Estate Planning Goals for 2021

The new year is a time of hope and an opportunity to set goals. If you’ve been procrastinating on estate planning, this is the year to change that! And we’re here to help. Here what you should include in your estate planning goals for 2021.

1 – Learn About Your Options

Your first estate planning goal should be to get educated on the topic. There’s a ton of information out there. Estate planning is very personal and specific. Focusing on information that is important and applicable to you is the best approach. Reduce the noise and focus on what matters. Contact our team to schedule a consultation. We’ll take the time to learn about you and your goals and to provide information that is applicable to your circumstances.

2 – Make Decisions

You’ll leave your consultation session with greater knowledge and a list of decisions to be made. For many decisions, like health care proxies and power of attorney, we recommend that you have a primary and one or two backups as well. These decisions are tough, so take your time. We’ve written a few articles on selecting a guardian for your children and the qualities of a good guardian that may help. Although it may be difficult, making selections is better than not having anything at all. You can always revise your plan later if you change your mind.

3 – Have Your Plan Prepared

Once you know what you want, it’s time for your Massachusetts estate planning attorney to draft documents to meet your specific needs. Beware of online estate planning templates or other DIY solutions. Generic forms are simply not sufficient for what should be a very personalized plan. With something as important as an estate plan, you don’t want to make mistakes that jeopardize the future of your beneficiaries. Trust the knowledge and experience of your attorney to get this done right and to protect your best interests.

4 – Sign and Store Your Estate Plan

Your estate planning documents must be signed and notarized in front of witnesses to protect their validity. Your attorney will provide originals and retain copies in their records. Keep your documents in a safe place and provide copies to trusted family members. Otherwise, it can be difficult for your family to find documents when they need it.

More Estate Planning Goals for 2021

The best estate planning goals for 2021 are to start the process and finally get your plan completed. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that you never know what the future holds. Don’t go another year without protecting your assets and your family. Contact our team today to get started.