It may be odd to think of things as “surprising estate planning tips”, but MSN’s recent article entitled “3 surprising things you might not think to include your will” tells us about three things to include in your will that you may not have thought about before.
Guardianship and funds for your pet. If you have a pet, you’ll want to make certain that it has care when you’re not around. You can name a guardian to take ownership of your pet, in the event your pet outlives you. You can also set up a pet trust in some states.
An executor for your digital assets. You probably have accounts with data on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and other social media accounts. You may have an account for online gaming, operate an online small business, or own other important digital assets. If so, you should appoint someone to manage your digital afterlife.
A digital executor should be able to access your online accounts and manage closing them down or moving them to a new strategy.
Charitable donations. If you have given to a religious organization, school, or other nonprofit, you can include these charities in your estate plan. Another option is to instruct a family member to make a donation with a part of an inheritance. It’s not legally binding, but could it pass on a tax benefit to the ultimate donor.
In addition, remember to keep your beneficiaries updated on all life insurance policies and retirement accounts, because the listed beneficiary on these accounts supersedes anything you put in your will.
If you get divorced and remarried, update your will and also make certain that your life insurance beneficiary is updated.
Don’t procrastinate. Make sure that all of your estate planning documents are up to date.
Meet with your estate planning attorney every year or two, to also be sure your plan reflects any changes in the law or changes in your circumstances. Choose an estate planning attorney who is local, for added convenience. For example, if you are in Naperville, focus on finding a Naperville estate planning attorney.
Share these surprising estate planning tips with friends and family to help make things easier for everyone.
Reference: MSN (Jan. 10, 2020) “3 surprising things you might not think to include your will”
