When we begin work on our estate plans we often think the questions revolve around you – what you want and need. This is true but the Experienced Estate Planning Attorney should also be asking plenty of family related questions, if your loved ones are your beneficiaries after you and your spouse are gone. The attorney needs to be asking about each particular adult child.
Here’s a good starting list of questions that should be asked:
- What is their career?
- Where do they live?
- How is this son or daughter with handling money?
- How is this son or daughter’s marriage going?
- Who handles the finances in your son or daughter’s household?
- How is the health of each adult child?
They should be asking you about each grandchild.
- How is the health of each grandchild?
- How are they advancing in their education?
- Are there any specific challenges?
The Experienced Estate Planning Attorney should be asking questions related to family dynamics:
- How do your adult children relate to each other?
- Are there issues of jealousy or animosity between your children?
They should also ask about pending changes with your adult children:
- Is there an impending marriage, divorce, bankruptcy, health challenge, or job change?
Lastly, they should also ask questions often considered family secrets such as if there is an alcohol, drug, or another type of addiction issue.
If the Estate Planning Attorney does not know these things, how are they going to draft a plan that protects your unique loved ones after you are gone?
You want to make sure that your Estate Plan does not create a conflict or a battle between your adult children.
Make sure that your Experienced Estate Planning Attorney asks the right questions so that they are educated about your loved one. Only then can they design a Customized Estate Plan that’s unique to you and your loved ones needs.
At the Law Firm of Steven Andrew Jackson, Attorney and Counsellor at Law, we have helped hundreds of families protect themselves and their loved ones, avoid Estate Taxes and Probate Costs, and keep their Estate Plans current with the law through The Customized Protective Estate Planning Solution™.