Difficult Questions You Should Ask Yourself for Estate Planning
Estate planning is never an easy process, and it often raises difficult questions for Tampa residents. In some cases, those questions are challenging because they underlie a person’s serious illness in the family. In other situations, some of the most important questions of estate planning simply raise issues that many people do not want to address, from the possibility of unexpected death to intimate questions about a person’s sexuality. However, to ensure that your loved ones are cared for in the event of your death, to safeguard your property and family heirlooms, and to make sure that your wishes are respected if you become incapacitated, it is necessary to have an estate plan.
An article in Forbes discusses some of the most difficult questions surrounding estate planning, and we want to address some of them here.
- If You Have Minor Children, Who Do You Want to Raise Them If You Die Before They Turn 18?
It is never easy to think about naming a guardian for your child or your children. However, if you die before your kids turn 18, the state will name a guardian if you do not do so in advance. To be clear, this is one of the major reasons that estate planning is not just for elderly Tampa residents, but for everyone.
On a related note, have you set up a trust for your children in the event of your death? An estate planning lawyer can help with this.
- Do You Know Who Will Take Care of Your Pets If You Die?
While you may not need to name a guardian for your pet or set up a trust in the same way you would for a child, many people care deeply about their pets and want to be sure that they are cared for properly.
- Do You Have Any Descendants With Whom You Are Not in Touch?
Are there children from a previous marriage, or children you had before you were married, with whom you are out of touch? It is important to think through all of your possible descendants when making a will and discussing its terms with the person you name as the executor, as well as your family members.
- Do You Have a Plan in Place If Everyone You Have Named As an Heir Dies With You in a Disaster?
It can be difficult to think about, but if everyone you have named in your will dies in a disaster–such as a plane crash or a hurricane–you should have a plan in place for where your estate will go. You may wish to name an alternate family member or a charity.
- Do You Have Any Intimate Relationships That Are Secret, Or Unknown to Other Family Members?
If there is anyone else in your life that you keep separate from your family, such as a significant other outside of your marriage, it is important to tell your estate planning lawyer so that she or he can ensure that your estate planning materials will hold up.
Contact a Tampa Estate Planning Attorney for Assistance
Do you need help with estate planning? This is a complicated process, but a compassionate estate planning attorney in Tampa can help. Contact Bubley & Bubley, P.A. to learn more about how we can assist you.
Resource:
forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2012/07/24/twelve-estate-planning-questions-that-might-make-you-squirm/#7a9ee68a6a7f
https://www.bubleylaw.com/marital-debt-and-estate-planning-for-older-adults/
