Estate Planning
When we look at estate planning we look to a family’s values, goals, and asset management. When you are ready to protect yourself and your family, it’s helpful to think about what type of legacy you want to leave behind.
Estate planning is a vehicle to help ensure your vision for your legacy is effectively passed down to future generations.
“What makes greatness is starting something that lives after you.”
- Ralph Washington Sockman
What is Estate Planning?
Estate Planning is about protecting what matters most to you.
A comprehensive Estate Plan typically includes Powers of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directives, a Last will and Testament, and a Living Trust. In some situations and for some families, we discuss more extensive planning such as Asset Protection Planning.
Do I Need An Estate Plan?
Everybody needs an Estate Plan!
In deciding if you and your family need a plan in place, consider how important the following are to you:
- Keeping your loved ones out of probate court and keeping your estate private
- Naming guardians for minor children
- Retaining full control over your assets during you lifetime
- Managing the distribution of your assets after death
- Appointing loved ones to make decisions for you during any period of incapacity (instead of the court
choosing this)
- Protecting your assets for yourself in your lifetime
- Protecting your heirs’ inheritances
When most people hear “Estate Plan” they think of a document that distributes their assets after death. While estate planning does cover for this, it does so much more! An effective estate plan protects someone while they are living and incapacitated, instructs for end-of-life situations and directs assets after death.