Estate Planning Attorney Serving Hanahan, SC | Wills, Trusts, & Powers of Attorney

The Essential Estate Planning Documents

These estate planning tools work together to protect you during your lifetime and ensure a smooth transfer of assets afterward.

Will or Living Trust

Every plan begins with deciding whether a will or a living trust is the right fit. A will directs how property should be distributed and can designate guardians for minor children. A living trust places assets such as a home, bank accounts, or investments under the management of a trustee, avoiding probate and providing greater privacy. For many families, a combination of both documents provides the most complete protection.

Financial Power of Attorney

Authorize someone to handle finances if you're incapacitated. Without this, your family may need court approval to pay bills, access accounts, or manage property on your behalf. This document is effective whether your estate plan centers on a will, a trust, or both.

Healthcare Power of Attorney

A health care power of attorney names a representative to make medical decisions if the individual is unable. This ensures treatment choices align with personal wishes and relieves family members of the burden of making difficult decisions without guidance.

Living Will (Advanced Directive)

HIPAA Authorization

This authorization permits medical professionals to share health information with designated individuals, ensuring loved ones can remain informed and assist in care decisions when needed.

Personal Property Memorandum

A memorandum provides a straightforward way to specify who should receive items of personal or sentimental value (such as jewelry, artwork, or family heirlooms) without amending your will or trust.

Estate Planning is for Everyone

Single individual consulting with Estate Planning Lawyer in Hanahan, SC

Singles

Estate planning ensures your wishes are followed, not default state laws. It designates trusted people to manage your finances and healthcare if you become incapacitated, and directs how your assets are distributed after your death.

Married couple meeting with Estate Planning Lawyer in Hanahan, SC

Married Couples

Protect your spouse from probate delays, preserve jointly built assets, and establish clear inheritance plans for children. Estate planning also addresses incapacity scenarios, ensuring that your spouse can manage finances and make medical decisions without the need for court intervention.

Blended Families

Clear estate planning prevents conflict between your spouse and children from previous relationships. It ensures everyone you care about is provided for according to your specific intentions, not assumptions or state default rules.

Parents planning estate for minor children with Estate Planning Lawyer in Hanahan, SC

Families with Minor Children

Naming guardians is critical, but equally important is creating trusts that provide a financial structure as your children grow. Estate planning ensures they're cared for by the people you choose, with resources managed responsibly until adulthood.

Family with special needs meeting with Estate Planning Lawyer in Hanahan, SC

Families with Special Needs

Preserve government benefits while providing supplemental financial support through special needs trusts. Proper planning ensures your loved one receives care throughout their lifetime without jeopardizing eligibility for Medicaid or SSI.

Meet Russell DeMott, Your Hanahan Estate Planning Attorney

Russ has been practicing law for over 30 years. As a former Dorchester County associate probate judge, he brings unique insight into his estate planning practice. His experience and personal approach to planning ensures every client receives both legal skill and genuine care.

We know these decisions can feel overwhelming. That's why Russ takes the time to listen, explain your options clearly, and design a plan that fits your family’s needs. He is committed to helping you feel secure about the future.

Estate Planning Lawyer Russ DeMott in office serving clients in Hanahan, SC

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Directions to Our Estate Planning Law Firm From Hanahan

If you’re traveling from Hanahan, our office at 300 N. Cedar Street, Suite A, is about a 30 minute drive. You’ll find us in the Cedar Square office complex at the corner of N. Cedar and W. 2nd North Street. Our office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and we also offer Saturday signing appointments once a month for added convenience.

Do I Need a Will or a Trust?

One of the most common estate planning questions people have is whether they need a will, a trust, or both. The truth is: it depends on your unique circumstances.

Your estate plan should accound for your goals, your family situation, and the complexity of your assets. Take our quick quiz to find out which option is right for you.

Take the Trust or Will Quiz

Estate Planning FAQ

Our goal is to help you make informed decisions to protect your wealth and family.

See our Estate Planning FAQs for more common questions and answers, or request a consultation so we can provide you with guidance tailored to your specific situation.

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What is an estate plan?

An estate plan is a group of legal documents that outlines how your assets will be distributed after your death as well as during your lifetime. Your plan will also address issues which may come up during medical situations. Common estate planning documents are wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care powers of attorney, and living wills.

Do I need a will if I have a trust?

Yes. You’ll have what’s commonly referred to as a “pour over will,” which—you guessed it—pours over assets into your trust. This pour over will is a backup so that if any assets don’t get transferred into your trust (either by inadvertence or intentionally) that those assets are transferred to the trust, which, in turn, distributes the assets according to the terms of the trust as part of the probate process.

What is a supplemental needs trust?

You can imbed a supplemental needs trust within your trust for a disabled child so that funds are distributed for the health, education, maintenances, and support for the child and also provide that the trustee must take into consideration government benefits when making distributions so as not to disqualify the beneficiary for those government benefits.

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Hanahan Estate Planning Attorney

Estate Planning to Protect Those You Care About Most