The most troubling aspect of mistakes made in the estate planning process is that it’s your beneficiaries who have to deal with the consequences of poor planning or no planning at all. Once you pass away, it is your loved ones who have to step in and manage your estate and any confusion associated with it. 

The good news is that many of these mistakes can easily be avoided by consulting with an experienced estate planning lawyer early on. Having a relationship with someone you can trust can benefit you tremendously when you have questions about how your shifting life circumstances will influence your future.

Here are some of the most common mistakes that people make when it comes to considering the future of their own needs while they are still alive or passing on their assets and legacy after they pass away:

• Not updating beneficiaries on life insurance policies or retirement accounts
• Setting up a trust but failing to fund it
• Using a do-it-yourself will that is not legally valid
• Not telling anyone where the most recent version of your will is stored
• Failing to consider how your assets may be impacted by long-term care needs in the future
• Not thinking about estate planning and retirement planning as a joint process.

Setting up a meeting now with a knowledgeable estate planning lawyer can help you uncover the strategies that will help you accomplish your goals and give you the peace of mind that comes with advanced planning. Don’t hesitate to talk to an attorney who can help you navigate these complex and extremely important situations.