It can be scary to think that after you are gone, you have no control over how your assets are distributed. When you spend your life working hard to provide for yourself and your loved ones, you want to make sure that legacy continues after you die. There are some fundamental ways you can make sure your wishes are honored after your death; today, our blog reviews a few of these methods. This is not an exhaustive list, but instead a guide for what steps you should be taking as you start to think through your estate plan.
Write a Detailed, Thorough Estate Plan
Your estate plan should leave nothing to chance. It should include an exhaustive list of your assets, and it should be as specific as possible. The estate plan should not only provide instructions for your money; it should tell loved ones how you want them to handle your valuable or sentimental items, physical property, and even your digital footprint. By working hard to ensure this list covers all of your property and assets, you can make sure your loved ones know exactly how you want to handle all parts of your estate when the time comes.
Hire a Trusted Estate Planning Attorney
It can be tempting to use “DIY will” tools online or create estate plans without the help of an attorney. Ultimately, though, if you want to make sure your wishes are honored after you are gone, you should speak with an experienced Houston estate planning attorney that can help you create an individualized plan that takes your priorities into account. Estate planning attorneys will have insider knowledge about probate court, the validity of different estate planning tools, and basic procedural requirements for your documents. Hiring the right attorney could end up making a huge difference for how your estate plan plays out when you die.
Communicate with Your Loved Ones
Lastly, talk with your beneficiaries about what you want to happen when you are gone. Make sure they are familiar with your estate plan, including important details like your funeral arrangements, plans for pet care, and contingencies such as power of attorney. By making sure the people you love know what to expect, you can set them up to execute your estate plan well down the road.
Do You Need Your Houston Estate Planning Attorney?
At McCulloch & Miller, we take pride in creating thorough estate plans that clearly effectuate our clients’ goals. Our Houston estate planning attorneys are experts at drafting, formalizing, and executing wills and trusts so that our clients can rest easy, knowing their estate plans are in good hands. If you don’t yet have an attorney to walk you through the process, consider our firm. We offer experienced, strategic services that keep our clients’ best interests at heart.
If you would like to set up a consultation with one of our Houston estate planning attorneys at McCulloch & Miller, call us today at 713-936-9073. You can also fill out our online form to tell us about yourself and have a member of our team contact you as soon as possible.