Here are some thought-provoking exercises for the first part of structuring your estate plan. I have used a similar (but more detailed) model to begin the estate planning process with my clients. Within the subject areas, consider how you would “rate” the item - how important is it to you, now or in the future; for example is “appointing an agent to make health care decisions” either: very significant to you? of average importance? not likely to be of any concern?
So…let’s begin,
Subject Area No. 1: In The Event of Permanent or Temporary Incapacity (how would you rate the importance to you of the following items?)
Appointing an agent to manage your financial affairs
Appointing an agent to make health care decisions
Providing use of personal assets to support partner/family
Continuing or starting lifetime gift program
Subject Area No.2: Specific and Cash Gifts (how would you rate the importance to you of the following items?)
Providing gifts of personal property to specific family members
Providing cash gifts (to family, friends, charities)
Providing gifts of real estate or other property; preserving family property rights
Providing for care of pet(s)
Developing a charitable gift plan e.g. supporting a university, a “cause”, an institution
Subject Area No. 3: Spouse/Partner (how would you rate the importance to you of the following items?)
Providing for spouse/partner
Providing a trust for spouse to manage assets/address remarriage/protect assets
Giving spouse the right to redirect trust assets as they determine at their death e.g. after your death, your spouse dies. he/she had been given “right” to allocate/redirect remainder of trust assets to anyone they wish (in other words - they had not been prevented from “re-allocating” assets)
Subject Area No. 4: Children/Descendants (how would you rate the importance to you of the following items?)
Providing for children/grandchildren
Treating equally all children/grandchild marriage
Planning for special needs of a family member
Providing for step-children as your own children
Providing for a trust for children in order to manage/protect assets
Giving children the right to redirect trust assets upon their death e.g. after your death, one of your children dies; they may allocate/redirect any remainder of trust assets to anyone they wish
Providing for transfer of assets (at your death) outright to grandchildren
Providing for a trust for grandchildren
Preventing transfer of assets to spouses of children/grandchildren (e.g. your son Joe is married to Mary. If Joe were to pre decease Mary, you do not wish Mary to inherit certain or your assets/property)
Providing for payout of benefits over life expectancy of beneficiary
Paying retirement plan benefits into a trust for a beneficiary
Subject Area No. 5: Tax Planning (how would you rate the following items?)
Minimizing federal/state taxes
Reducing federal/state income taxes
Subject Area No. 6: Medical (These are general questions that probably require a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response).
Would you want food/water (nutrition/hydration) if death was imminent?
Do you wish to become an organ donor?
Do you have a medical power of attorney?
Do you have a current life-limiting medical condition?
Does spouse/child have special need?
Subject Area No.7: General (Questions that require only a “yes or no” response)
Do you own your own business? Do you have a business succession plan?
Do you have any beneficiaries other than spouse/partner/children/grandchildren?
Are you a citizen of the United States? Is your spouse a citizen of the United States?
Do any of your possible beneficiaries live outside the United States?
Do any family members/friends/business associations owe you money?
Do you have any deceased children? Was the child married? Did they have children?
Have you/your spouse/partner previously completed any other estate planning documents?
Are you inquiring about a prenuptial agreement/post-nuptial agreement or an amendment to an existing marital agreement?
Do you plan to live/retire outside the United States?
Do you own/control property/assets outside the United States?
Final: The above are not the only considerations of an estate plan. Having read through the major subject areas, you can begin to understand the process of estate planning. It begins with the here and now and develops into a plan for the foreseeable future. It develops from responses to very specific questions/answers and the legal consequences (interpretation) of those responses. The individualized plan evolves into a legal document and a specific process to both allocate your assets as you wish and to preserve your assets into the future.
Please go to bottom of this section to see the disclaimer and also my column about "How I Can Help You"