Estate Planning – Not the Morbid Process It Once Was!

Preparing and contemplating ones own death is not a welcome thought or process.  However, what was previously a practice that simply involved drafting a will has morphed into a much more complicated process that not only plans for death but also for life.

Estate planning today rarely involves the composition of just a will but also creates trusts, guardians, powers of attorney, gifts, funeral arrangements, organ donations, and other estate planning techniques. Modern-day estate planning is not the dreaded process that it has been branded over the years mainly because it is no longer just about bequeathing property and assets to loved ones and can carry many benefits that an individual can enjoy while sill alive.

A recent LegalMatch study revealed a range of questions regarding estate planning, and how the high level of overall inquiries in this intricate legal field seems to be on the rise.  Part of this rise in interest can be attributed to the range of fields that estate planning incorporates- general estate planning, tax law, family law, complicated health care directives, and many others depending on individual circumstances.

I agree with a recent article published that catalogued some of the major trends in estate planning:

1.) Fewer estates will be taxable

2.) Careful planning to avoid probate court during incapacity is on the rise.

3.) There is an increasing concern over the wrong people gaining control over an individual’s assets.

4.) The arrangements or terms controlling the distribution of an inheritance are becoming increasingly detailed

5.) The amount gifted to charity is increasing steadily

6.) Having long-term health insurance is becoming more common

7.) Using a specialist in the estate planning process is on the rise

As the trends reveal, people are becoming increasingly aware of the need to plan for any and all possible future events. There are a tremendous amount of benefits from consulting an estate planning lawyer to planning for an individual’s specific needs and also to take advantage of the tax benefits associated with the creation of trusts and other planning tools.