The mistakes may not be estate planning mistakes. However, they can have a big impact on your estate plan.
The idea of an estate plan is to have a plan to distribute your assets and handle taxes, court costs and attorney’s fees, without them having a major negative impact on the family left behind. While it is important to make these plans, it is also important to include the possibility of a high price tag for end-of-life care, according to Forbes in “The Biggest Estate Planning Mistake People Make.”
Some end-of-life documents you should get from your estate planning attorney include:
- A Durable Power of Attorney — With this document, you can appoint someone else to handle your financial responsibilities, if you are ever unable to do so due to incapacity. This is important, if you want to make sure that your bills get paid on time, for example.
- A Health Care Proxy — This document lets you appoint someone else to make medical decisions for you, if you are unable to do so. When doctors need to know what decision to make about your care, this is the person they will ask. You should discuss with this person what procedures you consent to or wish to have withheld in the event you are incapacitated or terminally ill and unable to communicate your wishes.
Reference: Forbes (August 16, 2017) “The Biggest Estate Planning Mistake People Make.”
