When planning for the final disposition of your estate in Richmond, Missouri, there are a few things you'll want to consider: who do you want to give your assets to, and under what conditions? Do you have any preference for how your funeral should be handled? Do you have any particular wishes concerning end-of-life care? These questions, and more, should all be taken into account.

While the drafting of a will (the document that dictates what is to be done with the decedent's property after death) is typically the central component of any estate plan, there are several other elements which you may want to include, depending on your goals, and your financial situation.

A solid estate plan will also include instructions to your doctors about your preferences for end of life care, in case you become unable to express them. This is identified as a "living will." It should also include instructions about funeral arrangements and organ donation.

Most vitally, an estate plan should give instructions on the care of your minor children. It should lay out who is to take custody of them, and, if possible, leave them a large sum of money to assist with this care. Of course, you should discuss this matter with the people who you want to take custody of your children, to make sure they can truly take on such responsibility.

What Type of Estate Plan Do I Need in Richmond, Missouri?

This typically depends on your individual goals and priorities, your age, health, and the nature and quantity of your assets.

If you are in good health, young, and not married, planning an estate is probably not a high priority. And at this point in your life, it doesn't really have to be, with a few possible exceptions, such as individuals who work in very dangerous jobs, or who are very wealthy.

There is one group of unmarried people for whom estate planning in Richmond, Missouri is absolutely necessary: adults who are not married, but have a life partner who they'd like to provide for in the event of death. There are many rights that automatically attach with marriage, such as the right to inherit if a spouse dies without a will, the right to make medical decisions for the other spouse if they become incapacitated, etc. If you and your partner are, for whatever reason, unable or unwilling to get married, you will have to take various steps to secure these rights, such as granting power of attorney, and writing them into your will.

If you are elderly, and have a considerable amount of assets in Richmond, Missouri, estate planning may be more crucial at this stage of your life than any other. While estate planning deals with some morbid and unpleasant subjects (requiring us to confront the reality of our own mortality), it is necessary if you wish to live your life secure in the knowledge that your loved ones will be provided for to the extent that your assets allow.

Do I Need a Richmond, Missouri Estate Planning Attorney?

Because estate planning can be an intricate process, the expertise of a good lawyer in Richmond, Missouri who specializes in wills, trusts, and estates can make the process a great deal easier.