I have used the services of Dustin Beard for several years and found him to be trustworthy, knowledgeable, efficient, and professional. I highly recommend him for anyone who needs advice and services involving issues that occur as we age or just legal problems that present themselves in daily life.
“Planning for your own death or incapacitation is NOT something most of us want to think about. But, peace of mind makes doing so palatable. And, personally, having Dustin Beard do it for me gave me that peace of mind. I was worried about the cost going in, but he sat down with me to wade through what I needed exactly and that was free. He then gave me a quote on putting it all together and that’s what it costs. Not a penny over. With most other attorneys charging hourly, that was a breath of fresh air. No surprises. Easy. Peace of Mind. Dustin’s your guy if you’re looking for that.“
“To anyone thinking about Estate Planning Mr. Dustin Beard was recommended to us, through our financial adviser, my wife and I had discussed this many times before. I placed a call to Dustin, this was the easiest process. He came to our home and the process took us about 1 hour and a half. Dustin’s service is very thorough, we had no idea how to protect our assets. We have a peace of mind now knowing what we have worked for all our lives will benefit our children and grandchildren, not the government or waste. We are very happy that our planning is now in place.”
“I can’t say enough how much I truly appreciate the great service, quick attention and overall KINDNESS that I received. I have told my family and friends. Thanks so much.“
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Dustin on a couple of projects. My experience has been wonderful – he’s competent and thorough, kind yet aggressive, informative and complete. He’s an attorney with character. I would highly recommend him to you. You won’t be disappointed!”
“My husband and I needed to do comprehensive estate planning for our future and our two children. We worked with Dustin Beard and had a great experience. I was unsure what we needed exactly or where to even begin in the process. Dustin met with us and spent time with us planning out every aspect we needed. He was thorough, knowledgeable and explained the whole process to us. We are so thankful to have this estate planning completed with full confidence that it was done thoroughly and covered all the bases. We highly recommend Dustin to all of our friends and family.“
“My husband, W. and I were in need of an attorney that could give us advise on a will. We had sought out a few other attorneys with no satisfaction concerning our issue. I looked back at a circular that we had saved from months ago in the paper and my husband decided to call Dustin Beard. I believe that God was leading us to Dustin by not letting the others work out for us. Dustin was so kind, understanding and very knowledgeable. He set us up with just the things that we needed to meet our needs and bring comfort and peace to minds on our decisions. If we ever have a need again of an attorney, it will be Dustin that we call. We have told several people about what, not only a good attorney he is, but also about what a fine man he is, and we will continue to tell others. We pray God’s blessings upon him for the blessing he was to us in our time of new and the work he does. Thank you Dustin Beard.”
Estate Planning Attorney in Lexington, KY
Helping Protect Your Loved Ones and Assets With Personalized Estate Planning
Estate planning brings peace of mind knowing your loved ones are protected. A custom estate plan has an additional advantage: certain tax benefits. Without an estate plan in place, the state of Kentucky will make all decisions about the distribution of your estate for you. For parents with young children, the state will decide who should raise minor children. No state agency can understand your family’s unique issues. They will follow Kentucky’s law, no matter what you may have wanted.
Estate planning is an essential process that ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes after passing. By creating a comprehensive estate plan, you can avoid potential disputes among family members and reduce the burden on your loved ones during a challenging time. It also allows you to designate guardians for minor children and make decisions about your healthcare in case you become incapacitated. Additionally, estate planning can provide significant tax benefits, helping you minimize the taxes owed on your estate and maximize the inheritance for your beneficiaries. By proactively addressing your estate, you can safeguard your legacy and ensure that your hard-earned assets are managed and passed down in the way you envision.
Start your estate planning today to secure peace of mind for both you and your family. Contact us today.
Our Practice Areas
Protecting what you’ve worked hard to build is essential. We help individuals and families create legal strategies that safeguard their assets from creditors, lawsuits, long-term care costs, and other potential threats, while preserving wealth for future generations.
Your business is more than just a livelihood. It is your legacy. We help business owners plan for a smooth transition, whether passing a company to the next generation, selling it, or preparing for unforeseen changes, all with tax-efficient and legally sound strategies.
If giving back is part of your vision, we can help you incorporate charitable trusts into your estate plan. These tools allow you to support the causes you care about, achieve tax advantages, and preserve wealth for your loved ones.
Aging brings unique legal challenges. We offer guidance on long-term care planning, Medicaid eligibility, advance directives, and other strategies to help older adults and their families protect their dignity, independence, and resources.
When a loved one can no longer make decisions for themselves, we assist families in seeking guardianship or conservatorship through the Kentucky courts. We handle these sensitive matters carefully, ensuring the person’s best interests remain the priority.
Losing a loved one is difficult enough without the stress of navigating probate. We guide families through the process by filing a will, settling debts, distributing assets, ensuring compliance with Kentucky law, and working on reducing unnecessary delays or disputes.
Trusts are versatile estate planning tools to help avoid probate, manage wealth, and protect assets. We create customized trusts tailored to your goals, from revocable living trusts to irrevocable or tax-focused options.
