While many of us know and understand the importance of having an estate plan, the basic documents often fall short. They lack the detail and clarity needed to ensure all aspects of your life are handled according to your wishes in the event you become incapacitated or upon death. If you draft a more thorough plan, your loved ones will know how to handle things without the additional stress and anxiety of trying to determine what you would have wanted.
To help you go beyond the basics and provide more assistance and peace of mind for your loved ones, we’ve put together a nine-part series, with each segment containing checklists to assist you in addressing all the areas your Will alone doesn’t cover. Take your time going through each section slowly as there is a lot to complete and trying to do it all at once could feel very daunting and overwhelming.
Please read important disclosure here.
Part 1: Planning Beyond the Will
While many of us know and understand the importance of having an estate plan, the basic documents often fall short. They lack the detail and clarity needed…
Part 2: Emergency Contacts
Something that everyone should have is an emergency contact list. It should be readily available to anyone staying in your home. You should also provide a copy…
Part 3: Financial Matters
While your will covers how to split up your assets, it doesn’t delve into the nitty gritty details of your financial picture. By giving your executor all the pertinent details…
Part 4: All Things Real Estate
The checklists for this installment of our Planning Beyond the Will series include all things related to any real estate. One checklist is dedicated to information regarding any property and home(s) you own.
Part 5: Tangible Items
This segment of our Planning Beyond the Will series includes two checklists to address any tangible items you may wish to leave to your heirs. One checklist is designated for motorized vehicles and vessels, while the other addresses sentimental items, valuable possessions, and any collections. Please note that the sections
Part 6: Family Pets
We know you love your pets and want to ensure your four-legged family members aren’t overlooked. When it comes to pets, the law considers them to be tangible, personal property. This sounds a bit cold and insensitive, which is why planning for your pets should be included in your overall
Part 7: Your Digital Footprint
Technology is constantly evolving, and for most, our electronic gadgets and digital world keeps growing. Many people don’t consider the importance of how they’d like their digital estate to be handled upon their passing.
Part 8: Assisted Living Communities and Nursing Homes
As we age, physical ailments and health issues we can’t plan for often arise that may require more care than we can get in our own homes. While no one wants to plan on living in a nursing home someday, it could be necessary. There are also assisted living communities
Part 9: Your Funeral
This is the last segment in our series, and it’s likely the most important and most difficult to complete. Preplanning your funeral might sound like a dreadful task, but more and more people are starting to recognize the benefits of doing so.