Wills & Estates

Huntsville: Estate Planning and Probate Administration

Who should have a last will and testament? Every adult who owns any property or has children should have a will. If you die without a will, the laws of the state will determine who gets your assets, and your wishes may not be honored.

For more than 70 years, the Huntsville law firm of Johnston, Moore & Thompson has provided estate planning and probate administration services to clients throughout northern Alabama. Our estate planning practice is currently led by attorney Cynthia Thompson, who has more than two decades of relevant legal experience in probate law.

"I get asked all the time, 'Why can't I just write my own will?' Our law firm charges a very reasonable rate to create a will or other estate planning documents. I have often run into situations where it ended up costing a client five or ten times that amount to correct a situation that wouldn't have happened if they'd seen a lawyer in the first place." — Johnston, Moore & Thompson estate planning attorney Cynthia Thompson

Our Estate Planning Services

We write all the basic documents that every estate plan should include, after conducting thorough conversations with the client about their wishes. Common and important estate planning documents include:

• Last will and testament
• Financial powers of attorney
• Health care powers of attorney
• Advance health care directives (sometimes called living wills)

We also discuss with our clients the advantages of planning ahead to minimize estate taxes and protect their assets for future generations.

Our Probate Administration Services

When a loved one dies who was a resident of Alabama, certain formal steps must be taken before that person's possessions and assets (called the estate) can be distributed to beneficiaries. Sometimes the estate must go through the probate process, but sometimes probate is unnecessary.

Johnston, Moore & Thompson regularly provides legal representation to personal representatives of estates, handling all the necessary legal steps up to and including distribution of assets.

Contact Johnston, Moore & Thompson

If you have questions about estate planning or estate administration, we encourage you to contact Johnston, Moore & Thompson to learn more about the services we offer. Call toll free 888.636.3759 or use our online contact form