25 Years of Combined Estate Planning Experience in Colorado
Estate planning serves many important purposes for adults at any age. By having a well-considered and properly-executed plan in place, you — and not the State — dictate how your assets will be distributed after you pass or how your important decisions will be handled should you become incapacitated.
At the Colorado Springs law office of Kirtland & Seal, L.L.C., our attorneys bring over two decades of combined experience to every estate plan we create. Our job is to help you understand your options and develop a plan tailored to best meet your individual goals.
If you need to create or update your estate plan in Colorado, call 719-387-9852 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
Basic Elements of Estate Planning
The right estate plan can provide you and your loved ones peace of mind by allowing you to express your wishes and accomplish them, relieve the burden of decision making on those who will be left behind, preserve your assets, and minimize tax liability.
There are many estate planning tools available. Once we understand your goals, we will recommend and prepare the documents that will accomplish your aims, including:
- Wills: A fundamental element of estate planning, this document allows you to direct what you want done with your assets after you pass away. A will lets you appoint a guardian over your minor children if both parents should die. In addition, it allows you to address the distribution of assets to address special circumstances, such as children from a previous marriage or children with special needs.
- Trusts: Trusts are a method of managing assets for tax or personal reasons, and there are many kinds of trusts (including revocable and testamentary) designed for different situations. Whether you want a trust during your lifetime or after your passing, we will create the trust that best meets your goals. Trusts are useful in a variety of circumstances, including avoiding probate and multi-state probate, addressing the needs of minors unable to manage their own financial affairs, or providing for loved ones who are losing mental or physical capacity.
- Medical powers of attorney: This document allows you to name the person you want to make medical decisions on your behalf, from authorizing medical treatment to releasing medical records.
- Financial powers of attorney: Effective immediately or under certain conditions you specify, this document lets you give another person the authority to handle your financial affairs, such as banking, bill paying, and investment and property management.
- Living wills: You can specify your wishes regarding end-of-life treatment. Unlike a medical power of attorney, a living will takes effect only if you are in a terminal or unconscious state.
A Firm at the Forefront of Estate Planning Law
With more than 25 years of combined estate planning and elder law experience, our lawyers Michael Kirtland and Catherine Seal have a well-earned reputation for providing clients understanding and knowledgeable legal representation. Committed to giving you the comprehensive estate planning guidance you need, you can take confidence knowing you will receive the right information to make good choices for both you and your family.
With a LL.M. degree in Taxation, attorney Michael Kirtland draws from a deep working knowledge of the tax implications of various estate planning decisions. With this knowledge, we help you understand the impact of your options and help you select the route that works best for your needs. Mr. Kirtland is also the Chair of the Advance Directives Joint Task Force of the Colorado Bar Association.
As the Chair of the Surrogate Decision Making committee of the American Bar Association, Attorney Catherine Seal is also recognized in the state and national estate planning and elder law communities. Our involvement in these organizations allows our firm to stand at the forefront of developments in estate planning law.
Schedule a Consultation to Discuss Your Estate Planning Needs
If you would like to create or modify an estate plan in the Pike's Peak area, including El Paso and Teller Counties, call 719-387-9852 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. To help us better serve your needs, we encourage you to fill out our Estate Planning Intake Form.
Our office is located in downtown Colorado Springs in the Wells Fargo Tower, with free underground parking available. We are happy to meet with you between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and between 9 a.m. and noon on Fridays. Appointments at other times and in other locations are also available.
