Celebrating Legacy: Why Estate Planning Matters this Holiday Season

The holiday season is all about togetherness, reminiscing about the past, and looking forward to the future. While it’s not the cheeriest topic during festive dinners, it’s worth pondering what legacy you aim to leave behind.  What dreams do you harbor for the next generation? Maybe there’s a special something you want to entrust to a close friend or colleague?

Penning down your wishes in a will is about more than just preserving your voice posthumously. It’s a guiding light, eliminating confusion and potential disagreements over assets. Let’s delve into why drafting a will is crucial, especially now.

Decoding Inheritance 

You might think, “Do I even own enough to warrant a will?” Surprisingly, state-defined thresholds for probate court can be quite minimal, and even smaller estates often need probating.

Without a will, the legal system distributes your assets based on the state’s default rules. This usually means your spouse secures half, with your children sharing the balance. Personalized directives? They won’t matter.

Modern family structures often involve multiple spouses and children from varied unions. The courts then need to innovate. Although ex-partners might not have a claim, your extended family including children, grandchildren, siblings, and even cousins might. If you’re keen on specific allocations or want to sidestep direct inheritors, a will is your playbook.

Revisiting & Refining Your Wishes

Family get-togethers aren’t always smooth sailing. A comment here, a debate there, and sometimes decisions made in the heat of the moment might need rethinking. Worried about penning down something in your will that might need tweaking later?

Wills are fluid documents. Through legal amendments called codicils, you can modify sections or the entirety of your initial will. Evolving family dynamics, business growth, or asset accumulation? Adjust your will accordingly.

Don’t be paralyzed by the “what ifs.” Crafting a clear will can shield your loved ones from unnecessary disputes, offering more peace than any holiday truce. Speak to an estate planning expert and set your legacy intentions in stone.

Here to Guide You

Drafting wills is our daily bread. Start your journey with our Peace of Mind Planning Session. You’ll fill out an online questionnaire before we meet. Then, at your session, we’ll answer your questions and talk about your options and our flat fees. If we’re a good fit to work together, we’ll take the next steps. If not, no strings attached! Mention this post and we’ll happily forgo our regular $250 fee. Act quickly, slots fill up fast!