For families with a loved one who has a disability, a special needs trust can provide financial support without affecting eligibility for benefits like Medicaid or SSI. We craft these trusts with professional skills, focusing on preserving your resources and bringing you peace of mind.
Protecting what you’ve worked hard to build is essential. We help individuals and families create legal strategies that safeguard their assets from creditors, lawsuits, long-term care costs, and other potential threats, while preserving wealth for future generations.
If giving back is part of your vision, we can help you incorporate charitable trusts into your estate plan. These tools allow you to support the causes you care about, achieve tax advantages, and preserve wealth for your loved ones.
When a loved one can no longer make decisions for themselves, we assist families in seeking guardianship or conservatorship through the Kentucky courts. We handle these sensitive matters carefully, ensuring the person’s best interests remain the priority.
Trusts are versatile estate planning tools to help avoid probate, manage wealth, and protect assets. We create customized trusts tailored to your goals, from revocable living trusts to irrevocable or tax-focused options.
Your business is more than just a livelihood. It is your legacy. We help business owners plan for a smooth transition, whether passing a company to the next generation, selling it, or preparing for unforeseen changes, all with tax-efficient and legally sound strategies.
Aging brings unique legal challenges. We offer guidance on long-term care planning, Medicaid eligibility, advance directives, and other strategies to help older adults and their families protect their dignity, independence, and resources.
Losing a loved one is difficult enough without the stress of navigating probate. We guide families through the process by filing a will, settling debts, distributing assets, ensuring compliance with Kentucky law, and working on reducing unnecessary delays or disputes.
For families with a loved one who has a disability, a special needs trust can provide financial support without affecting eligibility for benefits like Medicaid or SSI. We craft these trusts with professional skills, focusing on preserving your resources and bringing you peace of mind.
How Does Estate Planning Work?
An estate plan can be reasonably simple, or for high-net-worth individuals, very complex. In either case, estate planning is preparing for the management and distribution of your assets after you pass away or if you become incapacitated and can’t manage your affairs. In Kentucky, a customized estate plan ensures that your wishes are honored, your loved ones are protected, and costly legal complications are avoided.
The first step in estate planning is to identify your personal goals. They may include passing property to your heirs, minimizing estate taxes, avoiding probate, providing for minor children, and ensuring your healthcare preferences are honored. At Elder Law Advisors, PLLC, we use various legal tools to assist our clients in achieving their personal goals. We understand that the estate planning process can be stressful, and our estate planning attorney in Lexington, Dustin Beard, delivers a rare level of care and attention at every step.
Client Success Stories
I have used the services of Dustin Beard for several years and found him to be trustworthy, knowledgeable, efficient, and professional. I highly recommend him for anyone who needs advice and services involving issues that occur as we age or just legal problems that present themselves in daily life.
“Planning for your own death or incapacitation is NOT something most of us want to think about. But, peace of mind makes doing so palatable. And, personally, having Dustin Beard do it for me gave me that peace of mind. I was worried about the cost going in, but he sat down with me to wade through what I needed exactly and that was free. He then gave me a quote on putting it all together and that’s what it costs. Not a penny over. With most other attorneys charging hourly, that was a breath of fresh air. No surprises. Easy. Peace of Mind. Dustin’s your guy if you’re looking for that.“
“To anyone thinking about Estate Planning Mr. Dustin Beard was recommended to us, through our financial adviser, my wife and I had discussed this many times before. I placed a call to Dustin, this was the easiest process. He came to our home and the process took us about 1 hour and a half. Dustin’s service is very thorough, we had no idea how to protect our assets. We have a peace of mind now knowing what we have worked for all our lives will benefit our children and grandchildren, not the government or waste. We are very happy that our planning is now in place.”
“I can’t say enough how much I truly appreciate the great service, quick attention and overall KINDNESS that I received. I have told my family and friends. Thanks so much.“
“My husband and I needed to do comprehensive estate planning for our future and our two children. We worked with Dustin Beard and had a great experience. I was unsure what we needed exactly or where to even begin in the process. Dustin met with us and spent time with us planning out every aspect we needed. He was thorough, knowledgeable and explained the whole process to us. We are so thankful to have this estate planning completed with full confidence that it was done thoroughly and covered all the bases. We highly recommend Dustin to all of our friends and family.“
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Dustin on a couple of projects. My experience has been wonderful – he’s competent and thorough, kind yet aggressive, informative and complete. He’s an attorney with character. I would highly recommend him to you. You won’t be disappointed!”
“My husband, W. and I were in need of an attorney that could give us advise on a will. We had sought out a few other attorneys with no satisfaction concerning our issue. I looked back at a circular that we had saved from months ago in the paper and my husband decided to call Dustin Beard. I believe that God was leading us to Dustin by not letting the others work out for us. Dustin was so kind, understanding and very knowledgeable. He set us up with just the things that we needed to meet our needs and bring comfort and peace to minds on our decisions. If we ever have a need again of an attorney, it will be Dustin that we call. We have told several people about what, not only a good attorney he is, but also about what a fine man he is, and we will continue to tell others. We pray God’s blessings upon him for the blessing he was to us in our time of new and the work he does. Thank you Dustin Beard.”
