Estate planning can be a complex process without the assistance of an experienced attorney or a checklist. If you are beginning this process and require the services of an estate planning attorney, look no further than our dedicated Monmouth County estate planning attorney. For further assistance with the process ahead, continue reading to discover the ultimate checklist for estate planning to ensure you cover the most important documents.
Estate Planning Checklist
Some of the most important testamentary documents are as follows:
Wills
One of the most important documents you will draft to begin your estate planning process is your will. Your will allows you to outline and plan what you wish to happen with your assets when you pass away. You can also appoint an executor of your will who will be in charge of ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes. When drafting your will, you can also establish beneficiaries who will receive those assets. It is important to know that you may set your family up for legal complications down the road if you do not create a will in your estate plan.
Trusts
A trust will assist your beneficiaries in maximizing their inheritance by moving through the probate process quickly and seamlessly.
Powers of Attorney
Powers of attorney allow appointed individuals to make key life decisions on your behalf if you were to become incapacitated or otherwise unable to make decisions on your own. For example, a financial power of attorney will assist you in making critical financial decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. You can also create a healthcare power of attorney which will give a trusted individual the ability to make critical medical decisions on your behalf.
Guardianships
All parents of minor children should create guardianships. A guardianship allows parents to appoint a trusted individual to raise their children, should they and their spouse be unable to. The courts will have the power to decide who raises their children if a parent does not appoint a guardian and they become unable to raise them on their own.
If you are beginning the estate planning process, it is important that you retain the services of an experienced estate planning attorney who can assist you in drafting any of these important documents. Our knowledgeable legal team would be happy to walk you through the process of drafting these estate planning documents. We will happily check off every box on your checklist to create a comprehensive estate plan that meets your needs and wishes.
Contact our Firm
The planning and administration of an estate requires experienced legal guidance. If you need an effective attorney to assist you with matters of wills, trusts, and estates, or the taxes associated with them, contact Margaret M. Mahon, Esq. LLC today to schedule a consultation.