Whether you have been thinking about planning your estate for some time or have just begun to explore your options for creating a plan for your future, your decision to get started right away can be fulfilling and rewarding. At Bradley Devitt Haws & Watkins, P.C., we have the experience of helping many families in Colorado in their estate planning efforts.
If you are struggling to get started because you are overwhelmed by all of the pieces and parts of coordinating a functional estate plan, you are not alone. Perhaps the best advice you can remember is that creating a customized plan that fits your personal needs, desire and lifestyle will undoubtedly take time. It will require you to take things one step at a time and to carefully assess your needs and ultimately what your final goals are.
According to Yahoo! Finance, one of the first steps you should take is to itemize everything you own that has significant value to you. Experts recommend that this list include everything from financial assets to property you own, down to heirlooms or collectibles that are of considerable importance to you. You will also need to select people to help you carry out your estate plan. Because these individuals will be working closely with sensitive information, it is critical that you choose people who you trust and who have been able to demonstrate honesty, integrity and organizational skills. An advanced health care directive is also important to provide instructions into how you wish to be treated if you need serious medical care when you become debilitated and unable to make decisions on your own.
When you have some insight into where to begin and are equipped with the confidence you need to begin coordinating your own estate plan, you can optimize the time and resources you have to create a plan that is right for you. For more information about planning your estate, visit our web page.