Estate Planning Attorney in Longmont, Colorado
A complete estate plan puts your wishes in writing and makes sure the right people have the legal authority to act on them — while you're alive and after you're gone. We handle every part of that process personally, from your first consultation through your signed documents.
Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills
LL.M. in Taxation — University of Denver
Flat-Fee Pricing, Explained Upfront
Free 30-Minute Consultations
More Than 23 Years in Practice
Serving Boulder, Weld & Larimer Counties
What Estate Planning Actually Covers
Most people assume estate planning is something you do when you're older or wealthy. In practice, if you own a home, have children, or have anyone who depends on you, you have a reason to have a plan in place now.
An estate plan is a set of legal documents that determines two things: what happens to your assets when you die, and what happens to you while you're still alive but unable to speak for yourself. Without those documents, Colorado law fills in the blanks — and it doesn't know your family, your situation, or your wishes.
Colorado has no state estate tax, which means most families here don't need elaborate tax planning strategies to protect what they've built. The state's probate code is also more streamlined than most — but that doesn't make probate something your family wants to deal with after a loss. A properly structured plan can keep your estate out of probate entirely, or make the process significantly simpler if it's unavoidable.
The four documents that make up most complete estate plans are a will, a trust, a power of attorney, and a living will. Not every situation calls for all four. Nicole will explain what makes sense for yours.
An estate plan is a set of documents personally tailored to handle your affairs and carry out your wishes — while you're alive and after you're gone. Whether you're setting up a first plan, updating one after a life change, or navigating probate for a loved one, McGann Law Group handles each case directly and personally.
Estate Planning Services
If you're serving as executor of an estate or managing affairs after a family member has passed, we can walk you through every step of the proces
Probate
Wills
A will directs who inherits your assets and who serves as executor of your estate. For parents, it's also the document that legally designates a guardian for your minor children. Without a will, Colorado's intestacy laws decide how your property is distributed — and a court decides who raises your kids.
Trusts
A revocable living trust transfers your assets to your beneficiaries without going through probate, gives you more control over how and when distributions happen, and continues to function during incapacity — not just after death. For families with a home, retirement accounts, and children, a trust often provides more protection than a will alone.
Powers of Attorney
A durable financial power of attorney authorizes someone you trust to manage your finances if you're incapacitated. A medical power of attorney names who speaks to your doctors on your behalf. Without both documents in place, even a spouse may need court permission to pay your bills or make healthcare decisions — a process that can take weeks and significant expense at exactly the wrong time.
Living Will
A living will — also called an advance healthcare directive — documents your specific preferences for end-of-life medical care. It tells doctors what treatments you do and don't want if you're terminally ill or permanently unconscious and can't communicate. Colorado healthcare providers are required to honor a properly executed living will, which means your family doesn't have to make that call for you.
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Who We Help
Young families and new parents
If you have minor children and something happens to you, a will is the only legal document that lets you name who raises them. It's also the starting point for any financial protection you want to put in place for them.
Homeowners and first-time buyers
Buying a home is one of the most common triggers for putting an estate plan together — and for good reason. A home is often the largest asset in an estate, and how it's titled and what happens to it after death are decisions that need to be made on purpose, not by default.
Retirees and people with aging parents
Whether you're updating a plan you made years ago or helping a parent get documents in place before a health situation becomes urgent, we work with clients at every stage of that process. Powers of attorney and healthcare directives are especially time-sensitive when someone's health is already declining.
Why an LL.M. in Taxation Matters for Your Estate Plan
Most estate planning attorneys hold a J.D. Nicole also holds an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Denver — an advanced law degree specifically in tax law.
For straightforward plans, the difference is a second layer of review that catches things a general practitioner might miss. For more complex situations — estates that involve retirement accounts, business interests, appreciated real estate, or multi-generational planning — it's the difference between a plan that works on paper and one that holds up when it matters.
Colorado has no state estate tax, but federal estate tax rules, IRA beneficiary designation requirements, and the tax treatment of inherited assets are all areas where the details matter. Nicole's training covers those details.
Straightforward guidance. Clear explanations. Thoughtful planning.
Why Clients Trust Nicole With Their Estate Plans
"We used the McGann Law Group both for estate planning and tax. Nicole made the process easy and explained very detailed law in a way that allowed us to understand it. The process to create our estate plan was much easier than anticipated."
— Amy & Warren G., Longmont, CO
"Something I value highly is that Nicole takes a pragmatic approach to law and doesn't overcomplicate things unnecessarily."
— Mark J.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an estate planning attorney do in Colorado?
An estate planning attorney helps you create the legal documents that govern what happens to your assets when you die and who can make decisions for you if you're incapacitated. In Colorado, that typically means drafting and executing wills, revocable living trusts, financial powers of attorney, medical powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives — and making sure those documents are properly coordinated with how your assets are titled and who your beneficiaries are.
Do I need a will or a trust in Colorado?
It depends on your situation. A will is the foundation of most estate plans and is appropriate for many families. A trust offers additional advantages — primarily avoiding probate, providing for incapacity planning, and giving you more control over how and when beneficiaries receive assets. Some clients need both. Nicole will explain which approach makes sense for your family in your free consultation.
Do I need a will even if I already have a trust?
Yes — and this is a common misconception. A trust only governs the assets that are formally transferred into it. A will handles anything that wasn't funded into the trust and serves as a backstop for assets you acquired or forgot to retitle. Most complete estate plans include both.
When should I update my estate plan?
Any significant life change is a reason to review your plan: marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, the death of a named beneficiary or executor, buying or selling real estate, starting or closing a business, or a major change in assets. As a general rule, it's worth a review every three to five years even if nothing has changed, just to make sure the documents still reflect your current situation and Colorado law hasn't shifted in ways that affect you.
What happens if I die without an estate plan in Colorado?
Colorado's intestacy laws determine who inherits your property — and the outcome may not match your wishes, particularly in blended families, non-traditional households, or situations where you'd want someone outside your immediate family to receive something. Your estate will also go through probate, which is a court-supervised process that takes time and costs money. And without a will naming a guardian, a court decides who raises your minor children without the benefit of knowing your preferences.
Make Your Wishes Clear. Protect Your Family.
Your estate plan should reflect your wishes, protect the people you care about, and give you confidence about what comes next. Nicole will help you understand your options and create a plan tailored to your life, family, and goals.