(718) 354-8646An estate plan is designed to put you in control by allowing you to retain control over your assets, decisions, and the distribution of your wealth, both during your lifetime and after your passing. Here are some ways in which an estate plan empowers you to maintain control:
- Clearly Stated Wishes: Through a well-crafted estate plan, you can explicitly state your wishes regarding the distribution of your assets, the care of minor children or dependents, and even your preferences for end-of-life medical treatment. This ensures that your intentions are known and followed.
- Choosing Beneficiaries: You have the authority to designate specific beneficiaries for your assets, such as family members, friends, or charitable organizations. This allows you to provide for those you care about, and support causes you are passionate about.
- Appointing Fiduciaries: In your estate plan, you can appoint trusted individuals as fiduciaries, such as executors, trustees, and agents under powers of attorney. These individuals will be responsible for managing your affairs and carrying out your wishes if you become incapacitated or after your passing.
- Flexibility and Updates: An estate plan can be flexible and adaptive to your changing circumstances. You can update your plan whenever necessary, reflecting changes in your family situation, financial status, or personal preferences.
- Privacy and Control of Information: With certain estate planning tools, such as revocable living trusts, you can maintain privacy concerning the distribution of your assets. This allows you to keep your affairs private and off the public record.
- Tax Planning and Asset Protection: An estate plan can incorporate strategies to minimize taxes and protect your assets from potential creditors or lawsuits, providing further control over the preservation and distribution of your wealth.
- Incapacity Planning: By including documents like durable powers of attorney and advance healthcare directives, you can proactively plan for the possibility of incapacity, ensuring that someone you trust oversees decision-making on your behalf.
- Business Succession: If you own a business, an estate plan can address business succession, allowing you to determine how your business will be managed and transferred in the future.
By creating an estate plan, you are taking charge of your financial and personal affairs, ensuring that your wishes are respected and that your loved ones are well taken care of. The estate planning process allows you to maintain control throughout your lifetime and beyond, providing peace of mind that your legacy will be carried out according to your intentions.We can create a comprehensive plan that reflects your goals and protects your assets and loved ones. To ensure that your estate plan is tailored to your specific needs and goals, call Lepore Law at 718-354-8646 and we would be happy to schedule a consultation. We can guide you through the process and help you make informed decisions.