We spend a lot of time on this blog discussing what many consider to be the biggest parts of estate planning. This includes how to utilize wills, trusts and other legal vehicles to protect estate assets and ensure that they are distributed according to an individual’s wishes upon his or her death. While these matters are extremely important to address and address correctly, they are not the only matters to consider when creating an estate plan.
Instead, Californians may find it important to consider what some consider “soft” estate planning. One part of soft estate planning is laying out instructions for how you want your funeral service to proceed. Do you want an open casket? Do you want to wear a particular outfit or certain clothes? Is there a certain song that you want played during your funeral? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you may want to think about laying those instructions out in your will so that your sendoff can go according to your plans and ease the planning stresses that are often thrust upon family members.
Another part of soft estate planning is identifying electronic accounts, like social media, as well as what could easily become lost accounts if you suddenly pass away. By keeping records of usernames and passwords, you can ensure that your loved ones and beneficiaries can access these accounts as needed, and your heirs can ensure that they receive all the assets to which they are entitled.
These are just a few of the many aspects of estate planning that many people neglect to address. If you want a holistic estate plan that addresses everything you could possibly think of, then you should think about working closely with an experienced and dedicated legal team like ours. We find that those who choose to do so obtain a peace of mind, and their loved ones are satisfied with the way their loved one’s estate is handled upon death.
