When creating an estate plan, much of the information that you are discussing with your attorney is highly personal and sensitive. It can be difficult to open up and share such intimate aspects of your life with someone you may not have known for very long. Discussions about sensitive topics such as death, disability, personal finances, and family dynamics are not easy to have. Regardless, it is vital to the overall success of your estate plan that you share this information with your attorney.
Don’t Leave Out Important Details
Leaving out important information because it is personal can prove to be a mistake. Without this information, your attorney may not be able to craft a plan that best suits your goals and needs. Following are five reasons why providing all pertinent information is so important:
- If you do not provide the correct names for your beneficiaries and fiduciaries, arguments could potentially be made later as to who is the intended party.
- If you do not provide the correct contact information for your loved ones, your attorney may have a difficult time contacting them in the event of your disability or death.
- If you do not provide your attorney with important details relating to your finances, such as account numbers and institution names, your attorney may have difficulty helping your executor or trustee administer your estate or trust after your passing or in the event that you become disabled when creating an estate plan.
- If you do not tell your attorney about prior estate planning that has been done, your old documents may be left valid and not revoked. Someone could even make an argument that the old documents should prevail over the new.
- If you do not give your attorney a detailed explanation about your estate planning goals, he is less able to create the estate plan that is right for your family. Some families prioritize probate avoidance when creating their estate plans. For other families, tax avoidance is more important. Whatever the goal of your family, it is important that your attorney be aware so that he can tailor your plan to meet those needs.
When creating an estate plan, much of the information that you are discussing with your attorney is highly personal and sensitive. Now that you understand why providing information is important, you will be better able to create an estate plan that does exactly what you need and want it to do. When you are ready to take the next steps, we encourage you to reach out. We are reachable at any time, day or night, through our easy, online live chat system.