Pre-Planning with an Estate Planner in Sarasota Makes Things Easier Estate planning entails more than just drafting a simple will, although the creation of a will is critically important. What exactly entails a phrase commonly found in a will — the phrase “all my assets” — does need to be specified so that the will can be properly executed. A skilled estate planner can work with clients to ensure a complete list of all assets is properly compiled. Compiling a Proper File Someone who has very few living relatives may choose to leave “everything” to a relative who is not intimately aware of what assets the person holds. As a result, the process of opening an estate could become complicated. The recipient of the assets might not even know how many assets there are. An estate planner could keep a file on a client that details and itemizes all assets. The contents of a safety deposit box, for example, may be properly itemized. A listing of various accounts could be placed in the file as well. The listing could include bank statements, stock holdings, bond account numbers, and more. Assuming the person named in the will is going to be able to easily discover all the assets would be a mistaken belief. Not presenting all necessary items in the file could do little more than make the person’s life a lot more complicated and stressful. The Availability of Important Documents Various other documents may be needed to quickly facilitate the probate of a will. Are there two people on the deed to a property and has one passed away a long time ago? Is a copy of the person’s death certificate in the file? If not, steps should start right away to procure the copy. There are many ways an estate planner can make sure things run smoothly. A little preparation long in advance definitely assists matters. For a free consultation, please call us today at 941-365-2253.
