It can be easy to put off difficult questions such as what happens to your assets after your death and how they will get distributed. This is why a lot of people are not in possession of a will and a lot more will not have an estate plan. Even if your wealth is not significant, it is up to you to decide what happens to it after your death. You can make sure that your loved ones are kept comfortable financially immediately after your death so that can make preparations to secure their future finances.
Many people are aware of what a will does. It is basically a document that states your wishes on how you want to distribute your wealth and property as well as the care of children who are minors. An estate plan can help you further as it deals extensively in the distribution of assets and the managing of your legacy. An important distinction is that it will enable your family or heirs to pay less in taxes, court fees etc. This is something that you can consult wills and estate planning lawyers with. You will be provided many tax reducing strategies and how best to implement your asset distribution plan.
Taking Care of Children
The need for an estate plan will depend on a few factors. Children are one such factor. While this may be a difficult scenario to think about, you have to consider what will happen to your children in the event that one or both their parents are to die. With a will, you can assign a legal guardian who will be able to take care of the child. But you can also appoint a conservator to manage any assets that will be inherited by the child. Generally, this will be when the child is 18 or 21 years old.
Minimising the Probate Concerns
Anyone can get access to information from the probate court. If there are relatives that have concerns regarding your will, they can get access to your probate records to challenge it. There are also significant fees attached and quite a significant percentage can be taken out of your estate when it comes to settling attorneys and court costs. This percentage can go up to 5%. You have to make sure that you plan ahead so that you ac can avoid some of these issues.
Lay Out Your Wishes in the Case of Incapacitation
The benefit of an estate plan is not just something that hinges on your death. It deals with the aftermath in the event you become incapacitated and no longer able to execute your wishes. In this case, you can appoint somebody who will take over your financial affairs through the financial power of attorney. You can also name an alternate person just in case that the first person you name is unable to serve in the capacity you intended. You can go over these documents with your attorney and confirm that they reflect your wishes and intentions correctly.