As people age, their focus tends to shift from taking care of themselves to ensuring that their loved ones are cared for after they are gone.

Having an estate plan is a good idea for everyone, regardless of age or health status. It is particularly important if you have any children who are minors. Without a plan in place, decisions involving important issues, such as personal care providers, the ultimate distribution of your assets, and for younger parents, guardianship of your minor children, could be decided by the courts. In addition, your estate or your surviving family members could be left with a large estate tax bill that could be readily avoided by proper planning in advance.

Probate

When someone dies, his/her assets generally must pass through some form of probate or administration through a relevant Court of Probate.  When a person dies without a valid Last Will & Testament, an administration of his/her Estate occurs; whereas, when a person dies with a valid Last Will & Testament, a probate of his/her Estate occurs.  The attorneys with the Espy Firm are experienced in representing small and large Estates through this process.  Indeed, Kaz Espy often serves as Administrator and Conservator of various estates in Houston County.

The term “estate” refers to all of the property that a person owns or controls. It includes:

  • Real property and the things attached to it (houses, buildings, barns, etc.).
  • Personal property (vehicles, bank accounts, stocks and bonds, cash, furniture, jewelry, collectibles, etc.).
  • Businesses and business interests (inventory, tools, equipment, accounts receivable, etc.).
  • Life insurance and annuity contracts, pension benefits, IRAs, 403(b)s, etc.
  • Debts and obligations owed to others.
  • All claims the person has against others, such as for the pain and suffering from a motor vehicle accident.

Serving People in the Southeast Alabama and North Florida markets

Planning for the future

Making those hard decisions, is never an easy task. We can help put your mind at ease, call us today!

At The Espy Firm, we have decades of experience helping Alabama families with all types of estate planning issues. We understand that each client has specific needs and goals based on their unique family dynamics. We put our experience to work to gain an in-depth understanding of your needs and craft a customized solution that maximizes your estate value, minimizes tax liability and ensures that your final wishes are carried out, typically without any need for court intervention.

Regardless of the size or complexity of your estate, we can develop an effective strategy that accounts for all known eventualities, as well as the flexibility to handle the unknown or sometimes unforeseeable events in life.

Planning an estate can be complicated and should be done with the assistance of a skilled lawyer that takes the time to address all the important factors. Put our experience to work for you. Contact The Espy Firm today by calling 334-793-6288 or by contacting us via our online form.

Meet the partners

You are more than a client. We are invested in your future.

Collier H. Espy Jr.
Collier H. Espy Jr.Founding Partner
Collier grew up in an era where a man’s handshake was his promise. Collier’s decision to practice law was heavily influenced by his unwavering desire to help those in need. He believes in meeting with clients personally and charging them fairly for the services.
Kaz Espy
Kaz EspySenior Partner
The only thing sharper than Kaz’s suit, is his legal mind. Although he may very well be the best dressed attorney we’ve ever met, his most impressive quality is his smart, caring, down-to-earth attitude. He has a special talent for understanding his client’s concerns and it shows.

Client testimonials

Our clients are our most valued asset. We evaluate our performance by our clients’ satisfaction.

“I can say today that my life has turned around all for the better and I owe it all to Cam’s patience and understanding of the bankruptcy laws…”
J. T.
“I recently got my discharge letter and can’t wait to start rebuilding my credit. I would highly recommend Espy, Metcalf, and Espy…”
T. C.
“They were highly respected by the trustee I had. They’re also very responsive to questions by email, which really really helps with the stresses…”
E. G.
Contact us today

A brighter future is just over the horizon!

With over 75 years combined experience helping others in situations like yours, we have the experience and expertise to help.
Contact us today