Because tomorrow may be too late. People often think estate plans are reserved for the rich or they simply don’t need one at this season of their life.
Those thoughts are complete misnomers. Everyone- regardless of estate size, marital status, number of children or family planning intentions- needs an estate plan. Proper estate planning addresses asset protection and distribution, protects personal end-of-life decisions, allows continued care for unrelated parties, and ensures that personal family decisions remain confidential and protected.
Is an estate plan right for you?
An estate plan is right for anyone with any assets, family or decisions they are looking to protect. Assets can range in both their value and form- whether you have a checking account, a home, or harvested eggs in storage- all of these give you property rights and those rights should be protected.
Individuals with children or planning for a family will also strongly benefit from an estate plan. No parent wants to think about end-of-life questions, but guaranteeing the safety and security of our children is one of the most important things we can do as their protectors. An estate plan can allocate care and provide protections for our children and future generations. It can also guarantee their financial security and plan for future life stages such as college or marriage or when they have children of their own.
Why should I have an estate plan?
The simplest answer is to avoid probate. Probate is the process by which your assets will be distributed upon your death. The process is under the supervision of the court and is often lengthy and pricey. It also will not consider any of your personal desires regarding your property or care for non-family members nor is it capable of protecting any end-of-life wishes you want respected. An estate plan not only takes an accounting of your assets and addresses all individuals you may want to care for, it also includes documents protecting you’re decisions and allocating a responsible party to ensure those decisions are respected in the event you are no longer able to.
A will and a trust? What’s the difference and why should I have both?
A good estate plan will include both drawing up a will and setting up a trust. They work together, each with their own benefits, to help ensure all of your decisions are clear, well-documented and respected. I’m happy to sit down with you and together we can decide what is best for your unique and perfect family situation.