Planning the distribution of your assets can be a daunting task if handled alone. It's hardly surprising that many individuals seek legal assistance to face the challenge. Choosing estate planning lawyers is not always simple, but it can make an otherwise difficult experience much easier. Working with estate planning attorneys can reduce the time spent considering your options and may lead to a better result. In order to allow things to proceed as smoothly as possible, experts recommend that you ask some targeted questions that may help shape the plan you choose.
Question 1: What Hassles Could My Assets Cause For My Heirs?
Although the idea of a will is to provide a clear and concise vision for how you would like your assets to be
distributed, the actual process of distribution is rarely as straightforward as we would like. In fact, the process of probate is notoriously difficult, and can be much more so in any family that has a lot at stake or severe family differences. There are stories of major legal battles when one member of the family disagreed with how the will had been interpreted. Estate planning lawyers can advise you of any potential problems that might arise, and what legal grounds might exist to support or deny such claims. By considering this question, you'll be helping your heirs later on.
Question 2: Is My Will Clearly Written And Reflective Of My Wishes?
If you've given the matter much forethought, you probably already wrote a will. Most people do choose to write their testament before visiting estate planning attorneys. However, by the time you are considering your actual assets, it is high time to revisit that testament written years earlier. During that time, you may have changed your mind about how your assets should be administered. You might also find that your assets themselves have changed substantially, necessitating an update of the document. Finally, your estate planning lawyers should be able to indicate whether the language of the document itself is sufficiently clear. In many cases, an older document may leave too much ambiguity, possibly leading to a disagreement during probate.
Question 3: Is My Current Plan The Best Way To Provide For My Heirs?
Estate planning attorneys can show you many ways to leave things for your heirs. In some cases, your assets need not be dealt with during probate, or can be dealt with in different ways from what you might expect. You should think outside the box during this time, because it can create a substantial benefit for your heirs. The law provides many different ways in which one person may leave a sum of money, piece of property, or any other asset to children or another heir. Your estate planning lawyers can advise you on unknown ways that might provide a bigger benefit or less hassle.
By considering these simple questions, you can help your legal representative craft a plan that most closely conforms to your wishes. Your heirs will receive the benefit you wish them to, with minimal lost time due to probate and minimal confusion from the last will and testament. There are many options to consider and many questions to ask beyond these, but this is a starting point.
