In the unfortunate event of your death, the family and loved ones you leave behind need to know what to do with your estate. Basically everyone has an estate. An estate is any individual’s personal belongings, real estate, money, and other holdings. If you die without an official legal directive of what to do with your estate, your money and property can be distributed according to California law or fought over in the courts by your grieving loved ones.

A good estate plan also has a purpose before your death, ensuring that you receive the medical care you want in case you’re ever sick or incapacitated.

Having an estate plan in place is a wise decision, no matter your age or health. Because we don’t know what the future holds. But you can better plan for the future with the help of an estate planning attorney.

What if I Don’t Have an Estate Plan?

We like to think that family would stick together in the event of our deaths. But grief and feelings of rejection can make us do things we’re not proud of. If you die tomorrow, how can you ensure that the people you love don’t go to probate court and fight over your assets? How can you know that the right things will go to the intended parties? If you’re incapacitated, do you want there to be a debate among your loved ones as to what should be done?

No one knows what the future holds and what desperations we may be forced to endure. A professionally arranged estate plan can help ensure that our loved ones don’t battle amongst themselves over what they feel they deserve. And, if you’re sick or incapacitated, it could grant power of attorney to who you wish.

Can My Children Make an Estate Plan After My Passing?

Only you can make an estate plan, will, and living trust, and you can only craft them when you’re among the living. After you’re gone, it’s too late, there’s nothing to be done. And in the event that you started the process but didn’t finish it, an unsigned document is often as useless as a document that’s never been written.

Estate planning is complicated, tied both to the law and to the relationships we forge and the emotional attachments we cling to. But it’s work that needs to be done now and not put off until later.

How Can an Estate Planning Lawyer Help Me?

No one wants to think about these matters but an unfortunate part of life is planning for what happens after we depart it. The time to look out for your loved ones is now.

An estate plan drawn up by an experienced California attorney can help you rest easy, knowing that your loved ones will be taken care of after you’re gone.