Do single people need a will or trust attorney?  Yes!

Really, “yes” is the only answer that’s really needed, but we’ll go ahead and create a whole blog post to offer some insight as to why estate planning is important for singles and not just for families.

One of the most important reasons for a single person to work with a will and trust attorney in Hinds County is best understood when you think about the consequences of not planning.  Should you have a medical emergency or pass away, what becomes of you and your estate will be entirely up to the state of Mississippi.  This means that if you are unable to communicate your wishes, the state will step in and impose its own plan on your body and your assets.

Imagine that for a moment.  If you were to have a medical emergency and be unable to speak up, who would be able to tell the doctors what you would want?  Hopefully, that person would be one of your parents or siblings, because it’s pretty likely that they are who the courts would appoint on your behalf.  If the best choice would really be a good friend, other family member, or possibly a significant other to whom you’re not legally married, the courts won’t care.  They will stick to the predetermined law, and that law will look at bloodline relatives first.

This is also the case with your finances.  If you are unable to take care of your own finances for any reason, the courts will likely appoint the closest blood relative to step in.  It doesn’t matter if you don’t want your family in your private financial affairs or not.  They will have access to your money and will be put in charge of managing it, paying your bills, etc.  Think about how your oldest sibling manages his or her money.  Would you be comfortable with that person being in responsible for yours?

Along the same lines, should you pass away without an estate plan, your assets will automatically go through the Hinds County probate process.  Again, the courts will step in and determine who is to inherit your property and money; and you will have absolutely no say in the matter.  How excited would you be for Mom and Dad to inherit your laptop or for your siblings to be given the jewelry which, by all accounts, should go to your best friend?

None of these scenarios is even a little bit exaggerated.  This is exactly what happens when a single person in Clinton chooses not to work with an estate planning attorney.  Remember, it’s not just about having a lot of assets to leave behind; it’s about making your own decisions regarding your medical care, your possessions, and your finances.  Having a small estate now simply means that the planning process will be less complicated!

Tags: Clinton estate planning attorney, Creating a Will, Estate Planning, Estate Planning Attorney, estate planning attorney in Clinton, intestate, Wills, Wills & Trusts, Wills and Trusts