You should also make copies of estate planning documents, mortgage, deed to the house, titles to cars and any other property. Power of attorney in case of incapacityĬreate an inventory of assets, including financial and bank accounts, insurance policies and contact information for any professionals, including your estate planning attorney, accountant, financial advisor, etc.With an estate plan, you give yourself and your loved ones peace of mind. Dying without an estate plan can drag loved ones into long and costly probate to determine how assets should be distributed. According to a recent article, “Estate Planning: 7 Things To Make Sure You Do” from aol.com, taking these steps while you’re healthy and of sound mind is the best time to get your estate plan done.Īn estate plan includes a will and other documents. Having an estate plan means you and your family have expressed wishes for the future, while you are living if you become incapacitated and when you pass away. Do so more often if you experience a major change in circumstance (marriage, divorce, children, inheritance, retirement, etc.).Think of estate planning as life planning. Review your will, including assets and beneficiaries, every two years to ensure everything is accounted for. If you followed the step above, this will be much easier. Create a will that lays out what happens to your assets after you die. They can help you with important estate plan documents you need to include, like a will, trust and healthcare directive, and answer any questions you may have. It’s important to meet with your estate attorney to get a full picture of what your estate plan will look like. Determine the person who will manage your estate and include their contact information.ĭraft an estate plan with your estate attorney Decide the guardianship of your child(ren), if needed, and determine who will receive which assets after your passing, then note their contact information. You may want to consider using a password management system to store multiple passwords that can be accessed with one password. Provide a list of passwords that will grant access to any digital assets or accounts that may hold important information or have value, such as social media and online bank accounts. Passwords for all online financial accounts and other digital assets.Factor in any life insurance policies, their cash values and death benefits. Account for your debts and loans, such as your mortgage, personal loans, lines of credit, etc. This can include your home, other real estate, vehicles, art, jewelry and other physical assets. Compile recent bank, brokerage and retirement account statements. Current and anticipated future income.Take inventory of your financial assets for your estate planĮvaluate your current circumstances and existing assets, gathering any documentation before you meet with your attorney. However, it’s important to work with an attorney to draft these documents and update your plan throughout your life. If an estate planning attorney isn’t an option for you right now, there are estate planning software programs that can help you create and maintain these documents. You might not need every estate planning document right away. Whatever your stage of life, and whatever the value of your estate, this checklist provides a path to follow for creating and maintaining your estate plan. Only 46% of people over the age of 55 have an estate planning document.Only 27% of people ages 35-54 have an estate planning document.Only 26% of people ages 18-34 have an estate planning document. The importance of estate planning, is clear, but many people put it off either due to lack of motivation or because they don’t think they have enough assets to leave to anyone. And by “estate,” we mean your assets-such as your home, your investments and anything else of value-plus any other important responsibilities you have, such as children or a guardianship. Put simply, an estate plan sets out your wishes as to how you would like your estate to be handled after you die or if you became incapacitated. The phrase “estate plan” may sound grand, but it’s a very practical set of documents that everyone should have.
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