Our firm looks forward to National Estate Planning Awareness Week each year. Always taking place on the third week of October, we use this as an opportunity to shed light on the importance of estate planning, for your and your loved ones’ sake. So, without further ado, please follow along to find out what you can do to recognize National Estate Planning Awareness Week and how to employ a talented Putnam County estate planning attorney from the Law Office of Andres D. Gil, PLLC at this time.

What can I do to recognize National Estate Planning Awareness Week?

Importantly, one of the primary purposes of National Estate Planning Awareness Week is to educate individuals on the fact that estate planning is meant to be done by everyone. That is, it is a common misconception that this task is exclusively designated for high-net-worth individuals with high-value assets and an overall large estate. On the contrary, this process generally helps individuals manage and pass down all types of allocated assets to their desired beneficiaries. This even includes assets that may not carry economic value but that have sentimental value within the family.

So, arguably the best way to recognize National Estate Planning Awareness Week is to take the time to educate yourself on the different estate planning tools at your disposal. From here, you may make a game plan for which ones to begin drafting, and slowly build up your estate plan from here. With that being said, below are the most commonly established estate planning documents:

  • A Last Will and Testament.
  • A revocable living trust or irrevocable living trust.
  • A financial power of attorney and medical power of attorney.
  • An advance healthcare directive.
  • An advance Medicaid plan.
  • A guardianship appointment (via a will or court visit).

Why should I hire an attorney during National Estate Planning Awareness Week?

In honor of National Estate Planning Awareness Week, you may seize the opportunity to kickstart your estate planning process. Now, there are several online tools meant to help you create and establish these estate planning documents independently. However, we strongly encourage you to seek the legal services of an estate planning attorney instead. This is because it is not good to leave any room for error.

That is, the smallest mistake may make these legal documents invalid and unenforceable by the New York State Surrogate’s Court. Further, this may cause all your allocated assets to enter the probate process. Ultimately, these assets may not be distributed in the manner or to the loved ones you desire.

If you still have doubts about how to proceed, please consult a talented Putnam County estate planning attorney. Our team at the Law Office of Andres D. Gil, PLLC will point you in the right direction.