One of my clients recently told me how great she felt that her estate plan had been completed. All her affairs were in order and her family was prepared in case anything ever happened to her. What if you did the same for your family? You, too, would feel great.
Give your family the gift of “peace of mind.” The actual process of estate planning can be quite enlightening. It forces you to take stock of your life. First, you will be forced to examine the things that are truly important to you. A good lawyer will get you thinking about things and situations you may never have considered.
Second, the process forces you to “get your house in order.” For example, you may find that you think you know where your documents are, when in fact you can’t find some of them. When was the last time you checked on the deed to your home? Do you even know what it looks like? Where is it? Now ask yourself, “If I can’t find my own documents, how will my loved ones find them after I’ve passed away?” About 75 percent of my clients cannot find the deed to their home. Hint: Your spouse doesn’t know where it is either.
Many clients are often amazed at how much we go through during the initial consultation. They say, “Gee, I never thought of that.” We examine unique family issues and create a plan to address those issues. They are often surprised at how involved the process really is. Sure, you can buy boilerplate documents or spend money on documents that you could have gotten for free, but why would you take that gamble with yourself and your family? Unless you do your own dental work, I advise you to see an experienced attorney to help you develop your plan.
The overwhelming majority of my clients tell me how “good” they feel after they’ve gone through the estate planning process. Why not vow to give your family that same good feeling of security? Some say it’s too “hard” to do estate planning. I tell them the hardest part is making the appointment.
To receive a free Estate Planning Info Package, including a free audio CD about estate planning, feel free to contact my office via email at rob@mansourlaw.com or by calling 661-414-7100.