Comprehensive Estate Planning Services in Pennsylvania

Protect What Matters Most—Your Legacy, Your Family, and Your Peace of Mind

At Northstar Legal Services, LLC, we help individuals and families across Pennsylvania plan for the future with confidence. Estate planning isn’t just about documents—it’s about making sure your wishes are honored, your loved ones are protected, and your assets are transferred smoothly and legally. Whether you're drafting a simple will or coordinating a complex estate, we guide you through the process with clarity, compassion, and practical experience.

Estate Planning Is More Than a Will—It’s a Legal Safety Net for Life and Death

Estate planning ensures that your health care decisions, finances, and assets are managed according to your values and instructions—not left to chance or the courts. From young families just getting started to seniors updating long-standing plans, we help clients create customized solutions that reflect their unique life circumstances. We also assist grieving families with the probate process, providing legal clarity during difficult times.

Wills & Trusts

We draft clear, enforceable wills and create trusts that streamline asset transfer, reduce tax exposure, and avoid probate.

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Powers of Attorney & Health Care Directives

Make sure someone you trust can make financial and medical decisions for you in case of incapacity.

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Asset Protection Strategies

We develop strategies to shield your assets from lawsuits, taxes, and long-term care costs while preserving generational wealth.

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Custom Legal Planning for Your Life, Family, and Future

Whether you need to protect your children, prepare for incapacity, or avoid probate, estate planning gives you control over the unknown. We make the process simple, transparent, and entirely tailored to your needs. With virtual and mobile services available, we meet you where you are—physically and emotionally.

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Wills & Living Wills

We draft clear, enforceable wills that ensure your wishes are followed and your loved ones are protected.

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Trusts (Revocable & Irrevocable)

We help you explore whether a trust is right for your goals, including asset protection, tax planning, or providing for minors.

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Powers of Attorney

Grant legal authority to someone you trust to manage your financial or legal affairs if you're ever unable to do so yourself.

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Advance Health Care Directives

Make your end-of-life care decisions in advance with documents that reflect your medical wishes and spare your family difficult choices.

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Special Needs Planning

Protect benefits eligibility while providing ongoing support for loved ones with disabilities through proper trust planning.

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Estate Tax & Inheritance Planning

We help minimize tax exposure and maximize value transfer to your beneficiaries through strategic legal tools.

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Probate & Estate Administration

We guide executors and families through the Pennsylvania probate process—from filing the will to distributing assets—efficiently and compassionately.

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Beneficiary Designation & Asset Coordination

We review retirement accounts, insurance policies, and jointly held assets to ensure they align with your estate plan.

You Have Estate Planning Questions. We Have Clear Answers.

  • What should a basic estate plan in Pennsylvania include?

    A complete estate plan typically includes a will, durable financial power of attorney, healthcare directive, and often a trust. These documents ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, your medical decisions are honored, and someone you trust can manage your affairs if you’re unable. We help families across Elizabethtown and Central Pennsylvania create tailored plans that reflect their goals and provide real peace of mind.

  • Do I still need a will if I already have a living trust?

    Yes. Even with a trust in place, a “pour-over” will is essential to ensure any assets not titled in the trust are properly distributed. The will also lets you name guardians for minor children and handle other personal matters. Our firm creates coordinated estate plans that use wills and trusts together to avoid probate, reduce taxes, and protect your legacy in Pennsylvania.

  • What’s the difference between a power of attorney and a healthcare directive?

    A power of attorney appoints someone to manage your financial or legal affairs, while a healthcare directive (or living will) allows someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re incapacitated. Both are critical components of an estate plan. We draft clear, legally binding documents that comply with Pennsylvania law and reflect your specific wishes and values.

  • How often should I update my estate plan in Pennsylvania?

    You should review your estate plan every 3–5 years, or any time there’s a major life change—such as a marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death in the family, or significant financial shift. We offer estate plan reviews to help clients ensure their documents remain valid, up-to-date, and aligned with both personal and legal changes.

  • Can I use a DIY estate planning kit in Pennsylvania instead of hiring a lawyer?

    While DIY kits may seem convenient, they often fail to comply with Pennsylvania law or account for unique family dynamics, tax considerations, or asset protection goals. One mistake can lead to invalid documents or costly disputes. As experienced estate planning attorneys serving Lancaster County and beyond, we draft clear, customized plans that truly stand the test of time.