If you don’t have an estate plan or you have an estate plan that you haven’t looked at in years, chances are your estate is at risk. This is because as time marches on, your life events can really change things, according to Newsmax Finance in “Your Estate is at Risk.” Oh yes, let’s not forget that there may well be some legal liability issues out there.
For many people, the first experience with litigation is a divorce. Even in the best of circumstances, it’s a difficult situation. In a bad situation, it’s a nightmare for all concerned. What would happen if you became disabled? It’s more likely that someone will become disabled during the course of their life than that they will die prematurely.
Do you have a health care power of attorney, so someone you trust is empowered to make decisions on your behalf, if you became disabled? What about a durable power of attorney so a person you trust, who also has some financial savvy, can take over for you if you can’t do things, like pay bills or manage your business?
If you don’t have these documents in place, a court-appointed person will be assigned as your guardian. That is not something you want to happen.
If you’ve created a private business, you also need to plan for succession. Too many business owners let their businesses die along with them, leaving families, employees and clients stranded. Transitioning a business for succession or to be managed in your absence takes planning.
All of these issues can be dealt with in an estate plan, which you should have created for you by an estate planning attorney. The attorney should be someone you trust, who has experience helping people with the same challenges as your situation, whether that’s a blended family or a privately held family business.
Estate planners know how to use certain methods to help individuals and families make the most of their assets, limit their tax liabilities and plan for the future. There are many different tools available, from different types of trusts to the basics, like a will, power of attorney, and health care power of attorney, to make sure you and your family have the correct protection in place.
Going through the estate planning process is a useful experience, since it gives you and your spouse a chance to review your life’s accomplishments from a long-term perspective, prepare for events like retirement or funding a child or grandchild’s college education, and taking care of this important element of adulthood.
An estate planning attorney can advise you on creating an estate plan that fits your unique circumstances.
