Estate Planning Overview
Estate Planning can have different meanings depending on a family's situation and the nature & value of their assets. For most, Estate Planning means having a Will. But there's more to Estate Planning than simply determining who gets what when you're gone.
Critical Planning Issues
In my experience, the most difficult challenges arise for families when a loved one becomes mentally incapacitated. Planning for incapacity includes creating these four authorizations or directives (click on each for more information):
The above planning tools are legally effective only during one's lifetime, but these important documents provide the authority needed to carry out your wishes and manage your affairs if you cannot.
In addition to the above planning documents, I believe everyone should have a Revocable Trust.