There is no standard estate plan: Customize your options

On Behalf of | Mar 30, 2021 | Estate And Probate Law |

You may have seen by now that there are plenty of places online that offer estate planning documents and do-it-yourself options. While some of these might be helpful, the truth is that they aren’t all they’re made out to be.

Most people will find that these estate planning documents are not customized. Sometimes, they may even be out of date. For those reasons, it’s better to get in touch with your attorney to talk about setting up a customized estate plan.

Why is a customized estate plan better than a do-it-yourself option?

When you see the do-it-yourself and printable plans, something to remember is that they are simply not customized based on your circumstances. The documents may not represent the laws and regulations in your state, and they may be basic compared to what you could create with your attorney’s help.

Some of the particular items you may want to have in your estate plan include:

  • Trusts
  • Special needs trusts
  • Guardianships
  • A will
  • A power of attorney

As well as other important documents that explain what you want to see happen if you are unable to care for yourself or if you pass away.

It’s not a good idea to leave those documents to chance. The last thing you would want to find out is that the do-it-yourself paperwork you found isn’t applicable in your state or isn’t valid. For that reason alone, it’s smart to work with your attorney to set up your estate plan from the beginning.

Is a custom estate plan more expensive?

Not when you consider the risk of getting the estate plan wrong. Customized estate plans allow you to go over specific needs and requirements you have, so that you can save money, prevent estate taxes and even work on qualifying for Medicaid to help prevent the spend down of your assets. Your attorney can go over all the custom options there are with you and why it’s better to tweak those options with the help of your attorney rather than completing them with no legal support. Your life is unique, and your estate plan should reflect it through and through.

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