Do you have an estate plan in place, or is it one of those things that you know you need to do but simply haven’t made it a top priority? If you’re in the latter camp, then National Estate Planning Awareness Week is all about you. It’s an event that was created by the NAEPC – the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils – with the specific goal of reaching out and letting people know the importance of sitting down and making a plan for the growth, conservation and transfer of their assets. If you think that you don’t have enough property or money in the bank to warrant having an estate plan, or believe that there’s plenty of time for you to do it, then you may be putting yourself and all that you’ve worked so hard to achieve at risk. At Rothamel Bratton Attorneys at Law, we are dedicated to providing you and your family with a strategy that not only provides you with financial security, but also ensures that after you’re gone your assets will be distributed in a way that mirrors your wishes and vision.

Since National Estate Planning Awareness Week’s focus is on getting those who do not currently have an estate plan to act, then perhaps explaining what the goal of an estate planning is will provide the impetus and encouragement that you need. Though some think estate planning is just writing up a will, there is a great deal more to it than that. A well thought-out estate plan is a highly individual strategy geared towards your specific situation. It helps you choose who will make important decisions for you in the future in case you become incapable of doing so for yourself, makes sure that your legacy is true to the values that have been important to you in your lifetime, and protects your loved ones from the stress of having to imagine or fight over what they believed your wishes to be. An estate plan provides a road map for all circumstances.

Estate planning is essential for anybody who has ever owned property, whether it is the home that you live in, a pension plan that you worked years for, or a small bank account.  Though those who do not possess vast wealth may not need a complicated estate plan, they still need to provide for their loved ones, and having all of the appropriate documents in place means that your estate will be able to be distributed much more quickly and easily, allowing them more financial security and less concern.  Whether your goal is to make sure that a favorite charity is included in the distribution of your assets or to make sure that your grandchildren’s college education is taken care of, an estate planner from Rothamel Bratton will help you create a strategy that honors your wishes and gives you a sense of security in knowing that your goals will be achieved.