Three Minutes is All You Need for this
“Estate Plan Check-up.”

With April 15th fast approaching it is the perfect opportunity for you to conduct your “Estate Plan Check-Up” to ensure it still meets your needs and that of your family’s.

You probably have all the year-end documents and statements at hand right now for your 2023 tax return preparation, so let’s take advantage of that by conducting a quick “Estate Plan Check-Up.” Here we go …

#1 Has a status changed with any of your beneficiaries or executors since you last updated your plan? Has anyone moved far away or passed away, or have you had a severe breach in your relationship? If so, it is time to take action and consider alternatives. (By the way, these changes can also include any new beneficiaries who have come on the scene since your last update, such as children or grandchildren, nieces or nephews.)

#2 Do you have a digital asset file? Everyone is online now, right? You can check your bank balance, investments, savings account, and more online. You may have invested in Bitcoin. Your plan should include information about your digital “life” so your executor or beneficiaries can access it if something happens to you.

#3 Do you have a plan for your pets? I read the other day that something like 50,000 pets are put down in the US annually, not because they are sick, old, or injured. They are put down because their owners died but hadn’t made plans for them. Relatives didn’t want them or couldn’t take them, so the poor things ended up in shelters or worse. If you care for your pets, they deserve a place in your estate plan, too. Please make arrangements in advance regarding who will take them, and ensure you provide the funds for their care during their life expectancy. You want your best furry friend to be included.

Last but not least, while you’ve gotten your estate plan out to review, including your medical directives, living will, power of attorney, will, etc., take the time to review it overall to make sure everything is just what you want for your assets and loved ones. If it is, great—put it back in its secure location, like your safe. If not, give me a call, and let’s get the needed updates made right away.

Best Regards,
David H. Lefton
(513) 721-1350