Jackson, Mississippi Estate Planning Attorney
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives for families in Jackson, Hinds County, and across Mississippi.
A Plan Built Around Real Decisions
An estate plan is more than a will. It is a coordinated set of instructions for property, finances, healthcare decisions, and the people who may need authority to act for you. The right documents depend on your family, the assets you own, how those assets are titled, and the decisions you want made if you cannot speak for yourself.
For Jackson and Hinds County families, that work can include wills, revocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, healthcare directives, beneficiary and asset review, and planning for the administration of an estate after death. We help clients identify the documents that fit their circumstances and understand what each document does. Families already dealing with a death can review our focused guidance on probate and estate administration.
Wills, Power of Attorney & Medical Directives
Wills & Guardianship Planning
- Preparing a will that clearly states how probate property should be distributed
- Following Mississippi signing and witness formalities
- Planning specific gifts to family members, friends, or charitable organizations
- Documenting guardianship preferences for minor children
- Reducing ambiguity in the instructions left for family and the executor
Healthcare Directives
- Documenting preferences for medical treatment and end-of-life care
- Naming a trusted person to make healthcare decisions when needed
- Coordinating healthcare instructions with the rest of the estate plan
- Reviewing directives after major health or family changes
Financial Powers of Attorney
- Naming an agent to handle authorized financial and legal matters
- Defining the authority granted and any appropriate limitations
- Planning for incapacity without relying on an informal family arrangement
- Reviewing whether an older document still fits current needs
Trust & Probate Coordination
- Evaluating whether a revocable trust serves a practical purpose
- Coordinating trust terms with asset ownership and beneficiary designations
- Selecting appropriate people to serve as trustee or executor
- Planning with the later probate or administration process in mind
A Practical Estate-Planning Process
Identify Priorities
We begin with the people, property, decision-makers, and concerns that should shape the plan instead of starting with a stack of forms.
Coordinate Documents
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, asset ownership, and beneficiary designations should work together rather than conflict.
Keep the Plan Current
Life changes. A periodic review helps identify documents, fiduciary choices, or asset arrangements that no longer reflect the client’s circumstances.
Estate Planning & Probate FAQs
Common questions from Mississippi families about wills, trusts, and probate.
If you die without a valid will, Mississippi's intestate succession statutes (Miss. Code Ann. § 91-1-1 et seq.) decide who inherits your property. The distribution follows fixed statutory rules, and a surviving spouse does not automatically inherit everything if there are children. Stepchildren and unmarried partners do not inherit under the statute. A properly executed will ensures your property goes to the people you choose.
Under Miss. Code Ann. § 91-5-1, a valid will must be in writing, signed by the testator (who must be at least 18 and of sound mind), and attested by at least two credible witnesses who know the document is a will. Holographic wills (entirely in the testator's own handwriting) are also recognized. The formalities matter, because defects usually surface only after death when they can no longer be fixed.
They do different jobs. A will directs property after death and goes through probate; it can also name guardians for minor children. A revocable living trust holds and manages property during your life and, when properly funded, passes it without probate, provides for incapacity, and keeps affairs private. Many families benefit from both, plus a durable power of attorney and healthcare directive. A trust only controls assets titled into it, so funding is what makes it work.
Probate is handled in chancery court in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. The court admits the will (if any), appoints a personal representative, and issues letters testamentary or letters of administration. Creditors must register claims within 90 days after the first published notice, and claims not properly registered are barred. A simple estate may take several months to a year; complex estates take longer. For small estates under $75,000 (excluding liens and encumbrances), a simplified small-estate affidavit may be available 30 days after death.
Mississippi has specific formalities for wills and trusts, and mistakes often surface only after death when they cannot be corrected. Using an attorney who is not a beneficiary, with non-beneficiary witnesses, helps avoid undue-influence challenges and execution defects. We prepare wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and medical directives, and we guide families through the probate process. Call 601-688-4110 to schedule a consultation.
Review the plan after major life changes such as marriage, divorce, a birth or death in the family, a move, a significant change in assets, or a change in the people you selected to act for you. It is also sensible to review older documents periodically even when no single event prompted the review. The goal is to confirm that the documents, asset ownership, and beneficiary designations still work together.
Ready to Plan for Your Future?
Contact us today to schedule a consultation. We’re here to help you protect your family every step of the way.