Germantown Estate Planning Attorney

Serving Shelby County Families Since 1996. Full-Service Estate Planning in Germantown.

Do you have a legally enforceable estate plan that dictates who will inherit your assets after you pass away? If you haven’t taken that step yet, now is the time. A proper estate plan can help provide for your loved ones, document your end-of-life wishes, and reduce the chance that surviving family members will be left to fight over what you intended.

At Snider & Horner, PLLC, our estate planning attorneys have in-depth knowledge of drafting wills and establishing trusts, and we’re well-versed in Tennessee probate law. Our goal is close attention to detail so your plan is thoroughly prepared from the start and stays current as your life changes.

Schedule an initial consultation by reaching out online or call (901) 730-8880 to start building your estate plan.

Why Germantown Families Choose Snider & Horner, PLLC for Estate Planning

Choosing an estate planning attorney in Germantown residents can rely on long-term matters as much as the plan itself. Snider & Horner, PLLC has been serving Shelby County families since 1996, and nearly three decades of community presence shapes how we approach every plan we build. We operate as a full-service firm, handling estate planning alongside probate, family law, and civil litigation from our Germantown office. When your estate plan intersects with a probate question or a family law matter, our attorneys handle it directly without sending you to outside counsel.

We’re a member of the Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce, and our involvement in the community extends well beyond the office. Founding attorney Kevin Snider volunteers as Commander of the Fayette County Technical Rescue team. Several of our attorneys hold board certifications and credentials that reflect the depth of knowledge we bring to every client engagement. We serve clients in both Tennessee and Mississippi, and our familiarity with Shelby County Probate Court puts us in a strong position to guide Germantown residents through every stage of the estate-planning process.

The Risk of Dying Without an Estate Plan in Tennessee

While it may be tempting to draft a DIY estate plan, we strongly discourage it. Sound estate planning requires more than an online crash course can provide, and a comprehensive plan includes far more than a last will and testament. There is a lot to consider when protecting your family and helping them carry on without you.

If you die without an estate plan in Tennessee, your assets may not be distributed according to your wishes. Preferences you expressed during your lifetime, even to people you trusted, can’t be legally enforced without a valid estate plan. That means your estate will be subject to Tennessee’s intestacy laws (T.C.A. § 31-2-101). The state distributes your assets to surviving family members in the order of priority Tennessee law establishes. If you have no surviving family, the government takes your property. For Germantown residents, dying intestate means Shelby County Probate Court controls how your estate is handled, not you.

What Is Included in an Estate Plan?

A well-built estate plan can help keep matters out of probate court, may reduce associated taxes, and can address problems most people don’t know could affect them. We can help you build a plan from scratch or update documents you already have.

Our legal team assists clients with the following:

• Drafting and updating wills
• Establishing trusts, which are more complex than wills and require ongoing maintenance and oversight
• Considering your estate’s taxes
• Establishing durable powers of attorney
• Addressing conservatorship matters
• Setting up advance directives for end-of-life care
• Completing necessary paperwork and documentation

Wills vs. Trusts: Choosing the Right Tool

You may already understand the basics of a will, but trusts offer key advantages that wills don’t. When you create a trust, you appoint a trustee who legally possesses and manages the trust’s assets and distributes them to your beneficiaries according to your instructions. Trusts are considerably more complex than wills and require ongoing maintenance and oversight. Without proper attention, disputes between trustees and beneficiaries can escalate into contentious legal battles.

Whether you have a will, a trust, or both, each must be properly executed to be enforceable under Tennessee law. Some clients benefit from holding both instruments depending on their asset profile and goals, and that’s a determination we work through with you directly. If you aren’t sure which option fits your situation, we’ll walk you through the choices and advise on which estate-planning elements best serve your goals. Our team stays accessible after the plan is in place, ready to help with updates whenever your circumstances change.

What to Expect When Working with Our Estate Planning Team

Creating a complete estate plan isn’t a one-day process, and it shouldn’t be. A thorough plan takes careful intake conversations about your goals and assets, deliberate document drafting, a client review period, and formal execution, all guided by an attorney who understands both Tennessee and federal law as they apply to your specific situation.

We start with an initial consultation to understand what you want your plan to accomplish. From there, we draft the documents, walk you through each element before signing, and ensure everything is properly executed under Tennessee law. Life changes, and your estate plan should reflect that. Marriage, divorce, a new child, the loss of a family member, relocation, and significant financial shifts can all affect your plan. Our team remains available after your plan is in place, so the attorney who knows your documents is the same one you call when updates are needed years down the line.

Contact Our Germantown Estate Planning Attorneys Today

There’s no reason to put off an estate plan, regardless of your age, health, or financial circumstances. At Snider & Horner, PLLC, we’ve helped many Tennesseans plan for the future and build estate plans designed to protect their families. Our team is detail-oriented and applies in-depth knowledge of both Tennessee and federal law to every plan we build. We genuinely care about the clients we serve and the families depending on those plans.

Don’t wait to get started. Call (901) 730-8880 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation with our Germantown estate-planning attorneys.