A few years ago, I was in a pretty serious car accident. During the aftermath, I became really familiar with a lot of different types of lawyers. I worked with personal injury lawyers, insurance lawyers, and many others. Perhaps the most important, though, was the estate planning lawyer. I was really young, and neither my wife or I had thought about starting a will. But the accident kind of scared us into it. What would happen if one of us were to die? Even when still in the hospital, I was working with the lawyer to draw up a will. Now, I have some peace and security about what the future will be like if something should happen to me. And I have a lot of experience working with various types of lawyers! The accident was kind of a blessing in disguise in that way.
One of the best ways to remove stress and concern from your loved ones in the event of your death is to consult with an estate planning attorney. Having clear wishes for those who you leave behind removes any guess work, and also makes it much more likely that your last and ultimate wishes will be carried out.
Estate planning, however, is not a simple process, and many people don't know where to begin. Below, you'll find a guide to some questions you should ask your estate lawyer to make sure all of your needs are handled and your estate is in a place to be executed as accurately and smoothly as possible.
Ask About Your Children
If you're a parent, the most pressing concern when planning your estate is making sure that your children are well cared for and provided for. You should be sure to ask your attorney about the best way to make sure their guardianship is clearly spelled out, as well as ask about any arrangements with trusts or financial instruments that may be needed.
Less commonly, however, you may need to consider the future of other genetic materials. If you have personal medical samples on file or collection with various agencies, it's important that you decide what the fate of those samples will be when you're sorting out the conclusion of your estate.
Ask About Important Others
In many cases, people have important relationships that they may want to be settled in the event of their death. Sometimes, these relationships are unknown even to those who are closest to you, so it's important that you ask your lawyer about the best way to provide for everyone you care about without risking any pain.
You may also have beloved pets that you want to take care of. Your lawyer will likely have experience in handling accommodations for animals after an owner's death, and will likely be able to provide you with peace of mind regarding their ultimate fate.
Ask About Your Digital Life
The increased importance of the internet and social media in day to day life has added a new wrinkle to estate planning. Barely even considered as recently as a decade ago, the best way to handle your online presence is likely now an important part of settling your estate. Your lawyer will be able to safely and confidentially store passwords and other access information, guaranteeing that your online presence will be professionally managed after your passing.Talk to a professional, like Madison Law Firm PLLC, for more information.
Share27 January 2015
