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Do You Have a Will? 3 Basic Estate Planning Documents You Should Have Thumbnail

Do You Have a Will? 3 Basic Estate Planning Documents You Should Have

Financial Planning Baron Team
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published January 16, 2017. The information is still current as of this date.

A 60-second read by Victor Cannillo:  If you haven’t completed your estate planning documents yet, consider making it a priority. Having your estate planning documents in place can help to prevent issues down the road and ensures that your specific wants and wishes will be carried out. For example, did you know that technically, everyone has a will? The question is do you have a personalized will or the standard state version?

Here are the 3 most basic estate documents you should have:

1.  A Last Will and Testament

A document dictating how you would like your assets to be dispersed after death; to whom do you want your assets to pass? Having a Will safeguards your wishes. If you die without having a Will in place, the State will decide who is to inherit from your estate. The Will can also be useful to save estate taxes, create trusts for children and establish guardians for minor children.

2.  A Durable Power of Attorney

A document in which you give another person the authority to act on your behalf. If you were ever to become incapacitated, who would you feel comfortable standing-in on your behalf when it comes to your finances, signing your checks, etc.?  It is important to have the POA in place before the need arises and it’s too late to have the document created.

3.  A Living Will (also known as an Advanced Medical Directive) 

A document outlining your end-of-life medical wishes if you are not conscious to make those decisions for yourself. What medical actions do you want to take place? It may also allow you to appoint a Health Care Representative to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make them yourself.

For more specific information on these documents and to start the process of completing them, contact an estate attorney. Make sure he or she specializes in estate law. If you would like assistance finding an estate attorney that fits your specific profile, feel free to reach out to your Baron Financial Group Team.