Next Avenue Logo
Advertisement

Use This 14-Point Checklist to Review Your Estate Plan

Follow this guide to make sure you've covered everything in your estate plan

By Art Koff and MarketWatch

Many Americans have estate plans in place — but unfortunately, many are incomplete and the most important subjects aren’t even addressed.

I compiled this  14-point checklist to help create a sound estate plan, but first, if you don’t have an attorney who specializes in elder law, I strongly recommend that you get one. Start by visiting The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys website and click on the red “Find an Attorney” button. To search for a local attorney, try the American Bar Association Lawyer Referral Directory.

And if you need a financial adviser, here are a few tips for finding a competent, honest financial adviser willing to work for a reasonable fee. To find a certified financial planner, use the CFP Board’s search tool. To consider a fee-only adviser who charges by the hour, try The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors.

Your estate plan should include:

1. A will

A will provides instructions for distributing assets to your family and other beneficiaries. You will also appoint someone to be an executor to pay final expenses, taxes, etc. and then distribute the remaining assets. If you have minor children, a will is also a way to designate a guardian for them. A will doesn’t take effect until you die and it cannot provide for management of your assets if you become incapacitated. That’s why it is necessary to have other estate planning documents in place which become effective if you should be unable to act.

2. A durable power of attorney for  business and health-care decisions

A power of attorney is a legal document in which you name another person to act on your behalf. You can give this person/agent broad or limited powers. You should choose this person carefully because he or she will be able to sell, invest and spend or distribute your assets. A traditional power of attorney terminates upon your disability or death. A durable power of attorney continues during incapacity and terminates upon your death.

3. A power of attorney for health care (living will)

A health-care power of attorney authorizes the person you designate to make medical decisions for you in the event you are unable to do so yourself. This document, coupled with a living will are necessary to avoid family conflicts and even court intervention should you become unable to make your own health care decisions. A living will provides your wishes regarding the use of life-sustaining measures in the event of a terminal illness. It says what you want done and what you don’t want done but doesn’t give any individual the legal authority to speak for you. That is why it is usually coupled with a health-care power of attorney.

4. A revocable living trust

You'll need one of these to transfer, manage and distribute assets while you are alive and to avoid probate after your death. There are many different kinds of trusts, which are usually put in place to minimize estate taxes. Each trust has benefits and should be discussed with your attorney. There are marital trusts, charitable trusts, generation-skipping trusts, bypass trusts, testamentary trusts, qualified terminable interest property trusts and so on. A revocable living trust is often used in estate plans. By transferring assets into a revocable living trust, you can manage your financial affairs during your lifetime and provide management if you become incapacitated. A revocable living trust lets trust assets avoid probate, keeps personal information private and can designate the disposition of trust assets to future generations.

5. A list of assets

A list of assets will serve as a guide for those managing your estate or your affairs if you are incapacitated. Use this form from Retired Brains to list all your assets and where they are located.

6. A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order

A DNR medical order written by a doctor instructs health-care providers not to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if a patient stops breathing or her heart stops beating.  Some feel this is an important document, while others do not.

7. A legacy letter

A legacy letter is an ethical will designed to pass “ethical values” from one generation to the next. Traditional wills involve what you want your loved ones to have. Ethical wills involve what you want your loved ones to know.

8. A discussion with your attorney on who inherits what

Advertisement

Decide where you want your assets to go and discuss this with your attorney.

9. Selection of someone to make medical decisions if needed

Decide whom you want to make health decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated.

10. Instructions on how you want your assets distributed

Have this discussion with your attorney and/or spouse or appropriate family member, trustee, etc.

11. A guardian decision

If you have minor children, you may wish to name a guardian to take care of them after you die.

12. An estate plan tax review

Meet with your accountant and attorney to discuss the tax consequences of your estate plan.

13.  Instructions on how to handle your digital legacy

Check your digital footprints. Most people aren’t aware of the full extent of their presence online.  List these and review the steps necessary to protect online information after your death or if you are no longer able to act on your own behalf.

14. Letters to your family

Consider writing a letter to your spouse or family regarding your wishes should you need to be removed from life support. This letter will make their doing so a great deal easier if you reiterate that this is your wish with a personal, not formal, request.

Art Koff is the founder of Retired Brains, a website that provides information about retirement for boomers, retirees and people planning to retire. Read More
MarketWatch
By MarketWatch
Advertisement
Next Avenue LogoMeeting the needs and unleashing the potential of older Americans through media
©2024 Next AvenuePrivacy PolicyTerms of Use
A nonprofit journalism website produced by:
TPT Logo