Estate planning is a system to protect your family and your assets.
At L. Jennings Law, we focus on the Family Wealth System, specifically designed for young families.
It helps you avoid probate, name guardians for your children, and build a financial legacy that lasts across generations.
Table of Contents
Full Video
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5 Documents Every Adult Needs
Everyone over 18 needs five basic documents:
- Financial Power of Attorney: Allows a trusted person to manage your finances if you are incapacitated
- Healthcare Power of Attorney: Allows a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf
- HIPAA Authorization: Gives them access to your medical records
- Living Will: Specifies your medical treatment preferences
- Last Will and Testament: Names permanent guardians and instructs the court on dividing your property
A Will Does Not Avoid Probate
Many people assume that having a will is enough. It is not. A will actually guarantees your estate must go through probate. Here is what that means:
- Time: Probate can last six months to two years
- Cost: Legal fees typically run 2 to 6 percent of the estate value
- Privacy: Because probate is a court proceeding, your private family matters become part of the public record
Why a Trust Is More Powerful
A revocable living trust is the cornerstone of a strong estate plan. Unlike a will, a trust keeps your estate out of the court system and allows for a fast, private transfer of assets.
Setting one up involves two steps: signing the documents and funding the trust by placing your assets into it. While you are living, you keep full control. If you become incapacitated, a backup trustee steps in immediately with no court-led guardianship required.
Protecting Your Children
Without a plan, children receive their inheritance outright at age 18. That can be dangerous. The Family Wealth System lets you set higher age requirements and even build in a training period. For example, your child acts as co-trustee at 25 to learn how to manage the money, then takes full control at 30.
This structure also protects the inheritance from:
- Creditors
- Lawsuits
- Future divorces
Making Your Money Last
Effective planning means building income you cannot outlive and wealth that passes to the next generation. Over the last 30 years, the U.S. stock market has averaged about 9 percent annually. Time is your greatest ally against inflation.
For families in their building years, term life insurance is an affordable way to make sure your children are provided for if something happens to you.
Reducing Your Tax Burden
Arkansas has no estate tax, and the federal exemption is currently around $15 million. Even so, capital gains taxes can still take a significant bite. A few tools that help:
- Step-up in basis: A trust allows heirs to inherit assets at their value on the date of death, not the original purchase price, eliminating capital gains
- Roth IRA: One of the best assets to pass on, since growth and withdrawals are completely tax-free for your children
Start Protecting Your Family Today
The Family Wealth System gives you a clear framework to protect your family at every stage of life. A revocable living trust, combined with the right powers of attorney, keeps your estate out of probate, ensures your children are raised by people you choose, and shields your wealth from outside risks.
Estate planning is about being a good steward of what you have built. It requires working with a qualified expert who understands both the law and financial strategy.
Book a free initial consultation with L. Jennings Law to begin designing a personalized plan for your family.