Whenever the topic of estate planning comes up, most people mention creating a Will and with good reason. A Will is the foundation of your estate plan. The key to remember is that it is the foundation. It is not the only component to an estate plan.
In fact, if your plan consists of a Will alone, you're guaranteeing your family will have to go to Court when you die. Remember, the primary goal of estate planning is to keep your family out of court and out of conflict no matter what happens to you. Yet, with only a Will in place, your plan will fall short of that goal, leaving your loved ones -- and yourself, if you become incapacitated -- susceptible to getting stuck in an unnecessary, expensive, time-consuming public court process.
Here's why having just a Will is not enough:
A Will offers no protection against incapacity
- A will helps ensure your assets are properly distributed when you die. But it offers no protection if you become incapacitated and are unable to make decisions about your own medical, financial, and legal needs.
- Should you become incapacitated with only a will in place, your family would have to petition the court to appoint a guardian or conservator to manage your affairs, which can be extremely costly, time-consuming, and traumatic.
Your family must still go to court
- While you may think having a will allows your loved ones to inherit your assets without court intervention, this is not true. For your assets to be legally transferred to your beneficiaries, your will must first pass through the court process called probate.
- The probate process can be extremely distressing for your loved ones. The proceedings can drag out over months or even years, and in most instances, your family will have to hire an attorney, generating hefty legal bills that can quickly drain your estate.
- Moreover, probate is public, so anyone can find out the value and contents of your estate. They can also learn what and how much your family members inherit, making them tempting targets for frauds and scammers.
- And if you think you can just pass on your assets using beneficiary designations to avoid all of this… well, that’s just asking for trouble.
A Will doesn’t protect against creditors, lawsuits, or poor decisions
- Passing on your assets using a will leaves those assets vulnerable to several potential threats. If your will distributes your assets to your beneficiaries outright, those assets are not only subject to claims made by a beneficiary’s creditors, they are also vulnerable to lawsuits and divorce settlements the beneficiary may be involved in.
- And if assets left via a will pass to beneficiaries without any conditions, those assets are susceptible to the beneficiary’s own poor judgment. For instance, a sudden windfall of cash could cause serious problems for someone with poor money-management abilities and/or addiction issues.
Not all assets are covered by a Will
- Some assets can’t even be included in a will. For example, a will only cover assets or property owned solely in your name. It does not cover property co-owned by you with others listed as joint tenants, nor does a will cover assets that pass directly to a beneficiary by contracts, such as a life insurance policy or retirement account.
Contact Our Experienced Ohio Estate Planning Attorney
Though a will is an integral part of your estate plan, a will is almost never enough by itself. Instead, wills are often combined with other planning vehicles, such as living trusts, to provide a level of protection devoid of any gaps or blind spots. And here’s the thing: If your plan is incomplete, it’s your family that suffers, having to clean it all up after you are gone.
As your Personal Lawyer, we will empower you to feel confident that you have the right combination of planning solutions for your family’s unique circumstances. Schedule a Family Wealth Planning Session today to get started.
