New York Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog
An estate planning attorney has the potential to help with a number of issues. Making sure to review all applicable issues with your attorney, however, can prove particularly difficult. Some people are not even sure what issues to bring up with their estate planning lawyer can prove particularly difficult. As a result, this article reviews some of the important questions that you should make sure to raise with your attorney.
# 1 – Who Will Receive What after Your Divorce?
If you do not have a will or trust, it is a wise idea to tell your attorney how you would like your benefits distributed to loved ones after your death. The only way to make certain that your assets are based in the way that you desire is to make sure that these wishes are reflected in writing. Even if you already have a will or trust, it is important to review this document and make sure that the people who you want to inherit from your estate are actually named in your estate planning documents. Many people go a number of years without reviewing their legal documents. This means that if you have not reviewed your will for some time, it might name individuals who are no longer alive. In addition to the death of a beneficiary, there are a number of other conditions that can change how a person would like their estate to be distributed. Some other things that can change a person’s condition include financial difficulties, marriage, or the birth of new family members.
# 2 – Is a Power of Attorney
It is important to understand who will handle your finances or make medical decisions in case you become incapacitated. In situations where you do not have a durable power of attorney to address financial or medical issues, the court will determine who has the ability to exercise this power over you. The best way to make sure that things are properly taken into consideration during this vulnerable moment is to speak with an experienced estate planning attorney.
# 3 – Are You Receiving the Benefits You Deserve?
Unfortunately, each month a large number of people miss out on receiving the Social Security benefits that they deserve. If your earnings record is not accurate, your monthly payment might be less than it should be. Some of the other common obstacles that can get in the way of benefits include employers who fail to report your earnings or who use the wrong Social Security number. One type of group of individuals that frequently lose out on benefits are military veterans who are not aware that they are eligible for benefits.
Speak with an Experienced Estate Planning Lawyer
Speaking with a knowledgeable estate planning lawyer about the numerous topics that make up estate planning is the best way to make sure that you end up with peace of mind about the future of your estate. At Ettinger Law Firm we understand the numerous complications that can arise and have helped numerous people perform successful estate planning.