Do you think that estate planning is only for those with extreme wealth and that there is no reason for an everyday person to have one? This may be a common and damaging misconception many have about estate planning firms. Estate planning can involve the implementation of important legal tools to help protect yourself, your loved ones, and your goals for the future. A last will and testament, for instance, can be one such important legal tool. Let us take a moment to review three reasons why you should have an up-to-date last will and testament.
- A will can set forth how you would like your assets to be distributed. If you do not have a will at the time of your death, your assets may be distributed in accordance with the law of the state in which you reside. Depending on your state of residency, you may not be happy with how the state will want to distribute your assets. Additionally, if you own property in multiple states, then you may have multiple state laws conflicting with each other on the appropriate beneficiaries for your property. With a will, you can dictate how you want your assets distributed and you can eliminate confusion and potential conflict.
- A will can identify who you would like to raise your children. If you have minor children and you die without a will, your children may be raised by their other parents. If that other parent is also deceased or is not fit to raise the children, a judge who has never met your children may make a determination about who is the best person to raise them. Indicating how you would like to raise your children in your will can let your family, and the judge, know your wishes so that they can be honored.
- A will can set forth who you would like to manage your children’s inheritance and how you would like it managed in the event they are minors at the time of your death. If you have minor children and you die without a will, your assets may not be able to go directly to them. Instead, they may go into a trust managed by a trustee until the children become adults. If you do not create that trust in your will or by some other estate planning vehicle, then a court may select a trustee and create the trust for you. By establishing the trust in your estate plan, you can identify who you believe should manage the assets in the trust and how you would like them to be managed on behalf of your children and distributed to your children.
For help navigating the estate planning process, please contact our office for assistance.
Article provided by Gregory Port, M.B.A., J.D., Founder of Port Legal, one of Ohio’s TOP Elder Law & Estate Planning law firms. Attorney Port and his firm are Members of the National ElderCare Matters Alliance and have a Featured Listing on ElderCareMatters.com– America’s National Directory of Elder Care / Senior Care Resources to help families plan for and deal with the issues of Aging.
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