The Importance of Estate Planning – it’s way more important than you think!

I can vividly recall a random weeknight a few months back. My husband and I had just finished dinner and I was cleaning up the kitchen. Nonchalantly, my husband mentioned a conversation with my mother-in-law that he had earlier that day- “Oh, I talked to mom today, and since she and dad are leaving for their vacation to Greece soon, she wanted to let me know that they made me the executor of their estate.” “Oh, interesting,” I responded. “Yeah, and you’ll be happy to know – she left all of her jewelry to you.” I smiled and was honored that my mother-in-law left some of her most cherished, valued possessions to me, her “daughter-in-love,” as she affectionately calls me. However, this whole interaction prompted an even bigger examination – did my husband and I have a plan, should the unthinkable occur?

I’ll admit, it’s not a fun thing to think about. However, once I reframed it to, “What wishes do I want honored?’ and “Who do I want to entrust some of my most important assets to?”, it shifted my mindset and caused me to realize how important estate planning is. Life can change quickly, as we all know, but estate planning allows for more peace of mind for all parties involved. It matters for all people, no matter what stage of life you are in.

A common misconception is that if you don’t have a lot of assets or wealth, you don’t need to utilize estate planning services. That couldn’t be further from the truth! Not only does Estate Planning account for managing financial issues after death or incapacitation, it also involves managing medical and guardianship issues. In other words, it gives you a voice and ensures your voice will continue to be heard, even in hard circumstances. Preparing legal documents that express your financial and healthcare wishes is important for anyone, regardless of your net worth or age. Formally outlining your intentions can alleviate unnecessary stress and tension for your loved ones and can eliminate the need for court involvement in decision making.
As important as it is, estate planning is often put off by many people for a variety of reasons – the biggest one being cost. And frankly, I totally get it.

Not everyone can afford to utilize lawyers and pay high legal fees. And that’s why Del Norte Credit Union is proud to partner with Legal Karma – because they make estate planning accessible and affordable, so anyone can have their wishes honored.
As a DNCU member, you get access to Legal Karma, which helps you create important documents like wills, trusts, and powers of your attorney – all at your own pace, without high fees. It’s made for the everyday family!
Legal Karma offers flexible packages, depending on what your needs are, and makes it simple to get started.

My in-laws returned from their overseas trip safe and sound, so thankfully, we don’t need to worry about honoring their estate plans just yet. However, whenever that day does come, I’m thankful they have a plan, and we will honor it to the last detail (and I will cherish her jewelry with every fiber of my being). Don’t put estate planning off – take a page out of my in-laws’ book and ensure your wishes are outlined and your family’s future is secure. You will never regret it – you have a voice and your wishes deserve to be honored.

Visit our Legal Karma page for more information.