Believe it or not, it is almost time for Back to School shopping, early morning drop-offs, after-school pickups, traffic and so much more.
This is the perfect time to think about estate planning before your schedule gets really busy.
Trust me, I don’t miss the school zones and the rushing from work to get to after-school activities. (Although, I do love watching our youngest daughter playing LaCrosse.)
Like so many, you promised yourself that you would get your “house in order” this summer. Getting your house in order included:
-Exercising more;
-Spending more time with the kids;
-Getting your budget in order, and oh yes; and
-Getting your Estate Plan completed.
Sadly, you might have experienced the death of a family member or a friend and you realized the importance of estate planning in protecting your legacy.
Whatever your motivations, it is time to get it done now, and we can help you get started.
With all the extra time on your hands, are you growing tired of binge-streaming online shows, watching cable news, playing board games (aka “bored games”), or working on 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles?
As distracting as these leisure activities may be, you simply may be feeling the itch to be more productive.
Sound familiar?
But what can you do to make your summer more productive?
Why not begin working on your estate plan.
How do you do this?
Well, there is a number of ways.
Assess your goals.
Who would you want to make personal, health care, and financial decisions on your behalf if you could no longer do so yourself?
Who are the important people in your life?
What assets do you have?
Have you “legally” nominated guardians (backup parents) should your minor children be orphaned?
What do you want to leave to your loved ones, if you are no longer around?
Contact an experienced estate planning attorney.
The last 2 years have shown us that life is fragile, it is wise to get your affairs in order.
Estate planning is at all times an “essential” activity.
An experienced estate planning attorney can provide guidance and help make sure your affairs are in order in case “something” happens.
Gather relevant estate planning documents.
Your estate plan works best when you are organized.
Many people believe they can simply execute their legal documents and be done with them.
Unfortunately, this “set it and forget it attitude” can leave trusts “unfunded” and executors or agents totally clueless when their responsibilities suddenly begin.
Searching for time-critical, relevant documents under duress is not ideal when a loved one suddenly becomes incapacitated or dies.
By taking the time to gather and organize these essential documents for your loved ones now, you will be setting them up to effectively (and successfully) execute your wishes later.
To assist you in this process, we have created an Estate Planning Scavenger Hunt Checklist, https://carolgrantlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/Scavenger-Hunt-July-2022.docx
Let’s see if you know where your documents are!!!
Feel free to share it with others who you know need to get their “house in order”, too.
