If you haven’t done your estate planning yet, despite knowing that you’re going to need those documents eventually, you’re not alone. A lot of people put this off or just completely neglect to do it.
In fact, some reports show that more than 50% of people in the United States have not even done the most basic estate planning.
Why is this? Some of it is just a short-term mindset. People have a lot going on: Work, friends, hobbies, families, children, etc. They focus on the day-to-day. They don’t feel like they have time to think about the distant future and what types of legal documents they may need in 40 years. They’re worried about what they need to do today or tomorrow.
This is understandable, but there’s a big flaw in this thinking, as well: How do you know that you won’t need it for 40 years? If you’re a 35-year-old parent who owns their own home, you still feel fairly young and like you have a lot of time, but you can’t be sure. If you pass away in a car accident or due to a medical emergency, what happens to the children? Who takes care of them? What type of medical care do you get? What happens to your home? Who supports your family?
These are all crucial questions to ask. Remember that life is full of unexpected events. Never count on things that you cannot guarantee. You’re much better off to plan in advance.
If you do want to start your estate planning, you need to know about all of the different options you have and what steps to take to get the process underway.