Estate Planning Attorney
PROTECT YOUR HOME, YOUR SAVINGS, AND THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE
THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR FAMILY ISN'T MONEY, IT'S A PLAN
You’ve spent your life building something—a home, savings, a family. An estate plan is simply how you decide what happens to it, instead of leaving that decision to a courtroom.
Because without a plan, Arkansas has one for you. The state’s laws decide who inherits, in what shares, and when—and it may not match what you’d have chosen at all.
A good plan puts you back in control. It makes your wishes clear, spares your family stress and cost, and lets you rest knowing it’s handled. We’ve helped Arkansas families do exactly that since 1992.
ESTATE PLANNING TOOLS WE USE TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY
No two families are the same, so no two plans should be either. We’ll build yours from the pieces that actually fit your situation.
Wills
The foundation of any plan. A will names who inherits, who raises your children, and who carries out your wishes. We make sure yours is clear and valid under Arkansas law.
Revocable Trusts
A living trust lets your family skip probate and keep your affairs private. You stay in full control while you're alive, and your loved ones avoid the court process later.
Powers of Attorney
If you can't act for yourself, someone you trust needs the legal authority to step in. A power of attorney puts that person in place—and keeps your family out of a guardianship case.
HEALTHCARE DIRECTIVES & LIVING WILLS
State your medical wishes in advance, so your family isn't left guessing during the hardest moments. Your decisions, honored—not someone's best guess.
Beneficiary Deeds
Arkansas lets you pass real estate directly to loved ones at death, no probate required. A simple, powerful way to keep the family home out of court.
PLANNING FOR LONG-TERM CARE
A real plan looks ahead to the cost of aging, too—so a potential nursing-home bill doesn't quietly erase what you meant to leave behind.
Answering Commonly Asked Estate Planning Questions
IF I HAVE A WILL, DOES THAT MEAN MY FAMILY AVOIDS PROBATE?
This trips up almost everyone. A will doesn’t skip probate—it’s the instruction manual the court follows during probate. If avoiding court is your goal, that’s a job for tools like a revocable trust or beneficiary deeds, and it’s worth saying so up front so we build the right plan.
CAN I JUST LEAVE EVERYTHING TO ONE CHILD AND TRUST THEM TO SHARE IT?
It’s a common plan, and it’s a risky one—even with the most trustworthy child. Once everything is legally theirs, it’s exposed to their creditors, a divorce, or a lawsuit, and none of it is required to reach your other kids. If that child passes before sharing it, it goes to their heirs, not yours. If your goal is to provide for everyone, a will or trust can do that directly, without putting it all on one person’s shoulders.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS TO MY BELONGINGS IF I DIE WITHOUT A WILL IN ARKANSAS?
Arkansas’s laws take over and split your estate by a fixed formula—and it surprises people. A spouse doesn’t automatically get everything; children, and sometimes parents or siblings, can have a claim. A will lets you decide instead of the statute.
WHO RAISES MY KIDS IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME AND MY SPOUSE?
If you don’t name a guardian in a will, a judge chooses—from whoever steps forward, without knowing your family. Naming a guardian yourself is one of the most important things a will does, and it’s a big reason young parents shouldn’t put this off.
I ALREADY HAVE An estate PLAN FROM YEARS AGO. IS IT STILL GOOD?
Maybe—but old plans go stale. A named executor who’s passed away, an ex-spouse still listed as beneficiary, a child born after you signed, a law that’s changed since: any of these can quietly break a plan. If it’s been more than a few years, it’s worth a fresh look.
PLANNING DONE RIGHT, BY SOMEONE WHO'S DONE IT FOR DECADES
Estate planning is personal, and the attorney you choose matters. Charles Buchan has practiced law in Arkansas since 1992, with a simple conviction: the goal isn’t a thick stack of documents. It’s giving your family clarity, and sparing them conflict at the moment they can least handle it.
He’ll lay out your options in plain language, recommend only what you actually need, and quote a flat fee up front—so there are no surprises. And he stays reachable after the plan is signed, because questions tend to come up long after the paperwork is done.
The aim is straightforward: for you to walk away knowing your family is protected, and knowing you’re the one who decided how.
Contact us today
Whether you’re planning for the first time or it’s been years since you looked at the plan you have, the best time to handle this is while it’s entirely your choice.
Contact us today for a free consultation, and let’s build a plan that protects the people you love.