Planning your estate in California doesn’t have to be a long, tedious experience that you dread for years. If you look at it the right way, estate planning can be a rewarding experience that allows you to plan for the future and protect your family members at the same time. Once you’re gone, your family will be thankful that you took the time to write an estate plan.
Why should you stay positive when planning your estate?
When you start the estate planning process, you’re not just figuring out how to divide up your assets after you’re gone: You’re passing along gifts that might be treasured or passed down for generations. For this reason, it’s important to think of your will as a gift to your family members instead of an unwelcome burden.
If you think about estate planning in positive terms, you’ll find it easier to write a will that benefits your friends and family members. With the help of an estate planning attorney, you could leave assets and trust funds that provide for your relatives long after you’re gone. Your children might receive the investment that they need to buy a house or start a business. You could also use your estate to leave a large gift to your favorite charity.
How can you get started with estate planning?
If you have a large estate, you might have no idea where to begin. An attorney may help you take the first steps toward creating a comprehensive estate plan. In addition to your will, you might want to choose someone for power of attorney and write a living will that stipulates the end-of-life care that you want to receive. If you have minor children, you could also name someone to look after them if you and your spouse pass away.