Guidance for Personalized Estate Plans in Lexington, KY
Our Lexington estate planning attorney, Dustin Beard, can help you with the critical decisions with the breadth of knowledge to ensure the estate plan is valid and enforceable. Once your plan is in place, it should be reviewed regularly and updated to reflect changes such as a marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or a significant change in assets.
At Elder Law Advisors, PLLC, we treat our clients like family. Our approach is personal, and we devote all the time needed to the process, never rushing it or just using a cookie-cutter approach. We offer flat-fee legal services that give you our legal support throughout your lifetime.
With professional guidance, estate planning is an empowering process. We can work closely with you to design a plan that honors your values, protects your family, and gives you peace of mind.
Although Mr. Beard grew up in Kentucky, after graduating from the University of Kentucky College of Law, he settled in Lexington with his wife and three children. When he is not practicing law, Mr. Beard enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and bowling. Mr. Beard is an active member of Center Point Church in Lexington, where he serves as a Small Group Leader. Mr. Beard is also a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.
Avoiding Probate in Kentucky
In Lexington, probate matters take place at the Fayette County District Court. The probate process determines how your assets will be distributed and your debts paid. Probate could take many months or even years for high-net-worth estates.
Probate can be a long and expensive legal process when an estate plan does not include strategies to avoid long delays, which could leave your loved ones facing severe financial stress. In Kentucky, the probate process typically takes between six months and a year, but can be far longer if an estate is complex or when a will is contested. With proper planning, probate issues can be reduced, or in many cases, avoided entirely.
Speak with our Lexington estate planning attorney to learn how you can avoid probate.
Why Choose Us?
You’re never just a case number. We take the time to get to know you, your story, and what matters most.
Our founding attorney, Dustin Beard, provides one-on-one attention and customizes every plan to meet your unique needs and goals.
Elder law and estate planning is not just a segment of what we do; it is our focus, every day. Whether you need help with wills, trusts, Medicaid planning, or guardianship, we’re here to help.
Our flat-fee model includes support for the life of your plan. You will never worry about being billed for every question, update, or meeting.
Based in Lexington, we serve clients throughout Kentucky with warmth, clarity, and down-to-earth advice.
Estate Planning Tools: Help Your Heirs Avoid Probate
Our Lexington estate planning attorney uses various legal tools to help Kentucky families streamline the transfer of assets and reduce the burden of probate. Some of the options that are used in crafting an estate plan include the following:
Revocable Living Trust
A primary tool for avoiding probate in Kentucky. Assets placed into a living trust during the grantor’s lifetime are not subject to probate. The grantor can serve as trustee and maintain control until death or incapacity.
Last Will and Testament
Though a will does not avoid probate, it directs how assets are distributed through the probate process. Under KRS Chapter 394, wills must meet specific execution requirements, including being in writing and witnessed by two competent adults.
Durable Power of Attorney
These documents allow an individual you trust to manage financial and legal affairs should you become incapacitated.
Advance Directive (Living Will) & Health Care Surrogate Designation
Permits individuals to make end-of-life care decisions in advance, governed by the Kentucky Living Will Directive Act. These documents include your designation of a health care surrogate to make decisions when an individual is incapacitated.
Payable-on-Death (POD) and Transfer-on-Death (TOD) Designations
Available for bank accounts, retirement accounts, and investment accounts. These designations allow assets to pass directly to named beneficiaries without probate.
Transfer-on-Death Vehicle Registration
Kentucky allows TOD registration for vehicles through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Enables vehicles to be transferred directly to a beneficiary outside of probate.
Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship
This strategy speeds up the transfer of real estate holdings and bank accounts. On the death of one owner, the asset passes automatically to the surviving owner without going through probate.
Small Estate Affidavit
If an estate’s value is $30,000 or less, and no personal representative has been appointed, the surviving spouse or heirs may collect assets using an affidavit after 30 days. The process was designed to simplify the transfer of assets in smaller estates.
Our Latest Blog Posts
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Spotlight on Medicaid Planning in Lexington
You have limited time to plan to protect your loved one’s estate if long-term care is necessary. Even a valuable estate can lose most of its value when proper planning has not taken place. Our estate planning attorney in Lexington can help with this critical issue.
20 Days
To make critical decisions about long-term care for your loved one or yourself.
20 Days
Medicare typically covers the cost of meals, skilled nursing, and rehabilitative services, but only for 20 days from admission. After 20 days, the patient is responsible for a portion of the cost. These are the crucial 20 days when we help clients get Medicaid coverage to handle the costs and protect assets.
After 20 Days
Although Medicare may provide some assistance for nursing care for 20-100 days (depending on your supplemental insurance), after 100 days, you are solely responsible for ALL costs.
Are You Prepared?
