Estate Planning Checklist | Critical Estate Planning Documents
As you know, it is critical to have an estate plan in place that will help both you and your family continue your lives with peace of mind. There are various facets to a comprehensive estate plan, which can make creating one seem like a daunting task. However, this does not have to be the case, as long as you have an experienced Pennsylvania estate planning attorney on your side. Below, we have compiled a short checklist of all the most important estate planning documents. They are as follows:
Wills
When someone writes a will, they essentially outline what they wish to happen with certain assets upon their passing. In a will, you will appoint an executor, or the person in charge of administering your estate upon your passing. You will also select beneficiaries, or the people you wish to receive portions of your estate upon your passing. Do not make the mistake of failing to create a will. Failing to create a will is known as dying intestate, and if this happens to you, your family will be left to sort out all of your estate matters on your behalf.
Trusts
Trusts have various functions, and there are various forms of trusts, though the primary purpose of creating trusts is to maximize your inheritance for your beneficiaries. In many cases, trusts can help avoid certain tax implications as well. Some of the most common trusts in Pennsylvania include special needs trusts, irrevocable tax trusts, irrevocable trusts, and revocable living trusts.
Guardianships
Guardianships are something that all parents with minor children should establish. Appointing a guardian means you are selecting someone you trust to raise your child, should anything happen to you and your spouse that renders you unable to do so yourselves. Without appointing guardians, the courts will appoint someone to raise your child on their own, and while they will try to appoint the best guardian possible, no one knows who that person is as well as you do.
Powers of Attorney
Powers of attorney are great ways to prepare for incapacitation. You can create either financial or healthcare powers of attorney. Essentially, if you become incapacitated, you can appoint someone to manage your finances in accordance with your wishes in a financial power of attorney. In a healthcare power of attorney, you can appoint someone to make critical medical decisions on your behalf, should you become unable to do so on your own.
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Whether you are dealing with matters involving estate planning, estate administration, or elder law, you need a legal team that you can feel confident will represent your best interests, every step of the way. We are that legal team. Contact Heritage Elder Law & Estate Planning today so we can get started.
