Having an estate plan is important for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you are young, or you don’t have a lot of assets because it is a needed step towards securing your assets and passing them to your heirs. A lot of people are ignoring or delaying estate planning just because they think that they don’t need it. We all know that death can come for anybody at any age but what about our family? We wouldn’t want to risk their security, their happiness, and most importantly their inheritance in order by not planning ahead and creating an estate plan.
Estate planning can come with a lot of benefits for your family even after you’re gone. Also, good planning for the future is always going to be a positive step for you and everyone who is close to you. Here, in this blog, we aren’t just going to talk about the estate planning but we will guide you with the estate planning checklist.
Estate Planning Checklist
Will
A will is quite helpful if you want to express your final wishes in order to settle your estate, savings, and everything which belongs to you. In the will you can also appoint a legal guardian or a person responsible for taking care of your minor children if you are no longer around. You must sign your will in front of two witnesses and it should be 100% your own conscious decision.
Revocable Trust
Can hold all your assets for the benefit of whom you wish. Unlike a will you will be transferring or re-titling your assets into the name of the trust during your live time. This document will allow your loved ones to avoid probate and provides a level of asset protection for you and your beneficiaries.
Advance Care Directive
This is just another name for the “Living Will”. It can be used to specify the medical treatment course when you aren’t able to articulate choices for yourself. You must know that state laws vary on the facility of advance care directives.
Health Care Proxy
It is another health-related facility in which you designate someone else to make choices about your medical care in case of an emergency or when you aren’t able to take the decision. You must know that state laws vary on the facility of Health Care Proxy too.
Statements of Intent
It allows you to express your wishes, philosophies, preferences, expectations, desires, and important advice to your trustees or dependents. This will help you and your family members in crafting a vision with your estate according to you.
Important Estate Roles
Before planning or during the planning of estate you must take some effective decisions and they aren’t going to be the easy task. You have to pick an executor, a trustee and a guardian if you have minor children.
An Executor
He/she is someone who is responsible for carrying out all the provisions of your will accordingly as you granted. The executor should be someone you trust like a child , close relative, friend or professional like a lawyer or accountant.
A Trustee
Someone who manages the trust you created and enforces the rules of your trust strictly without breaking anything. It is totally your choice and you should consider carefully who you going to make your trustee. You can pick a known person who knows your circumstances well or you can pick a professional institution to handle all that.
A Guardian
You must know that a guardian is a very important person who assumes your legal responsibilities for your minor or disabled children.
You must know that you’ve spent a lifetime building your estate so you should be careful with it. Every single step which you are going to take should be taken under the consultation of a experienced lawyer. We highly recommend estate planning for all regardless of your wealth or age. It is never to early to start planning as a good estate plan created by a good attorney will provide flexibility and grow along side you. Don’t wait call us today to schedule your free consultation.
