You have likely heard over and over that there are many advantages to creating a comprehensive estate plan. One of the most important benefits for many individuals is that it allows you to help prevent disputes among your loved ones after you are gone. Below are a few steps to follow when establishing your estate plan to help prevent litigation over your estate:
1. Act while you are healthy
Establishing your estate plan while you are healthy and able to properly get your affairs in order is the most effective way to ensure that your goals are met and your loved ones are protected. Don’t wait until you think it’s time to think about estate planning -- the time is now if you are reading this article. Your family is worth it.
2. Confirm capacity
When it comes to disputes over estate planning documents, a common issue is whether the decedent had adequate mental capacity to sign the documents. Therefore, to avoid this type of lawsuit, if the individual signing the documents is elderly, have an examination by a physician immediately prior to executing the estate planning documents and confirm he or she has the required mental capacity to sign legal documents. Get that confirmation in writing.
3. Get the family involved
The earlier you can get your whole family involved in the process of estate planning, the better. If you wait until after death for family members to find out about your estate plan, there could be questions and conflicts that are unresolvable. Consider having one lawyer for the whole family (with appropriate understanding of potential conflicts) who can understand everyone’s interests and needs and support a cohesive plan for communication and understanding.
4. Professional executor
If you are aware of conflicts between your family members and you are concerned there will be fights over your estate and you are not willing to address those while you are living, appointing a professional executor may be a wise choice. Although it will cost money, if it can prevent expensive lawsuits and arguments among your loved ones then it could be worth the added cost.
5. Disinheritance
If you decide to disinherit somebody, it is important to make your intentions clear and concise. The language used must make it obvious that the disinheritance is intentional. You do not need to provide a reason for why the individual is being disinherited because this could provide a basis for the disinherited person to challenge it. If you do want to provide a reason, do so in a separate, confidential writing that is given to your attorney to hold and use only if the disinherited party tries to contest the disinheritance.
This article is a service of the Law Office of Keoni Souza, LLC, an estate planning law firm in Honolulu, Hawaii. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session, during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before, and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by contacting our office today to schedule a Family Wealth Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.
DISCLAIMER: All information available on this website is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. You should contact an attorney directly regarding your specific situation. Use of and access to this website or any of the email links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship between the Law Office of Keoni Souza, LLC and any users or any other party.
