| Most of us don't like to think about estate planning. It | | | | review your will every few years. Laws governing |
| seems morbid to think about our demise, so we | | | | estate planning can change frequently. |
| sweep it under the rug and don't prepare ourselves | | | | Make sure to update your will any time there is a |
| and our families for the worst. However, without | | | | marriage, divorce, death of a spouse, birth or adoption |
| estate planning, your family will have to deal with a trip | | | | of children, or a move to another state. Make sure the |
| to probate court. | | | | changes are made to your will as soon as possible. |
| Your loved ones will have enough to deal with, so take | | | | For example, you wouldn't want a child deprived of his |
| care of your planning and you'll be doing them a big | | | | or her inheritance, or your ex-spouse to gain control of |
| favor. | | | | your estate. These examples should help you see |
| Can I Use Estate Planning Software? | | | | why proper planning is so important! |
| If you check your local computer store, you can usually | | | | Try to be disciplined and not allow more than a month |
| find several versions of planning software. You may | | | | to go by after important events before you update |
| wonder, though, are they legally binding? | | | | your will as needed. |
| Will the information be applicable to my state and my | | | | What Else Is Involved in Estate Planning? |
| situation? The good news is that estate planning | | | | When handling your planning, you want to be sure not |
| software has never been more easy to use. Often, | | | | to miss any steps. Whether you use estate planning |
| you simply start the program, answer a series of | | | | software or have an attorney handle the necessary |
| questions, and the necessary documents are | | | | documents, you'll want to take great care to make |
| prepared, ready to print. However, you should still have | | | | sure that all the proprieties are observed. |
| all documents checked by an attorney. | | | | Make sure that your will is witnessed by the correct |
| Even with an attorney's fee, you can still save a lot of | | | | number of people. Also, none of your witnesses should |
| money with planning software. The time it takes the | | | | be your beneficiaries. Ascertain that you have a |
| lawyer to review your documents will be very short | | | | named executor, and that this person is willing and able |
| compared to having original papers drawn up. | | | | to handle your estate when needed. |
| With software prices getting lower every day, you can | | | | Some of the planning choices that you'll need to make |
| find a good estate planning program for less than $50 | | | | will be personal, such as guardianships for your children, |
| at most stores where software is sold. | | | | and some will be pure business, such as how to handle |
| What Do I Need Besides a Will? | | | | your stake in your family's company. |
| Assuming that you are over 21, you will need a health | | | | When it comes to estate planning, each and every |
| care proxy and a durable power of attorney. Find | | | | decision is important to your loved ones' futures. Don't |
| these forms in your planning software, or ask your | | | | allow your distaste at the subject of planning to keep |
| lawyer. | | | | you from handling this task as soon as possible. If |
| They will save you a lot of time in case of an | | | | you've never done any planning like this, start today. |
| emergency medical situation. These documents | | | | If you've had all of your pertinent estate planning |
| shouldn't need to be updated unless something drastic | | | | finished for years, have it reviewed. It's just too vital to |
| happens, such as the person that you chose to have | | | | be put off another day. Think of your family and get |
| power of attorney passes away, but you should | | | | going! |