Planning Your Estate
Planning Your Estate | Take Care of the Important
People in Your Life! Estate planning is a necessary part of taking care of your loved ones when you’re gone – small estate or large estate, having a plan is imperative. In fact, estate planning is even more of a necessity with small estates, simply because final expenses may have a large impact on what you leave behind – wasting even a single asset may leave your loved ones with a lack of financial resources to work with.
Estate planning is important if you have any of the following:
- Minor Children
- Children with Special Needs
- Your Spouse is Incapable of or Uncomfortable with Handling Financial Matters
- Property in More Than One State
- Special Property, Such as Artwork or Collectibles
When you leave this world, don’t you want to make sure your loved ones will be secure and happy? Planning your estate is a way to help ensure they will be. You can plan your estate simply by establishing the foundation of any estate plan: the will. In some cases, planning your estate can be more complex if you need to implement trusts and peruse other advanced tax and estate planning techniques – these are often associated with a larger estate. At Maier & Associates, we’re here to help you with all your estate planning needs, including working with you to select the right gifting options that work for your overall plans and the size of your estate.
Key Documents Needed When Planning Your Estate
There are five estate-planning documents you will most likely need, regardless of your age, health, or wealth:
- Durable Power of Attorney
- Will
- Advanced Medical Directives
- Letter of Instruction
- Living Trust (not always necessary, but included here because it’s a vital component of many estate plans)
The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized legal advice. We highly suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified legal advisor.