Tax and Estate Planning Season
Tax prep activity is the perfect opportunity to get your estate plan in order and kill two birds with the proverbial stone “Tax and Estate Planning Season”.
Why? Because as you run down your list of “tax prep” questions, you will find that your answers could also impact your estate plan.
Some things to think about:
- Did you get married or divorced? Did any of your children or grandchildren?
- Did you welcome a child or grandchild into your family by birth or adoption?
- Have any of your children or grandchildren reached the age of majority?
- Have you dealt with illness or hospitalization? Have you incurred medical expenses?
- Did you buy or sell a new property or any other major assets, like a vacation home?
- Did you move to another state?
- Did you buy, sell, open, or close a business?
- Have you made any charitable donations?
- Do you have any new life insurance or pension plans?
After you’ve answered these questions, get to work on gathering the corresponding paperwork. That might include deeds, policies, and contracts as well as bills and receipts. Having all of this information on hand can help you prepare your tax forms and whip your estate plan into shape.
Here’s how your tax-related changes can affect your estate planning.
If you already have an estate plan:
Your number one goal is to make sure everything still represents your wishes, taking into account the past year’s events. Maybe because of a change in circumstances, you need new or updated estate planning documents. Perhaps it’s time for an LLC and an update to your living trust now that you have a small business, or maybe you need to update beneficiaries because of births or deaths. Or, if you’ve had a change of heart about who should inherit from you, you also need to update your plan.
If you don’t have an estate plan:
Having this information at your fingertips sets you up for a productive conversation with your estate planning attorney. After reviewing your legacy goals, your lawyer can draw up key documents, such as:
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A Will
Among other things, this document can ensure that your wishes—and not the laws of the state—determine how to distribute your estate.
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A Revocable Living Trust
In addition to, or as an alternative to a will, you can establish a living trust, which allows your estate to bypass the potentially long and costly probate process upon your death, gives you extra privacy, and helps to avoid the potentially costly guardianship or conservatorship court process (sometimes called “living probate”) if you become incapacitated.
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A Living Will
This document expresses your desires regarding life-sustaining medical treatment if you become incapable of communicating your wishes.
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A Durable Power of Attorney
This appoints someone to step in and take over your financial affairs if you are unable to do so, reducing the possibility of hard feelings among loved ones or the need for court intervention.
It’s a new year, and new possibilities are in the air. As long as you’re getting started on your taxes, take a few extra moments to get the ball rolling on your estate planning as well.
As Anne Burrell once observed, “Organizing ahead of time makes the work more enjoyable. Chefs cut up the onions and have the ingredients lined up ahead of time and have them ready to go. When everything is organized you can clean as you go and it makes everything so much easier and fun.”
We’re Here to Help
Are you ready to develop a comprehensive estate plan designed to achieve your goals and protect your family? Contact Hudack Law today at (877) 314-4309 Toll-free, please visit areas of service (open link in a new tab) or hudacklaw.com (open link in a new tab) to get started.