It’s not easy to plan for the future, and many find the prospect of estate planning to be daunting or unnecessary. Because of this, people either neglect to put certain plans in place for the future, or they have plans that they never think about again. This can result in complications for that person and his or her loved ones in the future.
The start of a new year offers a Louisiana reader the opportunity to meet some goals, and perhaps one of your goals should be adjusting and updating estate plans to suit your current and projected future needs. You may even need to create new plans or start the planning process from the very beginning. These things are important, and you would be wise not to delay on getting the protection you need.
The impact of the election
The upcoming presidential election could impact you more than you realize. A political shift can bring changes in tax laws, especially estate taxes. This means that it could be beneficial for you to adjust plans to reduce the potential tax impact that your loved ones may face. You may assume that there is no harm in waiting to see what happens, but waiting too long could be detrimental, and you may not have enough time to do what you need to do.
Use trusts and other estate planning tools wisely
A will is the basic building block of any good estate plan, but it is not necessarily the only thing you need for a secure future. Through a trust, you can set aside assets for a specific use. This is often a more effective way to accomplish goals for your assets, but there are various types of trusts to choose from. A careful evaluation of your needs and objectives can help you see which one may be best.
Need to change documents?
Life changes could necessitate changes to your estate planning documents. The plans you made with your original plan may no longer suit your needs or be relevant. It is worthwhile to carefully examine the plans you already have and adjust things as necessary.
Seek help, even if you think you don’t need to
It’s not easy to know what type of changes you need to make or steps you need to take in order to protect both yourself and your loved ones. An experienced estate planning attorney can help you understand the applicable laws and what they could mean for you. By seeking an assessment of your case, you can learn about the estate planning steps you need to take in the new year.
