Having an estate plan is essential for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you are young or don’t have many assets because it is a needed step towards securing your assets and passing them to your heirs. Unfortunately, many people ignore or delay estate planning because they think 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 and creating an estate plan.
Estate planning can come with many benefits for your family even after you’re gone. Also, good planning for the future will always be a positive step for you and everyone close to you. So here, in this blog, we aren’t just going to talk about 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 to settle your estate, savings, and everything which belongs to you. In the choice, 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 retitling your assets into the name of the trust during your lifetime. This document will allow your loved ones to avoid probate and provide 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 essential advice to your trustees or dependents. This will help you and your family members craft a vision with your estate.
Important Estate Roles
Before planning or during the planning of an estate, you must make some practical decisions, and they aren’t going to be an easy task. For example, you have to pick an executor, a trustee, and a guardian if you have minor children.
An Executor
They are 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 strictly enforced your faith’s rules without breaking anything. It is your choice, and you should consider carefully who you are going to make your trustee. You can pick a known person who knows your circumstances well or choose a professional institution to handle all that.
A Guardian
You must know that a guardian is an 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 step you are going to take should be taken under the consultation of an experienced lawyer. We highly recommend estate planning for all, regardless of your wealth or age. It is never too early to start planning, as a good estate plan created by a reasonable attorney will provide flexibility and grow alongside you.