For many, estate planning can be a neglected part of financial planning. Some assume it's for the wealthy, while others may either have lack of knowledge or want to avoid uncomfortable questions that estate planning entails. Because of these reasons, along with others, it's no surprise that less than one-third of Americans have an estate plan.1
In addition to arranging for the distribution of your assets, estate plans should include vital documents that address a range of issues, from who will be the guardian of your children if you pass away, to how your loved ones should approach your medical decisions if you are incapacitated. With the help of legal and financial and legal professionals, drafting an estate plan may be easier than you think.
"An estate plan addresses many extremely important aspects of your medical and financial life, and ensures that your loved ones understand your wishes," says Nathaniel Arnett, estate planning specialist at Fidelity Investments. "Having a plan in place can help give you and your family real peace of mind."
You might start by meeting a financial professional to get an accurate assessment of all your accounts and assets. Because different assets are taxed differently, an estate planning professional can assist you in strategically distributing the assets to manage taxes, ease of ownership, and so on.
If you do not already have an attorney, you could use the Fidelity Estate Planner tool to help find the right person for you and your financial situation. Many attorneys provide a cost-free consultation.
Estate planning is a nuanced area of law that requires keeping up with many facets of the law. If you have unique concerns like special needs planning for a loved one or elder law considerations, confirm that the attorney you're working with has experience in these areas.
Here are 5 steps to get you on the right track:
1. Establish a power of attorney
A power of attorney (POA), also known as "attorney in fact" or "agent", is a legal document that grants another person the ability to make financial or medical decisions for you in the event that you become incapacitated.2 Such decisions may include liquidating investments to pay for medical bills, managing your insurance, and, in the case of a medical power of attorney, making sure you get the medical care and interventions that you want.
Financial and medical powers of attorney are generally different legal documents and it may make sense to appoint separate different people. In the case of designating a financial power of attorney, consider someone you trust wholeheartedly. This person will be opening your mail, contacting your banks, transferring your assets, and paying your bills, if needed. You should trust this person to make pragmatic and thoughtful decisions on your behalf.
Your medical power of attorney—sometimes called health care proxy, depending on where you live and how it is drafted—will make medical decisions on your behalf. This person will use your living will (also known as an advance health care directive) as a guide for determining the care you desire. Many people designate a spouse or adult child in this role, also naming an alternative in the event that the person initially named is unable to serve.
Note: Power of attorney ends at your death. From that point on, a trustee or executor will assume the duties of managing assets.
Whoever you choose, have a discussion to gain mutual understanding ensuring they are aware of your medical preferences. "Have a proactive conversation so that you can answer important questions and make the person's job easier in the event that they ever need to fulfill the role," Arnett says.
2. Create a living will
Your estate plan also provides guidance for your loved ones regarding your preferences for end-of-life medical intervention, in case you can’t communicate for yourself.
Most living wills address instructions for handling the following:
- Life-prolonging treatments, including blood transfusions, medication, and surgery
- Artificial life support and ventilators
- Pain relief or palliative care
- Administration of food and water (including tube feeding)
- Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders
These documents can be as specific as you like, and can denote your religious preferences and any plans for organ donation. "A living will offers needed guidance for your medical team and family, especially when a decision isn’t clear," Arnett says.
Your attorney can help you draft a living will along with the rest of your estate plan. Make sure you send a copy to your primary care physician to ensure your living will is easily accessible and becomes part of your medical record. These documents are also often coupled with the medical power of attorney paperwork, so consider making sure your doctor has access to all your important medical directives.
3. Make a last will and testament
Your will is an important document that serves distinct purposes. It outlines who will receive your assets after your death. If you have minor children, it also designates who will be their guardian. Without a will, a judge likely will make both of these determinations. "You probably have a distinct idea of who you want to inherit your assets or raise your children," Arnett says. "But if you don't record your preferences in a will, a judge may make a decision that's far from what you intended."
