Estate Planning 

We collaborate with your legal team to coordinate wills, trusts, Power of Attorney (POAs), and beneficiary designations. This will ensure that your will is carried out how you planned it to be, leading to a seamless transfer of wealth. During our estate planning discussions, we will review asset lists, family dynamics and tax issues to design and maintain estate documents that reflect your goals. 

Estate planning questions

Do you draft wills and trusts?

No. Wills, trusts and powers of attorney should be prepared by an estate planning attorney. Our role is the financial side: reviewing how your accounts are titled, checking beneficiary designations and helping your investments and insurance line up with what your documents say. We can work with your attorney or help you find one.

Does South Carolina have an estate or inheritance tax?

South Carolina does not currently have a state estate tax or inheritance tax. Pennsylvania, where we also have an office, does have an inheritance tax, with rates that depend on the heir’s relationship to the person who died. Federal estate tax may also apply to larger estates. Cambridge does not provide tax or legal advice, so please confirm the details with your attorney or tax professional.

How often should I update my estate plan?

Review it after major life events, such as a marriage, divorce, birth, death, a move to a new state or a significant change in your finances, and every few years otherwise. If you have moved to South Carolina from another state, it is a good time to have an attorney review your documents under South Carolina law.

What happens if my beneficiary designations do not match my will?

In most cases, the beneficiary named on a retirement account, life insurance policy or transfer-on-death account receives that asset, regardless of what the will says. That is why we review beneficiaries alongside your estate documents.

These answers are general education, not individual tax, legal or investment advice. Your situation may differ, so please talk with us or a qualified professional before acting.

Keeping accounts and documents in sync

An estate plan works best when the accounts behind it are set up to match. That usually means reviewing IRA legacy planning, any life insurance you hold, and your charitable intentions. We work alongside your attorney. Get in touch.