If you are in one of those situations, you can use the software given to you. If you don’t need me to create legal documents for you, I could end up out of a job!īut, the truth of the matter is that there are some situations in which you can create your own legal documents and it’ll be okay. Posted by: Alexis Martin Neely Personal Family Lawyer As a lawyer, it’s difficult for me to tell you that you can create your own legal documents. Will this be enough to protect my estate? A will is also imperative if you have minor children it is where you designate their guardian.Ask The Expert: I recently received do-it-yourself Estate Planning software. A will is where you spell out who is to inherit certain possessions-the china, the record collection, jewelry etc.- when you pass. Not all your assets can or should be made a part of your trust. With a revocable trust your heirs will not need to go through probate.Ī will. ![]() Without a revocable trust, your heirs may need to go through the lengthy and sometimes very costly probate court process before your assets can be given to beneficiaries. Living revocable trust.A living revocable trust makes it incredibly easy for your estate to be passed to your beneficiaries. Do you want to be put on life support? Fed intravenously? I know those are difficult questions to ponder, but if you don’t spell this out, you are opening the door to family anguish and potentially, arguments.įinancial power of attorney. This appoints someone to step in and help manage your bills and investments if you ever become too ill. In the Must Have Documents, you will also create an advance directive (sometimes called a living will) where you will spell out your medical-care wishes. ![]() Right?Ī brief outline of the purpose of each document:Īn advance directive and health care power of attorney.The power of attorney portion will appoint the person you want to carry out your wishes if you become too ill to convey to medical caregivers what level of care you want. But if ever there was a time to “hope for the best and plan for the worst” this is it. My fervent prayer is that your loved ones will not need these documents for many years. The must-have documents ensure that caring for you, and surviving you, will be as seamless as possible for your loved ones. ![]() That is how you help yourself, your family, your neighbors, and your community.Ĭreating your must-have documents is another way you can do something right now to calm at some of your fears of what may happen if you were to become very ill, or die. ![]() I sure hope you and your loved ones are embracing the vital importance of social distancing. But I also think that right now those of you who have yet to create your must-have documents may be able to use this crisis as the motivation to finally get everything set up. There is so much that is out of our control in the midst of this pandemic. For some of us, issues related to becoming ill, and ultimately dying, can be so very hard to confront. I know many of you have followed my advice, but some of you keep pushing it off. It’s not exactly news that I have long been recommending/suggesting/begging you to make sure you have protected yourself and your loved ones by creating the MUST HAVE™ Documents: a will, a living revocable trust, a financial power of attorney, and an advance directive and power of attorney for health care.
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