Top 3 Estate Planning Documents

For the average person, estate planning is an unfamiliar – and often intimidating — concept. Although every estate plan is uniquely tailored to the needs and goals of the person creating the plan, there are some documents found in most plans. To help you familiarize yourself with these documents, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft discuss three documents that should be in your estate plan.

1. Last Will and Testament.  Typically, a Last Will and Testament serves as the foundation of a basic estate plan. One of the most important reasons to create a Will is that executing a Will ensures that you will not leave behind an intestate estate.  Dying intestate means the state decides what happens to your estate assets using the state intestate succession laws. This typically means that only very close relatives will inherit from your estate. Instead of allowing that to happen, your Will allows you to make specific and/or general gifts to more distant relatives, unrelated loved ones, and even charities, organizations, and pets. In addition, your Will lets you appoint someone as the Executor of your estate. The Executor is responsible for overseeing the administration of your estate. Finally, your Will offers you the only opportunity you have to officially nominate a Guardian for your minor child should one ever be needed.
2. Trust Agreement. Although they were traditionally used only by the wealthy to protect and guard the family fortune, trusts are now commonly found in the estate plan of the average person. A trust is a relationship where property is held by one party for the benefit of another party. A trust is created by the owner, also called a “Settlor”, “Trustor” or “Grantor” who transfers property to a Trustee. The Trustee holds that property for the trust’s beneficiaries. Trusts are broadly divided into two categories, testamentary and living trusts. A testamentary trust does not activate until after the death of the Settlor whereas a living trust takes effect as soon as the trust agreement is in place and the trust is funded. A living trust can be further divided into revocable and irrevocable living trusts. A trust can help achieve a wide variety of estate planning goals, including:
   1. Avoiding probate
   2. Incapacity planning
   3. Asset protection
   4. Medicaid planning
   5. Planning for parents with minor children
   6. Special needs planning
   7. Pet planning
3. Advance Directive. Although the primary focus of your estate plan will undoubtedly be to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes after you are gone; you should also ensure that your wishes are honored while you are still here during a period of incapacity. An advance directive helps you plan for that possibility. The State of Indiana recognizes two types of advance directives, including:
   1. Appointment of Health-Care Representative and Power of Attorney that allows you to name someone as your healthcare representative who will be able to make decisions about your medical care — including decisions about life support — if you can no longer speak for yourself.  
   2. Indiana Declaration (Indiana’s version of a living Will) lets you state your wishes regarding life-prolonging procedures in the event you develop a terminal condition and can no longer make your own decisions. 

Contact Indianapolis Estate Planning Attorneys

For more information, please join us for an upcoming FREE seminar. If you have additional questions or concerns regarding estate planning, contact the experienced Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft by calling (317) 684-1100 to schedule an appointment.

Paul Kraft is Co-Founder and the senior Principal of Frank & Kraft, one of the leading law firms in Indiana in the area of estate planning as well as business and tax planning.

Mr. Kraft assists clients primarily in the areas of estate planning and administration, Medicaid planning, federal and state taxation, real estate and corporate law, bringing the added perspective of an accounting background to his work.

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