It’s difficult to talk about what will happen to your loved ones after you are gone. This sensitive and difficult subject leads to many people avoiding the topic of estate planning at all.
However, this can unnecessarily expose your family to feeling caught off guard, confused or even mired in conflict if an unexpected tragedy, such as your sudden death or the development of a disability occurs. Readjusting your estate plan on a regular basis can help you to plan for the legacy of the people that you love.
There are several different elements to a well-rounded estate plan in Massachusetts. These include directives for medical issues, beneficiary forms, your will, power of attorney documents, the use of trusts, and potentially even a life insurance policy.
Working together, all of these documents and strategies, can give you better peace of mind that if something were to happen to you, your family has been cared for.
Your estate plan, though, is about more than the documents you use to explain what you want to happen. It can also be used to leave a legacy with charitable giving or instilling important reminders about your values so that your loved ones can remember the kind of life you lived.
If you have specific wishes about your healthcare in the future, such as not being kept alive through support machines, you can explain this in your estate planning documents and empower your loved ones to avoid making these difficult decisions on your behalf.
