That depends entirely on your individual needs and desires.
Simply stated, a good estate plan is one that guarantees all your final wishes will be faithfully executed, providing you with peace of mind while providing your beneficiaries with the inheritance you wanted them to have.
Estate plans are not just for older people or for those with significant financial resources, they’re for anybody and everybody who cares about the continuation of their financial commitments even after they themselves have departed this life.
These commitments may include:
- Securing the future financial welfare of your surviving spouse.
- Providing for the support or special needs of your children or grandchildren, especially minors with costly illnesses or disabilities.
- Providing or continuing support to your favorite non-profit organization.
- Minimizing the legal difficulties that occur when settling an estate. Hastening the distribution of funds can incur fewer expenses for the estate and get funds to the people and institutions who are counting on them.
- Avoiding the need to sell off assets by providing in advance for necessary expenses that will occur.
- Coordinating all your legal documents into one cohesive package, which includes those beneficiaries you wish to receive your insurance and retirement benefits.
- Preparing flexible documents allowing for adjustments to account for frequent changes in tax laws and other legal issues, including those from the 2010 tax act.
- Avoiding lawsuits, personal resentment, and general confusion by making your intentions clear to your heirs.
- Preserving your privacy. Once an estate is opened the will becomes public, but a good estate plan can keep prying eyes from otherwise invading your family’s private business.
- And speaking of family business, if you have one, a good estate plan should also provide for its survival and perpetuation.
Consider making a gift through your will or trust.
Here’s the language you’ll need.
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