Many common estate planning myths are circulating the internet, including that estate plans are a luxury, or that only older individuals need them. In reality, estate plans are a borderline necessity, and everyone can benefit from having one.
In this blog, Appleby Healy Attorneys at Law answer common estate planning questions to help empower and inform you. If you have ever asked yourself, “Do I need an estate plan?” this post is a must-read!
Who Needs Estate Planning?
Every individual needs a plan for their assets. No matter your age or income, knowing that you have a plan in place will provide you with a tremendous amount of security.
Why do you need an estate plan?
There are many reasons that you should consider an estate plan. We have compiled three of the most important reasons below:
- Bypass Probate: If you pass away and your estate isn’t secured, the next step to distributing your assets is probate. Probate is a legal process that can be emotionally and financially taxing. Your loved ones will be expected to hire an attorney, devote considerable time, and complete a large amount of paperwork. When your estate enters probate, decisions are determined by the courts instead of by you or your loved ones.
- Protect Your Assets & Wishes: Having a solid estate plan in place can be beneficial to you if you become incapacitated. Your estate plan is a legal record of your wishes and will state what you intended for yourself and your assets prior to your incapacitation.
- Assist Your Beneficiaries: As stated above, the probate process can be intense and time-consuming, but there are other issues that you must consider. What would you like to have done with your remains? How would you like your assets to be divided? You don’t want your loved ones to have to guess what you would have wanted.
No matter how compelling these benefits are, you most likely still have reservations about establishing an estate plan. It’s normal to have questions about decisions like who to trust with creating your estate plan. That is why Appleby Healy Law Firm offers FREE estate planning consultations, so you can learn more about estate planning from the people who do it best, Attorney David Appleby and Attorney Davide Healy!
Do I Need An Estate Planning Attorney?
In today’s technology-centered world there are a ton of websites that claim they can create estate plans for less. However; estate planning is not “one size fits all”, and while these sites advertise themselves as quick, cheap solutions, they cannot compete with an experienced estate planning attorney when it comes to document safekeeping services, offering expert advice, or providing an in-depth estate plan that is tailored to your wants and needs.
Why Choose Appleby Healy Law?
Since 1924, our law firm has been serving Ozark, MO, and surrounding communities. If you are looking to find local attorneys for wills or estate plans, the Appleby Healy Law Firm team is prepared to assist you! We offer FREE estate planning consultations because we want to make estate plans accessible to individuals across southwest Missouri. To book your consultation, fill out a contact form, or call us today at 417-581-2411.
