Courtesy of Stamm Law

Take a step back and look at your current family situation. Does it seem to fit into any of the following categories? If so, you may want to consider establishing an estate plan.

  • You currently have young children. There’s no time like the present to begin the estate planning process. If your children are still minors, there are two specific areas that need to be promptly addressed: 1) In event of your untimely death, who will care for your children? 2) How will their care and education be paid for? While it may be difficult to consider, a judge will be forced to rule on this if you don’t create a comprehensive plan.
  • You’re in a same-sex relationship or an unmarried committed partnership. Without adequate legal documentation in place, one partner may be left out in the event of any untimely deaths. Plan for the future of your assets with a comprehensive estate plan, and ensure that each partner is protected in the event of an accident, illness, or death.
  • You care for a disabled child or beneficiary. No matter the current value of your estate, it’s imperative that you take part in planning for your disabled child. If you fail to do so, the beneficiary might ultimately lose their government issued benefits, leaving your estate depleted after compensating for the cost of care.
  • You’re in a second marriage or have a blended family. Couples involved in a second marriage with blended families are often in need of full estate planning services. There are many traps that come bundled with these sorts of situations that can ultimately result in resentment and costly lawsuits. You can avoid many of these pitfalls if you plan accordingly.
  • You’ve divorced your spouse. If you didn’t have an estate plan before the divorce, then you should certainly create one afterward to ensure that your assets are properly distributed. An estate attorney will also ensure that your former spouse has complied with all of the terms of a property settlement agreement.
  • You have no children. Even if you’re not sure who should ultimately receive your assets, it’s still important to plan for the future. Without an estate plan in place, intestacy laws (dying without a will) may call for an arbitrary plan upon your passing. It’s important to take control of your own assets.
  • Your spouse has recently passed away. If your assets were jointly titled, or you were the beneficiary of your spouse’s life insurance and retirement accounts, probate may not be necessary. When referring to your estate, however, all of these assets are now yours and yours alone. Taking this into consideration, it’s important that you organize the eventual transfer of these assets to your future beneficiaries.
  • You have problem children or untrustworthy beneficiaries. If you’re concerned with your children or beneficiaries throwing away their inheritance, or you fear the beneficiary may lose assets in a divorce or lawsuit, you should consider establishing a legal plan.

 

Learn more at StammLaw.com or call 716-631-5767.