![]() The provision for a financially irresponsible family member also reduces the probate fees and estate taxes upon death. Safeguards your assets against creditors or in the event of divorce.Name of the person who, if you become incapacitated, will make medical and personal care decisions on your behalf.Name the individual who will manage your funds if you become incapacitated.Names a guardian for any minor children.It also performs the following functions: Yet, a smart estate plan accomplishes much more. An estate plan guarantees that your assets are distributed according to your wishes. You cannot take your estate with you when you die, but you do have control over what happens to it. While certain debts might be passed on to your estate after your death, the value of your estate when you die is the sum of your assets minus any such debts. Your estate is the net value of everything you own, such as your: By making your intentions clear and easing the inheritance process as much as you can, you’re taking care of your family.Estate planning is the process of drafting a strategy for the management and distribution of your estate after your death. These five documents (sometimes four, when the advance directive and health care power of attorney are bundled together) help you live a happier, less stressful life, knowing you’ve taken the steps to make navigating tomorrow as smooth as possible. So check to see if you’ll need those, too. In addition, many brokerages and other financial institutions have their own power of attorney forms. If you want your spouse to talk to your credit card company or the mortgage or utility folks and both your names aren’t on these accounts, the companies won’t speak to him or her without a durable financial power of attorney. If you’re alive yet incapacitated, the only way a trusted person, acting on your behalf, can access an IRA, pension or other financial account in your name is through a durable financial power of attorney. Not all your financial assets can or should be in a living trust. When you have a will, you can head off potential family squabbles (or worse) by clearly spelling out whom you want to inherit items that might not be in your trust - your home or car, for example, or even specific keepsakes such as your china or tool set. ![]() ![]() Otherwise, they’ll have to deal with probate, which can be a lengthy, sometimes expensive process if you die with a will only - or without a will. This will save a loved one from the time-consuming inconvenience of getting the paperwork for handling your financial accounts.Īnd when you do die, your family will have an easier time passing assets in the trust to your beneficiaries. ![]() To deal with the possibility that you become unable to manage your finances, the trust lets someone you’ve appointed take over (and specifies who gets to determine whether you’re incapacitated). You remain in control of all your finances as long as you want, and you can make changes to your trust as often as you want. A revocable living trust is an incredibly powerful document that can be a big help. Now, if you just saw the word “trust” and thought, Oh, Suze, that’s just for rich people, you couldn’t be more wrong. Revocable living trustĭrawn up correctly, this makes it easy to keep control of your finances today, let a trusted person step in if necessary, and ensure fewer problems for your heirs when you die. This document, regularly included in an advance directive, lets you appoint someone ( plus a backup) to make medical choices on your behalf when you’re unable to do so. Durable power of attorney for health care For the forms necessary in your state, go to /advancedirectives. Under what circumstances might you want doctors to stop trying to fix what ails you? When might you want pain relief, even if it hastens your death? You can spell that out now so your relatives won’t have to struggle with these decisions later. A living will, which is a type of advance directive, explains the treatment you’d like to have should you ever be unable to speak for yourself. Advance directiveĪn advance directive offers loved ones and medical professionals a road map for your health care. The documents will give you and your family not just financial protection but peace of mind. This paperwork can shield your family from needless heartache, hassle and expense. At this stage of your life, preparing these must-have documents is one of the most profound acts of love you can bestow. There’s not a thing you wouldn’t do to help them.īut I also know that what’s in your heart is not enough. En español | I know you love your family.
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