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Estate Planning Attorneys in Missoula, Montana

Plan Your Estate With Confidence

For many, thinking about the future means planning a career, perhaps starting a family and enjoying life while not taking the time to consider what will happen if you become ill or disabled, or if you were to suddenly pass away.

At Bulman Jones & Cook PLLC, we provide individuals in Missoula, Butte, Helena, Great Falls, Bozeman, and across Montana with sophisticated estate planning, including the preparation of wills, trusts, and other essential services. Bulman Jones & Cook PLLC accepts cases statewide in Montana. Contact us for a free consultation with an experienced attorney, call today.

One common misconception of many individuals is that Estate Planning is only for the wealthy. It is, however, essential for everyone, regardless of financial status, in order to protect oneself and provide for loved ones. At Bulman Jones & Cook PLLC, we will work closely with you in developing a comprehensive personalized plan to provide you with peace of mind.

Our Montana Estate Planning attorneys are dedicated to ensuring the well being of our clients, protecting the wealth they have acquired over a lifetime, and ensuring their wishes are carried out in the event of Death or Incapacity.

We represent Trusts, estates and the affected parties through the Probate process. We also assist clients in planning for Long-Term Care, both for themselves and their dependents, and we are well-versed in federal Medicare and Medicaid laws and regulations. We also routinely analyze the estate, gift and income tax consequences of estate plans to minimize tax costs and prepare estate income tax returns.

By not having a well-thought-out Estate Plan, the courts will appoint someone to make decisions about your healthcare and the distribution of your assets in a way that may not agree with your wishes.

We offer all our clients compassion, knowledge and a superior level of personal service. If you need advice about Estate Planning in Missoula, Bozeman, Billings or throughout Montana, call Bulman Jones & Cook PLLC today.

Estate Planning

Completing even a basic Montana Estate Plan can eliminate problems down the road, help avoid fights and disagreements between family members, and provide assurances that your money and property will be distributed to the individuals that you choose and avoid adverse tax consequences.

Estate Planning isn’t just about giving away your money, property, and belongings after you die. While these are significant, Estate Planning’s more important functions are to help you plan for your own future while you are alive. The reality is that as a society, we are living longer than ever before.

However, with a longer life comes the increased risk that we will have a disability or mental incapacity in our later years. Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, dementia, and other health or mental health illnesses and injuries are at an all-time high. Critical to the estate planning process is preparing for these potential problems by providing a trusted person with a Power of Attorney.

Through a valid and well-planned Power of Attorney you give authority to another person to make decisions for you if you become incapacitated and unable to make financial, business, healthcare, and other decisions for yourself. If you don’t complete this part of your Estate Planning, and you become incapacitated, your family will be forced to have a Court determine who your Guardian and Conservator will be.

Costly court-supervised proceedings create the possibility that your family may fight over who should be appointed and how your assets are administered. A complete Estate Plan prepared by an experienced attorney can help you avoid these problems.

The future care and support of Minor Children also present unique problems and planning opportunities. Your Estate Plan can ensure that your children will be raised by Guardians that you chose and that your assets are preserved for their health, education, maintenance, and support.

Otherwise, the courts will step in and decide who will be named as the legal guardians of your children. Well-meaning family members may disagree about who should raise your children and how your assets should be used on their behalf. Legal disputes over the naming of guardians for minor children are often a costly and contentious process.

Additionally, family fights, where one heir may think he or she deserves more than another, or where individuals fight over who should be in charge, or who should be named as Guardian can and do happen. These fights often end up in court, with family members pitted against each other. With a comprehensive Estate Plan in place, these types of family fights are most often eliminated.

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The Estate Planning Process

At Bulman, Jones & Cook PLLC, Our customized and comprehensive plans are designed to meet each client’s unique needs and objectives. Clients are actively involved in the entire process so that, with our advice and guidance, you make the best decisions which result in a plan you understand and will work when needed, with an eye to minimizing taxes and expenses. We find this greatly reduces stress and lessens conflict for loved ones, especially in a time of emotional duress. Estate planning includes the following:

  • Last Will and Testament

  • Durable Power of Attorney

  • HIPAA Authorization

  • Health Care Proxy

  • Living Will

  • Revocable Living Trusts

  • Retirement Trusts

  • Pet Trusts

  • Irrevocable Asset Protection Trusts

  • Probate and Trust Administration

  • Tax Planning

A Complete Montana Estate Plan

Every person is different and unique and because of this their Estate Plan should be customized to fit their own personal circumstances. Most people need at least a basic estate plan which includes at least a Last Will and Testament, a Durable Power of Attorney, a Living Will, and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. Some individuals with small children may need to name a Guardian or may need to create a trust for their minor children.

More mature adults may want to have a living trust set up or a series of trusts that can be used as part of their succession planning for their farm, ranch or business. Additionally, life insurance, bank accounts, and retirement accounts should be considered and made a part of each person’s Estate Plan.

Small Business, Farm and Ranch Succession Planning

Succession planning for small businesses, farms, and ranches provide unique estate planning challenges and opportunities. Often owners face difficult decisions in attempting to treat all children equally while maintaining the continued operation and success of the family business, farm or ranch.

The use of family trusts, limited liability companies, and family partnerships coupled with transfer restrictions, buy-sell agreements, life insurance trusts, and gift-giving programs are often utilized. These tools can minimize inheritance taxes, treat children fairly and help ensure that the family business, farm or ranch remains ongoing and viable.

Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning Lawyers in Missoula, MT

One common misconception of many individuals is that Estate Planning is only for the wealthy. It is, however, essential for everyone, regardless of financial status, in order to protect oneself and provide for loved ones. We will work closely with you in developing a comprehensive personalized plan to provide you with peace of mind.

At Bulman, Jones & Cook PLLC, our Montana Estate Planning attorneys are dedicated to ensuring the well being of our clients, protecting the wealth they have acquired over a lifetime, and ensuring their wishes are carried out in the event of Death or Incapacity.

We represent Trusts, Estates and the affected parties through the Probate process. We also assist our clients in planning for Long-Term Care, both for you and your dependents, and we are well-versed in federal Medicare and Medicaid laws and regulations. We also routinely analyze the Estate, Gift and Income Tax consequences of Estate Plans to minimize tax costs and prepare estate income tax returns.

By not having a well-thought-out Estate Plan, the courts will appoint someone to make decisions about your healthcare and the distribution of your assets in a way that may not agree with your wishes.

We offer all our clients compassion, knowledge and a superior level of personal service. If you need advice about Estate Planning in Missoula, Bozeman, Billings or throughout Montana, call Bulman, Jones & Cook PLLC today.

Contact a Qualified Montana Estate Planning Attorney Today

The knowledgeable, experienced and diligent attorneys at Bulman, Jones & Cook PLLC are here to help you and your family when you need it the most. Whether you are seeking your own customized Estate Plan or are in need of Probate or Trust Administration in Montana for a loved one who has passed, we are available to discuss your options and answer your questions at an initial Free Consultation.

Call us for a free consultation with the Bulman, Jones & Cook PLLC team of Estate Planning and Administration lawyers. We can answer your questions and help solve your Estate Planning, Probate and Trust problems.