Kuhn & Kuhn has long provided elder law and estate planning advice to clients in Charleston, South Carolina and surrounding areas. Our firm helps people at all phases of their lives to make the plans that are necessary to protect their family and assets. We can work with you to make plans to build and protect wealth, prepare for sickness, and ensure that your family is always provided for no matter what life throws at you.
If you live in or around the Charleston area, give us a call today to find out about the personalized help that we can provide.
Life in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina is the oldest city in South Carolina and is the largest city within that state. Charleston is the county seat of Charleston County and is located on Charleston Harbor. With a population of more than 134,000 people as of the most recent census, Charleston is also the third largest of all of South Carolina’s cities.
Charleston dates back to 1670 and is well known for preserving the beautiful architecture from days gone by. It’s a very popular tourist destination, as well as a wonderful place to live. In fact, it was ranked the world’s best city by Travel & Leisure and has also earned other accolades including being named as America’s Friendliest City.
Seniors in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is home to many senior citizens. Older residents of Charleston have many opportunities to take advantage of programs and services aimed at helping them to maintain independence and enhance quality of life.
Charleston’s local government has a resource page providing details on programs for seniors in the area. The page provides information on Bees Landing Recreation Center Senior programs.
It also provides information on the Lowcountry Senior Center, which was created through a partnership with the city of Charleston. The Lowcountry senior center is open to adults 50 and over and provides classes, exercise opportunities, socialization, and a chance to partake in a wide variety of activities. The mission of the Lowcountry Senior Center is to “emphasize lifelong wellness with a focus on fun.”
Courts in Charleston, South Carolina
One of the key ways Kuhn & Kuhn can help seniors in Charleston, and people of all ages in Charleston, is to try to minimize the situations in which your loved ones will end up in probate court.
This means making an incapacity plan so your loved ones don’t have to go to probate court to have a guardian or conservator appointed on your behalf in case of your incapacity. It also means making a plan to facilitate the transfer of assets outside the probate process so your family can inherit without costly and lengthy probate proceedings after death.
There are, however, circumstances in which going to probate court does become necessary. When your loved one has become incapacitated with no power of attorney or other plan for incapacity, you may need to go to court so someone can be appointed to manage his assets and make his decisions. When your loved one has passed on, you’ll need to go to probate court unless other plans have been made – and you could end up in probate court if there is a problem with the trust administration process.
If you must go to probate court, Kuhn & Kuhn can help. Probate takes place in the county where the deceased or incapacitated person lived or owned property. For those in Charleston, that means the Charleston County Probate Court.
The commitment and guardianship division of this court is located at the Judicial Center at 100 Broad Street in Suite 469 in Charleston, SC 29401. The telephone number is 843-958-5180. The estate division of this court is located at 84 Broad Street on the third floor in Charleston, SC 29401. The telephone number is 834-958-5044.
Kuhn & Kuhn can provide representation to family members of an incapacitated person in guardianship proceedings; to the executor of an estate in probate; to a trust administrator; to heirs or beneficiaries; or to those who wish to contest a will or contest a trust during probate proceedings.
Getting Help from a Charleston, South Carolina Elder Law and Estate Planning Attorney
If you live in or around the Charleston area, Kuhn & Kuhn can provide you with help in protecting yourself and your family and in planning for the future. We can work closely with you to identify the types of tools that you need to use to ensure your assets are safe from risks, to make plans for illness and incapacity, and to ensure your family is provided for even if something happens to you. Give us a call today to find out more about how we can help you.
