By Lane V. Erickson, Idaho Estate Planning Attorney
The Coronavirus has definitely been a motivator for people to think about getting their estate planning done. Well I believe that it is always a good thing to think about getting estate planning done, or updating estate planning that already exists, I am a firm believer that people should not panic.
I’ve been an estate planning attorney now for over 20 years, and I am a firm believer that we are always at risk of injury, illness, or death even before the Coronavirus pandemic spread throughout the world. Because of this, it’s important that we always consider ourselves, our family members, and our loved ones. We should look down the road of the future and think about how we can plan and prepare to care for ourselves and others both while we are alive and after we are gone.
Basic estate planning takes care of these things for you. It allows you to protect yourself while you were alive through your durable power of attorney, and power of attorney for Health Care. It also gives you the ability to make end-of-life decisions through a living will. Finally, it gives you the ability to provide for your family members and loved ones after you have passed away through your written last will and testament.
In addition to this, you may have minor aged children, or children with disabilities, or children that haven’t demonstrated that they are capable of handling money or property appropriately. In all of these situations you can use a written trust as part of your estate plan that can provide for your children without giving money or property directly to them.
To help you get started, we offer our free Estate Planning Questionnaire. You can download this document as a PDF form from this article or from our estate planning website homepage. This is a great document to help you get started in collecting the information you need to make decisions about your own personal estate planning. This document also provides you with information about some of the options and choices you have depending on you and your family’s situations.
We also offer a free 30-minute consultation to discuss the Questionnaire and to answer your questions about estate planning. We do this to help you decide what needs you have and the type of estate plan you should create. Because of the Coronavirus pandemic, we are completing these consultations by phone and or video conference.
No, you shouldn’t panic about your estate planning because of the Coronavirus. Yes, you should get your estate-planning completed because anything could happen at any time that could affect you, your family, or your loved ones. With an estate plan completed, you have some assurance that you and those you love are protected and taken care of.
ENLIST AN IDAHO ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY TO HELP YOU
If you have any questions about your estate or how to simplify your plans for your family and loved ones, we can help. Call us toll free at 877-232-6101 or 208-232-6101 for a free consultation with Lane Erickson and the Racine Olson team of Estate Planning attorneys in Pocatello. You can also email Lane Erickson directly at lane@racineolson.com. We will answer your questions and will help you solve your Pocatello Estate Planning problems. I have helped numerous clients create their own customized estate plans and I’m confident that I can help you too.