PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY WITH AN ESTATE PLAN

How do you protect yourself and your family with an estate plan?

  1. Create a Will or Trust for transfer and management of your assets after death. If you don’t have a Will or Trust, the State of Michigan will determine how your assets will be distributed after death and it may not address your particular circumstances. A well thought out Will or Trust can customize the efficient transfer and management of your assets after death.
  2. Consider Possible Incapacity. If you become incapacitated, who will make decisions on your behalf. Your spouse can’t make financial or medical decisions on your behalf. Neither can your parents if you are 18 or older. With a proper Durable Power of Attorney, you can avoid expensive legal fees and court costs for a judge to appoint a person to make financial decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. With a proper Patient Advocate Designation, you can also appoint a person to make medical decisions if you become incapacitated and include specific instructions for medical decisions, such as instructions for end of life treatment.
  3. Consider Your Minor Children. A Will and Trust can address who you want appointed as guardian and conservator of you minor children and how you want your estate managed for the benefit of your children if both you and your spouse have died. A Will and Trust can also address how you want your assets managed and distributed to support your children over time.
  4. Review your Plan and Make Necessary Changes. An estate plan is not etched in stone and should change when your circumstances change. Big events, such as death, sickness, divorce, as well as other events that occur over time will require you to review your plan so that it is not outdated. An estate plan should be periodical reviewed and updated if necessary so it fits your current circumstances.

Having a well thought out estate plan in place will give you and your family peace of mind. Most estate plans are set up with the help of an experienced attorney. Contact Bill Ager for an appointment to discuss preparing an estate plan for a reasonable flat fee.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY WITH AN ESTATE PLAN

How do you protect yourself and your family with an estate plan?

  1. Create a Will or Trust for transfer and management of your assets after death. If you don’t have a Will or Trust, the State of Michigan will determine how your assets will be distributed after death and it may not address your particular circumstances. A well thought out Will or Trust can customize the efficient transfer and management of your assets after death.
  2. Consider Possible Incapacity. If you become incapacitated, who will make decisions on your behalf. Your spouse can’t make financial or medical decisions on your behalf. Neither can your parents if you are 18 or older. With a proper Durable Power of Attorney, you can avoid expensive legal fees and court costs for a judge to appoint a person to make financial decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. With a proper Patient Advocate Designation, you can also appoint a person to make medical decisions if you become incapacitated and include specific instructions for medical decisions, such as instructions for end of life treatment.
  3. Consider Your Minor Children. A Will and Trust can address who you want appointed as guardian and conservator of you minor children and how you want your estate managed for the benefit of your children if both you and your spouse have died. A Will and Trust can also address how you want your assets managed and distributed to support your children over time.
  4. Review your Plan and Make Necessary Changes. An estate plan is not etched in stone and should change when your circumstances change. Big events, such as death, sickness, divorce, as well as other events that occur over time will require you to review your plan so that it is not outdated. An estate plan should be periodical reviewed and updated if necessary so it fits your current circumstances.

Having a well thought out estate plan in place will give you and your family peace of mind. Most estate plans are set up with the help of an experienced attorney. Contact Bill Ager for an appointment to discuss preparing an estate plan for a reasonable flat fee.

Categories: Estate Planning