It may be surprising to learn that the wealthy and celebrities often are
among the more than 55% of American adults who don’t have a
will or
estate plan in place. It isn’t uncommon for people to neglect their estate plans,
which can have unfortunate consequences. Failing to create a will or estate
plan may mean that your survivors will struggle to get control of your
assets, and you may not receive the end of life care you preferred.
Why Do So Many People Not Have a Will?
If you haven’t prepared a will before you pass away, you’re
in good company. A number of celebrities, including Prince, Abraham Lincoln,
Bob Marley, Hoard Hughes, Pablo Picasso, have also died without leaving
a will behind. There are many reasons that people do not prepare a will.
One of the main reasons is because they aren’t ready to think about
the end of their life or are uncomfortable thinking about it. The best
time to make a will or an estate plan is when you are a young adult, but
many people are more busy planning the next steps of their life, such
as college or starting a family. An estate plan may not even cross their
mind, or they may put it off because they think it’s far in the
future. Estate planning is crucial for any adult, however, since your
estate plan should also include advanced directives about the care you
want to receive if you are unable to decide for yourself. It also should
include durable powers of attorney, which can give a trusted person the
ability to make healthcare and financial decisions on your behalf, should
you become incapacitated.
Some may avoid planning out their estate and creating a will because they
don’t want to deal with the possibility of spiting a family member
or causing a dispute. Failing to leave a will can almost always guarantee
fights between your beneficiaries and loved ones, though. By making these
plans early, you can have the time to talk to your family about why you
made the choices you did.
Cost is also a commonly cited barrier. For the wealthy, this is less of
an issue, but for everyday people, the idea of estate planning may be
seen as too costly. The reality is, your estate plan can save your family
considerable time and expense after you pass away, and you don’t
have to spend too much money to create a will for yourself. Often, an
estate planning attorney can review your estate plans and tie up any loose
ends for a small fee.
Learn What You Need to Know About Your Estate Plans - (972) 200-3078
Estate planning can feel overwhelming, but we are here to help you. At
the Law Offices of Dan Chern, P.C., we have 19 years of experience in
helping families navigate the process of planning their estate and ensuring
that they are well protected. Our Dallas estate planning lawyer can help
you prepare your will, trust, and advanced directives, so your family
will know what your wishes are.
Schedule a
confidential initial consultation with our team today.
Contact us online, or call (972) 200-3078.