Protecting Your Loved Ones and Your Legacy: 9 Reasons to Hire an Estate Planning Attorney

BY PEARL PHILLIP

When it comes to seeking legal advice, experience matters. And specialization is even more critical when it comes to something as important as safeguarding your loved ones, cementing your legacy, and ensuring your wishes are carried out. An estate planning attorney can be a significant help during your life, and here are nine reasons to work with such an attorney.

1. You have been putting off your estate plan. If you have meant to create an estate plan but never get around to it, talking to an an estate planning attorney is the jump start you need. An estate planning attorney can help you with every aspect of estate planning, from the distribution of your assets to assessing future tax liability for your heirs.

2. Your will needs to be updated. Even if you have a will, changes in your life and family may have rendered it dangerously out of date. If you got divorced, for instance, your will may still name your ex-spouse as a beneficiary, a situation you will likely want to address.

3. Your health has been declining. There is nothing wrong with working with an estate planning attorney when you feel fit, but if your health has been declining, you should stop putting it off. Declining health is a great reason to call an estate planning attorney, as prompt action could help you preserve your assets and legacy.

4. You are ready to start claiming Social Security. Signing up for Social Security benefits is not as straightforward. There is much to unpack, from when to begin taking those monthly checks to how the money will impact your tax liability. An estate planning attorney can help you develop the optimum Social Security claiming strategy to maximize your benefits and live a more comfortable life in retirement.

5. You have assets to protect. The protection of assets is another good reason to hire an estate planning attorney. An experienced estate planning attorney can assist you with everything from wills and trusts to estate plans and annuities, helping you protect the assets you have worked so hard for.

6. You want to protect your loved ones. No one wants to think about death and inheritance, but ignoring those unpleasant subjects will not make them disappear. If you want to protect your loved ones, do yourself and them a favor by working with an estate planning attorney.

7. You are concerned about the cost of assisted living. The high cost of assisted living can bankrupt even the wealthiest families, leaving them bereft of the necessary resources. Even if you are still in good health, talking to an estate planning attorney now is the best way to protect yourself against those ruinous future costs.

8. You need help with probate administration. Going through probate can be complicated, and even minor errors can have major implications. Working with an estate planning attorney during this time is a good idea, as these professionals have the experience and expertise necessary to do it right.

9. You have loved ones with special needs. Protecting family members who lack the resources to care for themselves can be tricky, but working with an estate planning attorney can make it easier. If you have loved ones with special needs, you must talk to an estate planning attorney as soon as possible.

Everyone gets older, and that means everyone could benefit from the services of an an estate planning attorney. Whether you want to protect your assets, safeguard your legacy or avoid the high cost of assisted living and nursing home care, there are good reasons to work with a competent an estate planning attorney.p