Challenges to Navigate With An Estate Planning Attorney

The Dire Consequences of Not Completing Estate Planning in Advance

Not completing your estate planning before an unexpected incident could have serious consequences, chief among these being the situation where you die intestate. In this instance, everything will be settled by the state after a lengthy probate which sometimes takes years. Unfortunately, your surviving friends and family members may possibly have no input as to where your assets will be distributed. Whether or not they have any input at all depends on the particular circumstances of your death, the relationships between the family members, the existence of partial documents, and other complicated matters.

Without a durable powers of attorney, guardianship/conservatorship, or other documents outlining your end-of-life or incapacitated care, means that whoever attends to your needs will have to petition the court to become your guardian and/or conservator. That process is long and expensive. Without a will, the state decides the allocation of assets no matter what your wishes are. Generally, that follows this hierarchy: spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, and siblings. The person who becomes executor usually follows the same pattern. The spouse does it unless the spouse doesn't want to do it, in which case it goes on down the line until someone does.

Benefits of Proper Planning with a Professional Estate Planning Attorney

One of the most significant risks associated with engaging directly with insurance companies is the potential of unknowingly compromising your claim. In the absence of legal guidance, individuals may make statements or sign documents that hinder their ability to pursue a full and fair compensation. Insurance adjusters are adept at eliciting information that can be used to diminish or deny claims altogether, but personal injury attorneys inform their clients and advocate for their rights, protecting them from making a costly mistake.

The consequences can go beyond financial repercussions: once a statement is given, it becomes significantly more challenging to make any changes to it moving forward. You may find yourself limited by  agreements that significantly limit your compensation. Essentially, the decisions and actions made at the beginning of the claims process can have lasting consequences for the victim's ability to obtain just compensation.

Considering the risks, the importance of consulting with a personal injury attorney before anything else cannot be emphasized enough. By seeking the help of a professional, individuals gain access to invaluable resources, information, and support. Conducting proper investigations, negotiating with insurance companies, and offering experienced representation allows Corpus Christi personal injury lawyers to provide fair outcomes for accident victims.

It’s obvious that the decision to communicate with an insurance company before consulting a personal injury attorney provides no benefits. From the risk of forfeiting legal rights to the potential for inadequate compensation, the stakes are simply too high to go through this process alone.