Although 1 in 4 Americans see a greater need for an estate plan due to inflation, nevertheless, according to a 2023 survey conducted by Caring.com, only 33 percent of adults in the United States have any estate planning documents such as a will or trust in place. 1 Many respondents attributed their lack of estate planning to procrastination, but many others indicated a mistaken belief that estate planning is not necessary because they do not have many assets.

Why should you have an estate plan?
An estate plan can provide significant peace of mind by ensuring that your money and property are protected, plans are in place in the event you become ill, and your accounts and property pass down according to your wishes.

What key elements of an estate plan should you consider?

● Do you have a last will and testament or a trust? If you do not have these important documents,
 state law will determine who will inherit your property—and it may not occur in the way you would
have chosen. In addition, someone appointed by the court, instead of a trusted person of your
choosing, will be in charge of caring for any children or pets and winding up your affairs. Spelling out
your wishes in a will or trust will also prevent unnecessary confusion, anxiety, and expense for your
loved ones when you are gone.


● Are the proper powers of attorney in place? A financial power of attorney designates an individual 
to make financial and property decisions (e.g., opening a bank account, signing a deed, getting your
mail, etc.) should you become unable to handle your own affairs. A medical power of attorney
 designates a person you trust to make medical decisions for you when you are otherwise unable to
speak for yourself.


● Ensure that you have an advance directive, also known as a living will, which memorializes your 
wishes concerning your end-of-life care, such as whether you want to receive life support if you are
 in a vegetative state or have a terminal condition.


● Do you have insurance? If you become incapacitated (unable to manage your own affairs) or die, it
 is important for your family or loved ones to have information about your insurance (such as life,
health, disability, long-term care, etc.) so they can file any necessary claims. Having the right amount
 of coverage is also important in case you become ill or die, leaving behind loved ones who rely on
your financial support.

● Compile a list of all of your accounts and other important information that may be needed to
 manage your accounts and property while you are incapacitated or to settle your affairs after you 
are gone. Keep this information in a safe place and share the location only with trusted family 
members or other loved ones. This list should include at least the following information:

¹ Rachel Lustbader, 2023 Wills and Estate Planning Study, Caring.com, 
https://www.caring.com/caregivers/estate-planning/wills-survey/ (last visited May 29, 2023).

○ bank and investment accounts


○ titles to vehicles and homes


○ credit card accounts or loans


○ digital accounts (such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter) and passwords


○ Social Security card, passport, and birth certificate


● A list of legal, financial, and medical professionals who have performed services for you is also 
important. The list should include their contact information so your loved ones can easily reach
 them in the event you or they need the professional’s help. You should also have HIPAA 
authorizations in place with medical professionals to ensure that your loved ones can obtain needed 
information.

How can you encourage your loved ones to create an estate plan? 


The slower months of summer are a great opportunity, not only to take steps to make sure your own
 estate plan is in place, but also to talk to your loved ones, especially elderly parents, about creating an
 estate plan. Estate planning is often a difficult topic to broach because it brings the unpleasant topics of
 aging and death to the forefront of our minds. Here are a few tips to help you start the conversation.


● Be sensitive to your loved ones’ feelings. Put yourself in their shoes and keep in mind that few
 people are eager to dwell on the subject of their own death. One way to begin the conversation is to
 talk first about the need to plan for an illness and to provide instructions in the event they become 
too ill to communicate with doctors or handle financial matters for themselves. The conversation
 can then progress naturally to the importance of having an estate plan that will transfer their money
 and property in the way that they wish, provide for the care of any dependents or pets, and
 minimize any taxes, court costs, and legal fees. Communicate that you are not trying to control their
 decisions but only want to ensure that their own wishes regarding their medical care and property 
are known—and that all of their instructions are in writing to guarantee that they are carried out.

● Involve others in the conversation. If you are planning to speak to your parents about the need for
 an estate plan, try to include any siblings in the discussion to avoid giving the impression that you 
are attempting to influence or control your parents’ choices. You and your siblings should emphasize 
to your parents that none of you is asking about what you will inherit, but rather just want to make
 sure that their wishes are carried out if they become ill or pass away. Family reunions and other
 summer get-togethers are a great time to have these family conversations.

● Consult an estate planning attorney. An experienced estate planning attorney can help you and 
your loved ones create an estate plan tailored to meet each of your unique needs and carry out your 
wishes, or they can assist with updating an existing estate plan. We can provide each person with 
guidance and information about the options available to them. Further, we can help each of you put
 a plan in place that will prevent unnecessary stress, legal expenses, and taxes, as well as uneven
 inheritances, disputes among loved ones, and delays in passing life savings on to them. In addition,
 the guidance we offer will give you and your loved ones the peace of mind that comes with knowing 
that plans are in place for your care if any of you become ill and that your wishes will be honored
 when you pass away. Call us today to set up a meeting.