.

Most people come to an estate planning attorney with one primary goal: to make sure their family is provided for after they are gone. What is necessary to provide that security varies with each client’s situation. Are there young children in the family, or someone with special needs? Is the family a “blended family”, or are there family members who tend to create tension or instigate problems? Is there a family business or farm to pass down? Knowing the details of a family’s situation will help an attorney customize a plan to serve their needs.

Some law firms try to “sell” you estate planning products you don’t need by playing on your concerns for your family’s future. At Schoeder, Blankemeyer and Clinton, we do not build our estate plans on scare tactics; we build them on a foundation of the relationship with our clients.

Estate Planning Based on Your Family’s Needs

Our firm’s history in Ottawa and Putnam County dates back more than 65 years. Most of our clients are people whose roots in the community are also deep. They want an attorney they can trust: someone who will be there to update their plans as their families grow and change, and to assist with probate of a deceased loved one’s estate when needed.

Our attorneys create customized estate plans for our clients based on the goals we identify together. Our services include:

• Wills
• Trusts, including among others, revocable, irrevocable, special needs, wholly discretionary, QIT
• Financial powers of attorney
• Healthcare powers of attorney
• Living wills
• Succession planning for family farms and businesses

We start by determining what’s important to you, and then, together, we explore your options and prepare an estate plan that will meet your needs and conserve your resources. Your family is unique; your estate plan should be, too.

Large Firm Skill, Small Firm Attention

At Schoeder, Blankemeyer and Clinton we offer you the best of both worlds: the personal attention you expect from a small, family-owned law practice, and the level of experience usually associated with larger firms. Our attorneys have worked in law firms in large cities as well as small towns. They have the skill and experience to address both complex and straightforward estate planning issues, and everything in between.

We invite you to explore our website, meet our attorneys, learn about our practice areas, and contact us to schedule a consultation. We look forward to working with you.