Erik Martin has had a very successful career thus far; after working as a lawyer in oil and gas for some time, he decided to switch over careers and begin working as an estate lawyer. Erik describes his career now as more of a passion project rather than just a job and he now gets the opportunity to educate and guide everyday folks in their estate planning process. What is an estate plan, you may be asking. An estate plan, in simpler terms, is one's will that they create to prepare for and to protect their loved ones after their death.
Although many people don’t love to sit around and think about their death, it is unavoidable, and having an estate plan is so important! Since working as an estate lawyer, Erik has built a system that is not only almost effortless on your part, but he also thinks of everything you need to protect you and your loved ones, and he includes it in your plan. Not only does Erik put together your will, but he also keeps other things in mind that you may need one day, such as a power of attorney. These extra bits and pieces that he adds to your estate plan are all part of the cost and are put into place to protect you and your loved ones. One aspect that Erik spoke about was that many people simply haven't been given the information needed to feel at ease when it comes to thinking about their will, including us! Going into this interview, I had my own perspective on what it is like to create a will, however, I was very wrong. What I thought was without a doubt a very uncomfortable, unaffordable, hassle, can actually be a very simple and reasonably priced process that leaves you undaunted.
Speaking with Erik gave me plenty of insight on why it is so important to complete an estate plan before passing. Erik has seen firsthand the turmoil, money loss, and stress that can be left on loved ones' shoulders if an estate plan is not put into place. Without it, there is too much gray area that one can take advantage of, or it can leave someone in an extremely high stress situation where they are unsure what to do and may cause them to make poor decisions during the process. These situations that can cause friction among family members and leave them feeling crushed by the weight of the process, are exactly the situations that we want to avoid. With a proper estate plan, all the questions will be answered and everything will be taken care of exactly how you asked.
Erik knows exactly what you need in order to protect yourself and your loved ones once you are gone, and he makes the process efficient and pleasant. Once you speak with Erik, you can set up an appointment to meet with him if needed, or he has created a form that he sends you electronically that you can fill out on your own time instead. This questionnaire will have you answer questions including your basic information, what will be in your estate plan, power of attorney, and if you need to add anything extra or get clarity, you can let Erik know and he will implement whatever it is that you may need. Everything Erik offers is included in one price, and he goes above and beyond with creating your estate plan; he will guide you through the process and get things done quickly and efficiently for you.
Erik shared with me that only about 30% of people have created their estate plan; therefore, he is currently hosting shows and events in the DFW area to spread awareness about the importance of creating your estate plan. He will be putting on one event a month for the next 9 months, where there is not only information, but also entertainment and lots of fun! If you are nearing your 30s, married, and/or have children, he and his team urge you to begin your planning. Once you complete this process, you won’t have to worry about it again, especially if you are getting help through Erik! For more information on these events, you can visit Panther City Syndicate’s Facebook page. If you would like to reach out to Erik Martin for more information or to get started on your estate planning, you can reach him at info@martinlawyers.com.
"One of my main goals is keeping families together by leaving a roadmap and a leader to guide them."