By Doug Sisson, Probate and Bankruptcy Paralegal

At W M Law, we specialize in Estate Planning and probate. We breathe wills, trusts, affidavits, petitions so on and so forth.  We enjoy the fulfillment that our work brings us…But let’s stop for a second and inject a little honesty and perspective to the estate planning process.

Estate Planning: What IS Important vs. What IS NOT

Compared to life and death, love and grief – estate and financial planning seem pretty frivolous, and in the grand scheme of things – not that important. Here are a few examples:

  • Nurturing family relationships, grief, emotions and protecting family assets VS. Choosing who gets dad’s classic car, or mom’s jewelry set, or the family coin collection.
  • Recognizing the importance of keeping the family home, remembering the blood, sweat and tears put into paying off the home, and the importance of the memories created at the home Losing your home to qualify for Medicaid.
  • Admitting the relevance of decades of work spent building funds to secure a strong retirement Maximizing the tax and asset protections for inherited property.

Estate Planning – Allows loved ones to Focus on What Matters Most

Estate planning tools – powers of attorney, medical directives, wills and trusts – serve very specific and special purposes.  When tragedy strikes, your family can be headed down the bumpiest road of administrative forms, medical authorizations, locating accounts, guessing at final wishes, all of which is important, but not that important IF you have an estate plan in place.  Creating an estate plan through W M Law will provide your family with a road map, and a safe smooth road ahead.

Without an estate plan, there may not be a map down tragedy-road, the car may not have a chauffeur, and the bumps? They will only get bumpier.  The plan isn’t what’s important, but planning helps you and your loved ones to focus on what matters most.

With a plan in place everyone involved can take the time to be present with one another, which IS THE MOST important thing – in the grand scheme of things.  What’s important to you, is important to us at W M Law. We are “Here to Help”!

If interested, we offer a free consultation where you can learn how an estate plan could benefit you and your loved ones.  Simply give us a call at: 913 422-0909 or e-mail us at: correspondence@wagonergroup.com.