Not married and childless? It’s still important to plan for your future – no matter your situation.
If you are single you may operate under the mistaken belief that estate planning is not necessary for you. Nothing could be farther from the truth. A Phoenix estate planning lawyer at Morris Hall PLLC explains why you need an estate plan even if you are unmarried and childless.
Estate Planning Is About More Than Your Death
One reason that so many people think an estate plan isn’t necessary for a single adult is the also mistaken belief that estate planning is all about death. While it is true that estate planning helps to ensure that your estate assets are distributed according to your wishes after you are gone, a well-thought-out and properly drafted plan can accomplish much more. Planning for the very real possibility of incapacity, for example, is another common estate planning objective as are probate and tax avoidance. A comprehensive estate plan can also help you to protect and grow the assets you acquire over the course of your lifetime and make those assets work for you during your retirement years. Given the wide-ranging goals that an estate plan can help with, it becomes easier to understand why every adult needs one.
Concerns for the Single Estate Planner
Whether you are still a young adult who plans to marry and become a parent at some point, are a newly divorced single parent, or have simply made the decision to remain single and never marry, there are several reasons why estate planning is particularly important for you, including:
- Avoiding an intestate estate – whether you have already amassed a sizeable fortune, or you have a modest estate, you likely care what happens to the assets you do own if something happens to you. If you die without at least a basic Will in place, the State of Texas gets to decide who receives your assets. Close friends, favorite nieces and nephews, and beloved charities will receive nothing from your estate.
- Choosing a guardian for your children – if you are a single parent, one of the most powerful reasons to execute a Will is because it offers you the only official opportunity to nominate a Guardian for your children should one ever be needed.
- Protecting your assets in the event of incapacity – if you are incapacitated because of a tragic accident or debilitating illness, someone must take over control of your assets. Without an estate plan in place that addresses the issue of incapacity, your family members could end up in court battling over the right to be that person. That litigation could cause a divide in the family for many years to come. Moreover, the person who does end up with control of your assets might not be the person you want controlling them.
- Deciding who will make health care decisions for you – the same basic concept applies to making health care decisions for you in the event of your incapacity. If you did not execute the appropriate advance directive as part of your overall estate plan, a court might decide who will make life and death decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself.
As you can see, the need for estate planning does not begin with marriage or parenthood. Furthermore, it is not tied to the number or worth of assets you have acquired. If you are single, with or without children, you can benefit from having a comprehensive estate plan in place every bit as much as anyone else can.
Contact Our Phoenix Estate Planning Lawyers
For more information, please join us for an upcoming FREE seminar. If you have additional questions or concerns about Wills or Trusts, or you are ready to get started with your estate plan, contact one of our experienced Phoenix estate planning lawyers at Morris Hall PLLC by calling 888-222-1328 to schedule your free consultation today.
This blog should be used for informational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney in your community who can assess the specifics of your situation.
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