3 Critical Documents An Estate Planning Attorney Will Help You Process

Organizing your assets and financial affairs before you become incapacitated is crucial. It will help you distribute your assets and avoid confusion, fraud, or even worse consequences. Your family will also be able to access all your records, investments, and other assets and make the best decisions when you're gone. But to craft a good plan, you'll need the assistance of an estate planning attorney. This article discusses three documents these lawyers can help you process.

Processing Beneficiary Designations 

This is an essential part of your plan. Your assets will go to the state and federal government without a designation when you die. And if they do, your children, ex-spouses, and other beneficiaries won't be able to access the assets or have any say in how they're distributed. This can lead to fraud and several lawsuits.

A lawyer will ensure that your beneficiary designations are up-to-date. They can also help you add new ones with time or change your plan, like when paying off debts or changing the beneficiary on specific accounts.

The type of beneficiaries you can choose for your assets will depend on the type of documents you create. You can choose to give your assets to your spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, or other relatives. You also have the option to name a living trust as a beneficiary. If you work with an attorney, you'll quickly settle on the heirs you'd want to inherit your property.

Processing Funeral Instructions

Although you can't keep yourself from eventually dying, you can control how you want to be buried. People have different funeral preferences. You can choose to be cremated, buried, or have your body donated to a science lab. You can also select the passages you want to be read at your funeral and the type of service you'd like.

If you have a specific choice for how you want your funeral handled, consider working with an experienced estate planning attorney. They'll help you develop the most suitable plan for your preferences and budget and select a casket color and design. They'll also help you decide the number of people who should be present at your funeral service, depending on how close they are to you and the kind of service you want for them.

Gathering Digital Logins

You need to have a safe, reliable way to get into your online accounts if you're going to be able to access important information such as your passwords. Your family members may also need this information when you die. An estate planning attorney can list and secure the passwords of your bank accounts and credit cards, email accounts, and social media accounts.

Estate planning documents can be critical for your loved ones when you die or become incapacitated. If you need them created on time, you need to contact an estate lawyer in your area right away.