Americans are predicted to spend more on Valentine's Day than ever before, according to the National Retail Federation. It appears people are spending more on children, parents, friends, coworkers, and even pets! The most popular gifts are candy, greeting cards, and flowers.
That's all great, but we at Learned Lawyer think proper estate planning is an incredible way to let your family and friends know you love them. So, for Valentine's Day this year, why not start a new estate plan or revisit your old plan to make sure it is up-to-date? (Appointments are available as soon as next week, and our first education meeting with attorney Scott Learned is complementary.)
Alright, I can feel your skepticism - a will or trust as an act of love? You bet! Listen, if something happens to you (either death or disability) and you don't have an excellent estate plan in place, your family will be left to clean up a big mess. They might have to go to court to get guardianship over you. Or they might have to go through probate to transfer your assets. If you have minor children, there will be a family fight over who should be their guardian (and who gets to manage their inheritance for them). You will leave nothing but confusion, expense, and lots of opportunities to fight with each other.
It doesn't need to be that way.
"I'm not rich enough to need an estate plan," you think. "I'm not old enough to worry about it," you tell yourself. Neither of these matter. Yes, your age and your wealth may influence what kind of plan you get, and how complicated that plan is. But every adult needs at least some form of estate planning - even young adults just starting out.
So do your loved ones a favor. Chat with us about what you need. Find out what it will cost. And take steps to get your plan designed and in writing. That way, if something does happen to you, your loved ones can focus their efforts on what they should be doing - grieving the loss of you - rather than cleaning up the mess you left.
And if you have loved ones (adult kids, parents) that need to get some planning done, contact us about gift options for our services. We'd love to help you and your family make sure that everything is taken care of should the worst happen. And you'll feel great knowing you aren't going to leave a mess behind.
In the meantime, have a very happy Valentine's Day today. Be sure to tell someone that you love them!
