Alderman Law Firm prepares wills and basic estate-planning documents for individuals and families who want a clear written plan.

Estate planning is not only about property. It is also about choosing decision-makers, reducing confusion, protecting children, and making sure the right people have authority if something happens.

Attorney Alderman Rufe helps clients prepare practical estate-planning documents that reflect their family, assets, wishes, and responsibilities.

When the Firm Can Help

Alderman Law Firm prepares basic estate-planning documents for clients who need:

• a will
• a financial power of attorney
• a medical power of attorney
• advance medical directives
• appointment of decision-makers
• planning for minor children
• instructions for family members
• updates after marriage, divorce, children, property changes, or major life changes
• a clearer written plan than relying on default rules or informal family understanding

The firm’s estate-planning work is focused on practical written planning for individuals and families.

Why a Written Plan Matters

Without written estate-planning documents, important decisions may be left to default rules, court procedures, or family members trying to determine what should happen.

A clear plan can identify:

• who should receive property
• who should handle financial decisions
• who should make medical decisions
• who should care for minor children if needed
• what authority trusted people should have
• what instructions family members should be able to rely on

The goal is to reduce uncertainty before there is an emergency.

What the Firm Prepares

Depending on the client’s needs, the firm may prepare:

• Last Will and Testament
• financial power of attorney
• medical power of attorney
• advance directive or living will
• personal instructions or planning letter
• related estate-planning documents appropriate for the client’s situation

Attorney Alderman Rufe reviews the client’s goals, family structure, decision-makers, assets, and concerns before preparing documents.

Planning for Families

Many clients seek estate planning because they want to make things easier for their family.

For parents, the plan may need to address guardianship preferences, decision-making authority, funds for children, and instructions that help family members understand what the parent intended.

For couples, the plan may need to address shared property, separate property, children from prior relationships, life insurance, retirement accounts, beneficiary designations, and what should happen if both spouses are unavailable.

For single adults, estate planning can be just as important because someone still needs authority to make decisions, manage property, and handle medical or financial matters if the person cannot act.

Updating an Existing Plan

Estate-planning documents should be reviewed when life changes.

A review may be appropriate after:

• marriage
• divorce
• birth or adoption of a child
• death of a named decision-maker
• purchase or sale of significant property
• changes in family relationships
• changes in financial circumstances
• a move to Colorado
• uncertainty about whether old documents still reflect current wishes

The firm can review whether existing documents still make sense and whether updates are needed.

• spouse or partner information
• children or dependents
• preferred decision-makers
• guardianship preferences, if minor children are involved
• major assets or property concerns
• existing wills or powers of attorney
• life insurance or beneficiary concerns
• any family circumstances that make the plan more complicated

After reviewing the intake, the firm determines whether the matter appears to fit the practice and whether a consultation should be scheduled.