Why Estate Planning is So Important

“Without a plan in place, there could be a long-lasting impact on your loved ones, even if you don’t have a pricey home, large IRA or valuable art to pass on.”

The average person spends more time planning a vacation or deciding what car to buy, than they do deciding who will inherit their assets after they've passed away.

While estate planning isn’t as fun as a Caribbean cruise or a brand new sedan, without it, you’ll have little say in who gets all of your possessions.

Investopedia’s recent article, “4 Reasons Estate Planning Is So Important,” reminds us that estate planning isn't only for the rich. To show you that estate planning is necessary, look at these four reasons why you should have an estate plan to avoid potentially devastating consequences for your loved ones.

1. Keeps Your Wealth From Going To Unintended Beneficiaries. Estate planning helps middle-class families plan, in the event something happens to a family's breadwinner(s). If you don’t decide who receives your assets when you pass away, you won’t have any control as to who gets what. Without an estate plan, a probate court will decide who gets your assets, based on state intestacy law. This may not be what you would have wanted. A will can avoid this result.
   
   
2. Families with Young Children are Protected. If you're the parent of minor children, you need to name a guardian to be certain your children are taken care of the way you’d want. Without this fundamental provision in your will, the probate courts will make this decision.
   
   
3. No Huge Taxes for Your Heirs. Estate planning serves to protect your family from unnecessary estate and income taxes. You want to minimize or eliminate all of their federal and state estate taxes or state inheritance taxes, as well as the income tax that beneficiaries might have to pay. Without a plan, these taxes can be significant.
   
   
4. Avoids Headaches and Messes for Your Loved Ones After You're Gone. Family fighting after a loved one dies is not uncommon, and it's another reason why an estate plan is needed. An estate plan will let you say who controls your finances and assets, if you become mentally incapacitated or after you die. It will also go a long way towards settling or preventing any family conflict and ensuring that your assets are handled in the way you wanted them to be.

Protect your assets and your loved ones, when you no longer can do it. Create an estate plan. Contact an experienced estate planning attorney today.

Reference: Investopedia (May 25, 2018) “4 Reasons Estate Planning Is So Important”