Estate Planning

Alabama’s intestacy laws determine who inherits your estate. The state follows a fixed formula that distributes assets to your closest relatives, which may not reflect your wishes. Your spouse, children, and parents may all have competing claims. Without a will, you also lose the ability to name a guardian for minor children.

A will is often sufficient for straightforward estates. Trusts become valuable when you want to avoid probate, plan for a child with special needs, protect assets from creditors, or provide structured distributions over time. We help you decide based on your specific assets and family situation, not a one-size-fits-all template.

Key Law uses flat-fee pricing so there are no surprise bills. The cost depends on the documents needed. A basic will package is priced differently than a full revocable living trust plan. We quote your fee after the strategy session once we understand what you need.

Most clients complete their estate plan within two to three weeks of the initial consultation. The main factors are document complexity and scheduling the signing appointment. We move efficiently and keep you updated throughout.

For most Alabama families, the federal estate tax is not a concern because the federal exemption is far above the value of most families' estates. However, strategic planning can still reduce income taxes, avoid probate costs, and protect assets from long-term care expenses. For larger estates, advanced trust strategies may reduce estate tax exposure significantly.

Review your plan after any major life event: marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a named beneficiary or executor, significant changes in assets, or a move to a different state. As a general rule, reviewing every three to five years keeps your plan current even without major changes.

A power of attorney names someone to manage your financial and legal affairs if you cannot. Without one, your family would need a court-ordered guardianship or conservatorship to act on your behalf, which is expensive and time-consuming. A healthcare directive does the same for medical decisions.

Yes. A special needs trust allows you to leave assets to a child with a disability without disqualifying them from SSI or Medicaid. The trust is drafted to meet federal and Alabama requirements. This is one of the most important planning tools available to families caring for a loved one with disabilities.