Estate Planning Lawyers Serving Wayne, PA, West Chester, PA, and Southeastern Pennsylvania

Estate planning is not just for the wealthy—it is for anyone who owns property, has loved ones to care for, or wants to ensure their final wishes are carried out. Without a proper estate plan in place, your assets—including your home, personal effects, and savings—will be distributed according to Pennsylvania intestacy laws. These laws use a strict formula that may not align with your wishes, leaving your family vulnerable to unnecessary complications and stress.

At Herr, Potts and Potts, our estate planning lawyers have 80 years of experience helping individuals and families in Wayne, PA, West Chester, PA, and across Chester County, Delaware County, and Montgomery County protect their assets and achieve peace of mind. Whether you need a simple will, a living trust, or a comprehensive trust-based estate plan, our team is here to guide you through every step of the process.

The Essentials of Estate Planning

Estate planning is about making informed decisions today to protect your loved ones tomorrow. At Herr, Potts and Potts, we focus on providing personalized plans that address your unique needs while ensuring compliance with Pennsylvania state law.

Key estate planning documents include:

Last Will and Testament
A will serves as the foundation of most estate plans. It specifies how your property will be distributed, names an executor to oversee your estate, and can include provisions for trusts, guardianships, and other essential details. If you have minor children, a will allows you to name guardians to care for them in the event of your passing.
Updating your will is equally important. Significant life events, such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or changes in your assets, should trigger a review to ensure your will reflects your current wishes.

Durable Power of Attorney
A power of attorney (POA) allows you to appoint an agent to manage your financial and legal affairs if you become incapacitated. A durable POA remains in effect even if you lose the ability to make decisions for yourself, offering vital protection against uncertainty.

Health Care Power of Attorney and Living Will

- A health care power of attorney authorizes a trusted individual to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. This document ensures that your wishes regarding treatments, surgeries, or long-term care are honored.
- A living will, or advance health care directive, allows you to specify which life-sustaining treatments you want—or do not want—if you are in a terminal condition or permanently unconscious. Together, these documents provide clarity for your loved ones during difficult times.

Living Trusts and Other Trusts
A living trust is a flexible estate planning tool that allows you to manage and protect your assets during your lifetime while ensuring a smooth transfer to your beneficiaries after your passing. A trust-based estate plan can help you avoid probate court, reduce taxes, and provide ongoing financial support for your loved ones.

Why Estate Planning Matters for Every Family

Estate planning offers peace of mind for you and security for your loved ones. With the help of our experienced trusts and estates attorneys, you can:

Ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes
Protect your family’s financial future, including minor children and loved ones with special needs
Minimize Pennsylvania inheritance tax and federal estate tax exposure
Avoid the costly and time-consuming probate process
Plan for incapacity by appointing trusted individuals to make legal, financial, and medical decisions

At Herr, Potts and Potts, our attorneys focus on creating estate plans that are clear, effective, and tailored to your needs. Whether you need a will, trust, or powers of attorney, we provide practical solutions backed by decades of experience.

Custom Estate Planning Services in Wayne and West Chester, PA

Our estate planning lawyers work with clients throughout southeastern Pennsylvania, offering comprehensive services that include:

Drafting and updating wills
Establishing revocable and irrevocable trusts
Creating powers of attorney for financial and healthcare decisions
Developing living wills and healthcare directives
Managing complex estate and trust administration
Structuring trust-based estate plans to minimize taxes and protect assets

Our firm has earned recognition for our commitment to excellence, with our attorneys frequently listed among Super Lawyers for their skill and dedication.

Estate Planning for Families with Special Circumstances

Many families require specialized planning to address unique needs, including:
- Families with Minor Children: We create wills and trusts that ensure guardianship and financial support for your children if something happens to you.
- Special Needs Planning: For families with loved ones who have disabilities, we establish trusts that provide for their care while preserving eligibility for government benefits.
- Asset Protection and Nursing Home Planning: We develop strategies to preserve your assets, helping you plan for long-term care costs while protecting your family’s financial future.

How Estate Planning Prevents Probate Court Complications

One of the primary goals of estate planning is to avoid or streamline probate, the legal process of validating a will and administering an estate. Without a proper plan, your loved ones may face delays, expenses, and stress in probate court. By utilizing tools like living trusts and well-drafted wills, we help families minimize probate and ensure a smooth transition of assets.

If probate is necessary, our attorneys also offer guidance and representation in estate administration and trusts and estates matters.

Recent Estate Planning Success Stories

Our firm has helped clients across Wayne, PA, West Chester, PA, and southeastern Pennsylvania achieve their estate planning goals:

Drafted an estate plan for a young couple that included a trust to protect their minor children’s inheritance until age 25.
Established an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) for a couple with assets exceeding the federal estate tax exemption.
Created Disclaimer Trusts to help a married couple reduce estate taxes while protecting their family’s wealth.
Set up a lifetime trust for a child with a history of substance abuse, ensuring responsible management of the inheritance.
Assisted a new client in a hospital setting by quickly drafting a comprehensive estate plan, including powers of attorney, to prepare for possible incapacity.
Drafted a will establishing a life estate in a family home to allow a child to reside there during their lifetime while preserving the asset for other beneficiaries.

Why Choose Herr, Potts and Potts for Estate Planning?

At Herr, Potts and Potts, we combine decades of experience with a personalized approach to estate planning. Serving families in Wayne, PA, West Chester, PA, and throughout Chester County, Delaware County, and Montgomery County, our team is committed to helping you achieve peace of mind with thoughtful, effective solutions.

Clients trust us because:

We have years of experience handling complex estate matters
We are recognized as Super Lawyers for our skill and dedication
We offer customized estate plans tailored to your unique needs
We prioritize communication, transparency, and client-focused service

Schedule a Confidential Consultation Today

Don’t leave your estate to chance. Whether you need a simple will, a living trust, or a comprehensive trust-based estate plan, our team of experienced estate planning lawyers is here to help you protect your family and your legacy.

Let us provide the peace of mind that comes with knowing your future—and your loved ones—are secure.