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Why You Need An

Estate Plan

by Richard H. Agins, Esq.

One of the most difficult things about my law practice is
overcoming people’s built-in resistance to contemplating

their own mortality. For some reason having no basis in
reality, people are reluctant to plan for their inevitable end
of life.

I know you’ve often heard the an estate plan and make those planning, but also, with the entire

quote by the immortal Scottish decisions for yourself? spectrum of legacy planning. I

writer, Robert Burns, that “The best want to ensure that when my
laid plans o’ mice and men often go Estate planning used to be all client dies, he or she leaves behind

astray.” Or the saying “Make plans about the distributi on of assets a fitting legacy for family, friends,

and watch God laugh.” It’s true and the avoidance of taxes. and charities of his/her choice.
that the realization of our plans Recent changes in the law ensure That often takes the form of more

usually is not guaranteed. But, that only estates valued in excess than just legal documents, and
under our legal system, if YOU of $11.58 million as of 2020 are leaves my clients knowing that
don’t plan for your estate, the subject to a federal estate tax. they will be well and properly
government will do it FOR you. Only six states - Iowa, Kentucky, remembered by posterity.
Do you want that? Do you want a Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey
judge to decide who will raise your and Pennsylvania - have state That, in a nutshell, is why an Estate
minor children, or who will share in inheritance taxes. Plan is necessary!
your hard-earned assets? Do you
want a judge to have to resolve One thing I’ve always enjoyed Richard H. Agins is an attorney

family squabble? I think not! about drafting business contracts and a certi fi ed public accountant
is that it requires the use of what with a master’s degree in business

I, for one, want to be sure that MY I call “periscope vision”—the ability administration. He began his career
wishes are carried out after my to see around corners in order to in New York City in 1970, in the

death. Our legal system ensures avoid potenti al future problems. accounting and finance profession

that if we are mentally competent I’ve acquired a measure of periscope and in 1999 matriculated at Pace
and have reached the legal age vision from my many years as a University School of Law, where

of majority at the time of signing businessman, accountant, and he was the managing editor of the
our estate planning documents, lawyer. I do my best to place that Pace Law Review. Richard moved

they will be honored by a court of periscope vision at the service of to Arizona in 2013 and after a brief

law. Therefore, our plans are, by my estate planning clients; to help stint with a local firm, he started

and large, sure to be carried out them avoid problems aft er they’re Agins Law Firm, PLC focusing on
according to our wishes. gone—not only financial problems, estate planning, probate, elder

but interpersonal problems caused law, business transacti ons and
If we die without a will, we are by family members fi ghti ng over bankruptcy.
said to have died “intestate,” control of businesses, assets www.aginslawfirm.com

which means that the State gets and general “stuff .” That’s why - (480) 401-2660 -
to make the decisions concerning nowadays, a good estate planning rich@aginslawfirm.com

our assets. Isn’t it better to have att orney deals not only with estate

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