Maybe you have property that is not specifically documented in your will that has greater sentimental than monetary value that you want distributed to certain family members or friends, such as photo albums, family recipes, books, trophies or awards.

Items with sentimental value to you or a loved one.

Your digital presence, including online financial, ecommerce, and social media accounts that a trusted loved one or your executor may need to close on your behalf.Celebration of life preferences (funeral, burial and/or memorial services), including the type and location of services (religious, nonreligious), music, etc.End-of-life or palliative care preferences that are not already outlined in your living will.Your preferences should you require long-term care, such as a desire to remain in your home with qualified nursing care.While this is not a legal document, it helps to outline your wishes and provide clarity, saving your heirs time, effort, and expense as they administer your estate.Ī letter of instruction can be used to help document: That involves communicating important information and details that may not be included in your will or trust through a letter of instruction to those you love. As a result, your estate plan should be a reflection of the legacy you want to leave. Your personal values, life experiences, impact on others and belief system are all important components of your legacy.

Your legacy is much more than your assets. Your estate planning attorney can discuss the options for creating and funding a trust with you. Keep in mind, compared to creating a will, additional work is involved in creating a trust and making sure the appropriate assets are in the trust. For example, you could have your trust divide up your assets after you are no longer living and create new trusts for your children to protect them against creditors and divorce. Creating a trust also provides an incredible amount of flexibility after your death.

Estate planning checklist ted talk