Wickedlocal.com published an article by Leanna Hamill entitled, "PLANNING MATTERS: Why you need an Estate Plan" (Feb 7, 2017). Provided below is a brief summary of the article published at Wickedlocal.com:
PLANNING MATTERS: Why you need an Estate Plan
In reality, estate is sort of an umbrella term to mean everything you own, whatever that may be, and estate planning is an umbrella term that really just means planning for incapacity during your lifetime and for the orderly distribution of property after your death. These things are important no matter what the size of your "estate" is.
The foundation of an estate plan generally consists of four documents:
- Medical information release form;
- Health care proxy;
- Durable power of attorney; and
- Will
Planning for incapacity is one of the most important things you can do. If you die without a will, the law says who inherits your property and who has the right to serve as your Personal Representative. It might be slightly inconvenient, but your stuff will eventually get where it's going.
The main reason to do an estate plan, regardless of the size of your estate, is so that the people who are helping you, the decisions that are being made and the way your property is handled is the way that you choose -- not the way the courts decide or the way the default law provides for. You have the ability to make these decisions for yourself now, take advantage of that now to make sure your wishes will be honored, and legally binding, later.
To continue more in depth on this issue, please continue to read the full article "PLANNING MATTERS: Why you need an Estate Plan" from Wickedlocal.com.