“As a retiree who moved to Bozeman from Alaska, I went to the Rabb Law Firm to update all the the estate planning documents my husband and I had from out of state. The friendly staff took care of our needs quickly and efficiently. I was very pleased with their service.”
Estate Planning & Asset Protection
If you don’t have an estate plan, your state has one for you. But you probably won’t like it.
Estate Planning and Asset Protection
Your estate includes everything you own — your home, vehicles, bank accounts, investments, business interests, personal belongings, and more. Estate planning allows you to decide how, when, and to whom those assets are distributed, while minimizing taxes, legal fees, and court involvement.
At The Rabb Law Firm, we create comprehensive estate plans tailored to your goals, your family, and your values — ensuring your wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected.
What a Comprehensive Estate Plan Can Do
A well-crafted estate plan goes far beyond deciding who gets what. Our attorneys can help you:
Pass on your values, not just your valuables
Plan for your care and finances if you become incapacitated
Appoint guardians and inheritance managers for minor children
Provide for loved ones with special needs without jeopardizing benefits
Protect beneficiaries from creditors, divorce, or irresponsible spending
Plan for the transfer of a family business at retirement, disability, or death
My husband and I had a complex estate planning matter and were incredibly impressed with the efficiency, knowledge, responsiveness and professionalism we found with The Rabb Law Firm. Every individual in this firm is an absolute pleasure to deal with. We had previously explored other options and had not found anything close to the quality of people and services we found at the Rabb firm.
— Jan AmendeWills vs. Living Trusts
Wills
A will outlines your wishes but does not avoid probate. Assets titled in your name must pass through a public, court-supervised process that can be costly, time-consuming, and subject to state law — often taking months or years to resolve. When property is owned in multiple states, probate may be required in each. Ultimately, the court, not your family, controls the process.
Revocable Living Trusts
A revocable living trust offers a more comprehensive solution. It can avoid probate entirely, preserve privacy, and ensure seamless management of assets during incapacity. A trust unifies your assets into a single plan, is valid nationwide, and may be amended at any time to reflect changing circumstances and values.
Unlike a will, a trust can continue long after your lifetime. Assets may remain under the management of a trustee you choose, allowing you to control when and how beneficiaries inherit, provide ongoing support for loved ones with special needs, and protect assets from creditors, divorce, or imprudent spending.
While a living trust requires greater upfront planning, many families view it as a prudent investment in long-term protection, efficiency, and peace of mind.
Asset Protection Planning
Anyone with something to lose should consider asset protection. Asset protection planning is a legitimate and proactive strategy designed to preserve wealth before claims arise — enhancing leverage, deterring litigation, and protecting long-term financial security.
Asset protection must be done well in advance of any claim to be effective. We take a comprehensive approach, considering tools such as:
Insurance Planning
State Homestead Protections
Business Entities
Estate Planning Instruments
Domestic Asset Protection Trusts
Asset protection is not about secrecy or evasion. It is about strategic planning, compliance, and foresight. When properly implemented, it can significantly reduce exposure to future claims, lawsuits, or judgments.