Your Estate Planning New Year’s Resolution

The new year is underway, but it’s never too late to set resolutions. One area that you might not have thought about when you set your 2024 goals is estate planning objectives. Estate planning may not be a sexy pursuit, but it’s the only way to properly ensure your future and that of your loved ones. Adapting the following estate planning New Year’s resolutions will not only give you peace of mind, it will make sure you’re starting off 2024 on the right foot.

How to Make an Estate Planning Resolution

Estate planning is a process that can feel complicated, but by staying on top of it, you can ensure that it will never feel out of control. Here are a few estate planning objectives that you can easily achieve:

1. 1. 1. Healthcare Planning Forms. Healthcare forms are an important but often overlooked aspect of achieving your estate planning objectives. Forms such as a durable power of attorney and a healthcare proxy allow you to decide what will happen to you and who will oversee your estate should you become incapacitated or otherwise unable to make your own decisions. It is important to fill out these forms before it’s too late.
      2. Designate Beneficiaries. Another sometimes overlooked aspect of estate planning is the question of designating beneficiaries as with certain assets such as insurance policies or IRA’s (individual retirement accounts). It is important to make sure that beneficiary designations are current, especially if an important life event, such as a death, divorce or marriage, has occurred.
      3. Review and Update Your Will and Other Important Documents. If you haven’t reviewed your estate plan in a while, chances are it may be out of date. Perhaps one of your intended beneficiaries has passed on or maybe there’s a new member of the family. Updating your will and other documents every few years or whenever you have a major life event will keep you on top of your goals for estate planning.
      4. Talk with Your Family about Your Estate Plan. Nobody likes a surprise. There’s nothing worse than when an estate plan is administered and certain family members are caught off guard. Be sure that your loved ones and other beneficiaries are aware of what role they play in your estate, so there will be no hard feelings after you pass on.

When you’re ready to put your estate planning New Year’s resolution into action, the Estate Planning Law Group of Georgia are here for you. Our attorneys have many years of experience in all aspects of property law, and we’re here to help you reach your goals for estate planning.

Contact us today and get started achieving peace of mind.