When most people think of estate planning documents, they think of naming their monetary assets in a will and distributing those assets to their loved ones. In reality, an estate plan can (and often should) include more than a list of your property and beneficiaries. Today, we discuss five frequently overlooked estate planning items we see as attorneys in Texas.
1. Funeral Arrangements
It is always a good idea to leave behind details for your funeral. For example, what kind of service do you want? Who do you want to participate? Have you made arrangements for a casket or cremation? It can be difficult for loved ones to make these decisions after their family member is gone, and including a list of instructions makes things much easier for heirs to organize and arrange a funeral during what is already a trying time.
2. Valuable or Sentimental Art and Jewelry
Many clients tend to forget about including tangible items such as art or jewelry in their will. In our experience, it helps to be as specific as possible when handling these items. Children and grandchildren can end up in conflict over who gets which pieces, and naming specific beneficiaries for each piece can go a long way.
3. Digital Assets
We live in a digital age, and you should include in your will things like your passwords for social media accounts, instructions for your email, and any other provisions you think might be helpful. When in doubt, speak with a Houston estate planning attorney that can help you figure out how to handle each one of your digital accounts.
4. Power of Attorney
Power of attorney is often overlooked but is also incredibly valuable. Have you named someone in your will to make decisions regarding your health, finances, or both in the event that you become incapacitated? Without naming power of attorney, these decisions could ultimately be left up to chance.
5. Business Interests
If you have stake in a business, be sure to include instructions for this interest in your estate plan. Your attorney should be able to help you put together a Business Assignment Agreement, which transfers your interests into a trust, where they are then well protected. This kind of decision is, of course, something to discuss in depth with other business partners and involved parties.
Do You Need a Houston Estate Planning Firm in Your Corner?
At McCulloch & Miller, we take pride in our thorough, personalized approach to each and every estate plan. Our clients tell us time and time again how grateful they are that they had us to think through the details of their estate plans, because we are experts in creating plans that are as specific and all-encompassing as possible. If you do not have a Houston estate planning attorney in your corner, we might be the firm for you.
For a consultation with a Houston estate planning attorney from our firm, give us a call today at 713-903-7879. You can also fill out our online form with your contact information to have an attorney get back in touch with you as soon as possible. We cover estate planning, trust planning, and elder law issues at our firm.