Taking Some of the Guess Work Out of Estate Planning

Many of us avoid the topic of our own demise. The ever present question mark that looms over this topic leads to an inevitable avoidance. In recognition of this, I try my best to make each and every one of my clients as comfortable as possible during the process of creating an estate plan. Despite this, many individuals will never even make it into my office. In order to eliminate some of the fear that goes hand in hand with discussing these matters I decided to outline a few issues that are helpful to consider before meeting with a Wills and Trusts attorney. To fear the unknown is also human, and my hopes is that providing the basic background to your first meeting will give you the confidence to address your estate planning needs and take that first step.

Some questions to consider during the early phase of estate planning:

• What are my assets?
• What is the approximate value of my assets?
• Who do I want to receive my assets?
• Who should manage my assets when I am unable to do so?
• Who should be responsible for taking care of my children if I am unable to?
• Who should make health care decisions for me if I am unable to?
• What do I want to have happen with my remains?
• Do I want a funeral?

Selecting the right attorney for you can also be an intimidating task, when considering your options here are a few questions to keep in mind:

• What are their credentials?
• What is there primary focus? What other areas of law do they practice?
• What type of clients do they typically work with?
• What are the legal fees? Are all fees hourly?
• Will they bill you for quick questions?
• Will they keep you informed on developments in estate planning law?

These are just a few questions to have in mind when you begin your estate planning journey, as with any new endeavor the best method is to prepare adequate and then ask questions along the way. I hope that this helps you in taking that leap into planning your estate and protecting your assets!