A will can be as simple or as complex as your estate requires. Begin by contacting an experienced attorney, who can walk you through the process. Many attorneys draft a basic will for a flat fee, which could be a few hundred dollars or more, depending on the attorney and your situation. You may also want to consult with your financial professional to help you inventory and organize your financial assets.
You'll also need to designate an executor—the person or institution who will oversee the management of your estate and will carry out the instructions of your will. You may also want to designate an alternative in case the person you choose is subsequently unable or unwilling to serve as executor. Their tasks may include taking inventory of your assets, selling your property, and paying your taxes. In selecting an executor, choose someone you view as responsible, levelheaded, and trustworthy. Also, make sure they're willing to take on the responsibilities of being the executor of your estate.
The main people your estate plan involves:
| Your attorney can help guide you through the process of building an appropriate plan. Attorneys also may specialize in certain areas of estate law that may be useful as you build your estate plan. | Your financial professional can help you take inventory of your assets and work with your attorney to create a tax-efficient plan that serves your family’s financial needs. | Estate executor is who you designate to manage the disposition of your estate. They will file court papers, pay taxes, fulfill any financial obligations of your estate, and make sure your assets are distributed as you intended. |
| A Guardian may be necessary for an adult child with special needs (in the event that you, your spouse or children's other parent) pass away, or even for an aging parent. | Power of attorney is a person or separate people3 you can appoint in writing to manage your financial affairs or your medical decisions while you are alive based on your instructions. | A Trustee carries out the instructions in the trust document, and is responsible for managing the assets and tax filings. A corporate trustee may make sense if there’s a more complicated trust to oversee. |
4. Consider creating a trust
Creating a trust can give you more control as to how assets are distributed and allow you to keep the details of your assets out of the public after your demise. Trusts can also:
- Reduce the taxes owed by your estate and heirs
- Protect your assets from creditors and lawsuits
- Put conditions on how and when your assets are distributed
People may often use a trust in conjunction with a will, but trusts can be more expensive. Creating an estate plan that includes a trust can cost from approximately $1,000 to more than several thousand dollars, depending on the complexity and assets involved. The expense of building an estate plan is generally a one-time fee. However, there may be recurring costs associated with the administration of certain kinds of trusts or with the revision of your plan over time.
If you do establish a trust, you'll need to name a trustee. The trustee is responsible for making sure the trust does what it intends. The trustee’s responsibilities include managing the assets, ongoing administration and tax filings for the trust, as well as making distributions to beneficiaries according to the terms of the trust. For instance, you may want your children to use the trust funds only for higher education. Your trustee would make distributions from the trust in accordance with the trust document.
When choosing a trustee, pick someone you trust. Consider their age, as well as how confident you are in their decision-making ability. A trustee may be a sibling or a close family friend, but also can be an independent corporate trustee with no ties to your family.
To learn more read Fidelity Viewpoints: Naming the right trustee
5. Update your estate plan regularly
Creating an estate plan is a great accomplishment. You will likely need to update your plan regularly so it continues to reflect your wishes and needs, which may change over time.
Also, consider updating your beneficiaries. Most financial accounts, such as insurance policies, retirement savings accounts, or brokerage accounts, require you to designate a beneficiary, and these beneficiary designations typically trump any directions in a will. The estate planning process is a good time to make sure you've identified beneficiaries in each of those accounts, and consider whether those beneficiary designations are in harmony with your overall estate plan.
Experts recommend reviewing your estate plan every 2 to 5 years, and updating it after major life events, for example, marriage and remarriage, divorce, and births or adoptions. Changes in your financial goals; purchases of large assets such as a home; or major financial events such as a bankruptcy, retirement, or business sale, are also important milestones that justify a review of your estate plan.
Avoid procrastination because having a well-conceived plan is more than worth the time and money it will take to build it. "You'll give your loved ones the authority and guidance they need to navigate a tough situation," Arnett says. "That way you can rest easy, knowing that if something unexpected happens, you’re more than prepared."