Estate Planning Services
Protecting your family and your legacy starts with a solid estate plan. At Brandon W. Frazier, Attorney at Law, PLLC, we help individuals and families in McComb and throughout Southwest Mississippi prepare for the future with carefully crafted estate planning documents tailored to their unique circumstances.
Wills and Last Testaments
A properly drafted will ensures your assets pass to the people you choose, in the manner you choose. Under Mississippi law, a valid will must meet specific requirements for execution and witnessing. We prepare wills that comply with Mississippi statutory requirements and reflect your wishes for asset distribution, guardianship of minor children, and appointment of executors.
Trusts
Trusts offer flexibility that a will alone cannot provide. Whether you need a revocable living trust to avoid probate, an irrevocable trust for asset protection, or a testamentary trust for the benefit of minor children or other beneficiaries, we can help you determine which trust structure fits your goals and draft it accordingly.
Powers of Attorney
A durable power of attorney allows a person you trust to manage your financial affairs if you become unable to do so. Mississippi law provides for both general and limited powers of attorney. We draft powers of attorney that give your designated agent the authority they need while including appropriate safeguards.
Healthcare Directives
A healthcare power of attorney and advance directive (living will) allow you to designate someone to make medical decisions on your behalf and to document your wishes regarding end-of-life care. These documents provide clarity for your family and your medical providers during difficult times.
Probate and Estate Administration
When a loved one passes away, the legal process of administering their estate can be overwhelming. We assist executors, administrators, and beneficiaries through the Mississippi probate process, including filing required documents with the Chancery Court, inventory and appraisal of assets, creditor notification, and final distribution.
Why Plan Now?
Mississippi’s intestacy laws determine how your property passes if you die without a will, and the result may not match your intentions. Estate planning gives you control over your legacy and can spare your family unnecessary legal costs and delays.
Contact our office at 601.684.1125 to schedule a consultation about your estate planning needs.
Brandon W. Frazier, Attorney at Law, PLLC | 346 Scott Drive, McComb, Mississippi 39648
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a will valid in Mississippi?
A typed (attested) will must be signed by a testator who is at least 18 and of sound mind, and witnessed by two credible attesting witnesses. Mississippi also recognizes holographic wills — written entirely in the testator’s own handwriting and signed — though they invite more disputes. A properly executed and witnessed will, with a self-proving affidavit, makes probate significantly smoother.
What happens if I die without a will in Mississippi?
Your property passes under Mississippi’s intestacy laws: it is divided among your spouse and children in equal shares, and if you have neither, it moves outward to parents, siblings, and more distant relatives. The court — not you — decides who administers your estate, and the statutory distribution frequently does not match what people assume or want.
Do I need a trust, or is a will enough?
For many families, a will plus powers of attorney and healthcare directives is sufficient. A revocable living trust earns its cost when you want to avoid probate, own property in more than one state, want privacy, or need management for a beneficiary who is a minor or has special needs. We will tell you honestly if you do not need one.
Does Mississippi have an estate or inheritance tax?
No. Mississippi imposes no state estate tax or inheritance tax. Only estates exceeding the federal estate tax exemption — which is well into the millions — face federal estate tax, so the overwhelming majority of Mississippi estates owe none.
What is a durable power of attorney, and why do I need one?
It appoints someone you trust to handle your finances if you become incapacitated. Without one, your family may have to petition the chancery court for a conservatorship — a slower, more expensive, and public process — just to pay your bills or manage your property.
How does probate work in Mississippi?
Probate is handled in the chancery court of the county where the decedent lived. The executor is appointed, creditors are notified, debts and taxes are paid, and assets are distributed under the will or intestacy law. A straightforward estate can move relatively quickly, while contested or complex estates take longer. We handle probate and estate administration for families throughout Southwest Mississippi.