By Jay Greene, Esq., CPA–
The holiday season is already here. Many of us will spend the coming months sitting around dinner tables and eating festive meals with family, friends, loved ones, and even some not so loved ones. Regardless of whom you spend the holidays with, there seems to be one topic that always comes up: have you started planning for your future?
This question is inevitable since you will be around the people who care for you. In many cases, these are the people you would also include in your planning. So, how do you take the first step to start planning for your future?
Prepare Your Goals
The best thing you can do is be prepared to start your estate plan. This includes writing down your goals, determining which people you wish to include in your plan, and identifying all your assets. This may seem like a lot of information to gather, but all you need to do is take it one step at a time.
Talk with Loved Ones
It is so important to inform your loved ones of your wishes. Use the holiday season as an opportunity to share your wishes with those who matter most. This could be asking them to be your agent for your health or financial matters if you are not able to make these decisions on your own. You can share your intentions for who will receive your assets. Perhaps you have specific burial instructions in mind. All these goals can be accomplished by creating an estate plan, and sharing this information will give you and your loved ones assurance of your wishes.
Creating your own estate plan should be your priority. But this can be a priority for others as well. As you share your goals with loved ones this holiday season, be sure to ask others if they have started their estate plan. In many cases, people will be further behind than you. Other times, people would have made their estate plan many years ago, and likely require updates due to updates in the law or to change the people in their plan. We are a multijurisdictional practice and we work with attorneys from other states. If someone has an estate plan from back in the day, we can review their documents and advise as necessary.
Getting Started
The first step is always the most challenging when it comes to starting an estate plan. The truth is that most people are not aware of everything they need prior to starting their estate plan. That is why we are here.
Getting started is as simple as contacting an experienced estate planning attorney. Our office offers FREE initial assessments for all estate planning matters. You may reach us by calling our phone number (415) 905-0215, or by scanning the QR code in our ad. We are able to offer suggestions on the best planning options for you, and give a reasonable timeline to ensure your plan is completed when you need it to be.
It is common to start your planning journey without knowing every detail you wish to include. This is why it is so important to start the process so you can share your goals with loved ones. After all, what could be better than sitting around the dinner table these next couple months and letting everyone know your estate planning process has already begun? We look forward to hearing from you!
Statements In Compliance with California Rules of Professional Conduct: The materials in this article have been prepared by Attorney Jay Greene, with contributions by Paralegal Andreas Altamirano, for educational purposes only and are not legal advice. This information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Individuals should consult with an estate planning and elder law attorney for up-to-date information for their individual plans.
Jay Greene, Attorney, CPA, is the founder of Greene Estate, Probate, & Elder Law Firm based in San Francisco, and is focused on helping LGBT individuals, couples, and families plan for their future, protect their assets, and preserve their wealth. For more information and to schedule an assessment, visit: https://assetprotectionbayarea.com/
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Published on November 3, 2022
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