No one can say what tomorrow will bring. But one thing is for sure: one day, for all of us, life comes to an end.
So ask yourself, when death comes to you, what will happen to those you leave behind? Will they be left to scramble, argue among themselves and guess at what you wanted and who gets what? Or will they know, and be able to come together in their grief to help each other move on with their lives and loving memories?
Here are 5 reasons why, no matter what your age or stage of life, you should not put off getting your Legacy Estate Plan any longer.
- Protect the Future for Your Loved Ones.
Having a Legacy Estate Plan protects your loved ones. It can eliminate confusion, expensive delays, family fights, and overall bad outcomes following your death. When you have an estate plan that directs who gets what, and which appoints someone to be in charge if you become incapacitated, you can prevent family discord and costly legal expenses. In addition, a Legacy Estate Plan can help you plan for and take care of any adults or children in your family with Special Needs.
- Avoid Probate.
No matter what your age, another good reason to have a Legacy Estate Plan lies in its ability to reduce the delay and costs caused by probate. If you die without a will, your entire estate will have to go through the court process of “probate.” This is an expensive and time-consuming court process that you (i.e. your estate) will have to pay for, thereby reducing the amount you leave your loved ones. Worse, probate will not only subject your loved ones to the expenses and delay of the court process, but it means that some judge – not you – will be making all the decisions about who gets your property and/or who will raise your children.
- Make Sure Your Life-Support Wishes Are Known and Will Be Followed.
When you make an estate plan, part of what you do is fill out necessary documents that anticipate your end-of-life needs. By executing certain Health Care documents and Powers of Attorney, you decide who will make important financial and medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. Because we cannot see the future, it is important that every adult over 18 decide before it is too late, what level of medical intervention you want at the end or your life or if you should become unexpectedly incapacitated.
Making these important decisions now, will ensure that your wishes are followed and that you, and your family suffer as little as possible
- Protect Your Little Ones.
If you have children, it is especially important that you plan now, because you want to be the one who decides who will watch over your minor if you should die unexpectedly. You know best who will love, protect and watch over your children if you die. You don’t want to leave this decision to some probate judge. But that is exactly what will happen if you die without an estate plan. The judge will decide who will raise your children.
- Peace of Mind.
When you have an estate plan in place, you have peace of mind. You know that you have done your best to make sure that your goals, needs and desires both for yourself and those you love, are in place and have been taken care of.
Young or old, now is the best time to start planning for your estate’s distribution.
We Can Help.
We are estate planning attorneys. We personally prepare all the documents you need. We have offices in Sedona, Arizona. We serve all of Arizona. We offer free consultations and we can help you with your estate planning needs. Call us at (602) 540-1499 or Contact us to set up your free appointment.
