One of the questions that most clients will ask their estate planning attorney is, "How can I avoid paying federal and state taxes on my estate?" While this is a valid question, a more important question to consider is whether the techniques you employ are still relevant. There are many ways to save you tax dollars in your estate but remember that federal and state laws are constantly changing, as are your family dynamics, finances and business. Sophisticated estate planning often requires ongoing consultation with a lawyer as your personal circumstances change and as laws change. You should ask your lawyer how they are going to handle this and how much are they going to charge you for it. If you or an heir becomes sick or passes away, if there is a marriage or a divorce in the family, if an executor passes away, you need to update your will. And you need an attorney who is going to allow you to make these changes at a reasonable rate or a flat fee. If it comes to execute your will and there are clauses that are no longer valid, it could cost your heirs thousands of dollars. If you have questions about sophisticated estate planning in Pennsylvania, call David M. Frees at 610-933-8069 or email him directly at [email protected] to learn more.