Creating your estate plan is an important step. But signing your documents and storing them somewhere safe isn't the end of the process. Life changes — and when it does, the people and instructions named in your plan may need to change too. Two of the most important aspects to review regularly are your agents and your beneficiaries.
You probably already have beneficiary designations on at least some of your accounts. That’s genuinely useful. Assets with a valid beneficiary designation transfer quickly, privately, and outside the probate process. But there's a difference between using beneficiary designations as part of your plan and relying on them as your entire plan.
I’m often asked whether people should talk about their estate plan with others. That might include people you’ve designated as agents (such as personal representative or power of attorney), beneficiaries, or loved ones who expect to be involved in some way.
You probably know that estate planning matters. But many people delay starting, thinking they’ll get to it “next week” or “after the holidays.” Procrastination — especially with decisions that feel important but uncomfortable — can get in the way of planning that protects you and your loved ones.
You’ve probably seen ads for online estate planning forms: wills, trusts, or powers of attorney you can complete yourself for a low cost. At first glance, these tools can seem like an easy solution. They’re inexpensive, fast, and readily available. But they’re also just forms, and forms alone can’t guide you through the decisions that matter most for you and your loved ones.
Many people aren’t sure where to start, what questions to ask, or how to tell whether an attorney is actually a good fit for them. The truth is, there isn’t one “right” estate planning attorney for everyone. But there are some reliable ways to find one who’s right for you.
