| Do you know what happens if you die without a will? | | | | automatically step in and manage your financial affairs. |
| The courts will decide who will raise your children, | | | | A marriage license does not give your spouse |
| manage your assets, inherit your possessions, and | | | | authority to act for you if you become incapacitated. |
| administer your estate. Heirs must usually agree on a | | | | It's false comfort to believe that it does. All your |
| court appointed administrator. If some of the heirs | | | | financial assets including bank accounts can become |
| are mentally incapacitated, or under age, it gets | | | | frozen. Your spouse may be unable to sell the house |
| unbelievably complicated. Add in children and spouses | | | | if she needs to. The courts will appoint someone to |
| from previous marriages and it can become a | | | | represent your best interests. You have sentenced |
| seething pot of turmoil for your family. | | | | your family to an ongoing financial nightmare. |
| If your second spouse survives you, the children | | | | You also need a Durable Power of Attorney for |
| from your first marriage could end up with nothing. | | | | Health Care and a Living Will. If you haven't taken the |
| The courts may set aside assets to be given to the | | | | responsibility to legally make your wishes known you |
| children when they come of age, that makes it | | | | may be kept alive and in pain as medical bills devour |
| impossible for your spouse to afford your current | | | | your estate because a family member is unable to let |
| home or lifestyle. | | | | you go. Your loved ones can be racked with guilt if |
| When there is no will and a couple dies together, the | | | | they have to decide to shut off life support or tube |
| state may have to "decide" who died first. If one | | | | feedings. Why don't we plan? We believe it will be |
| outlives the other, even by a few minutes, the | | | | cumbersome, time-consuming, and in most cases, |
| relatives of the first to die can loose out completely. | | | | very expensive. |
| Without proper organization your assets could go | | | | Prepaid legal provider companies offer various plans |
| unnoticed or become lost and loved ones may not | | | | that allow members to call an 800 number to discuss |
| benefit from your years of hard work. | | | | any legal problem for a low monthly fee. The |
| Imagine your loved ones rummaging around your | | | | companies contract with law firms across the |
| home and safety deposit box after you've died or | | | | country to offer these services--similar to the way a |
| become mentally incapacitated, gathering up all the | | | | health insurance company contracts with doctors. |
| papers they can find. They have no way of knowing | | | | Legal service plans provide for legal benefits, including |
| if what they find is up-to-date, important, or | | | | unlimited attorney consultation, will preparation and |
| complete. All they can really do is stuff the papers | | | | traffic violation defense. A legal service plan will |
| into plastic bags and go to an accountant or lawyer | | | | provide a Will Worksheet to make it very easy for |
| for help. This is a stressful and chaotic situation. An | | | | you. You fill it out in the comfort of your home, call |
| unorganized or improperly prepared estate plan can | | | | your law firm, and send it in. You'll receive back at no |
| melt the glue that holds a family together. | | | | additional charge a comprehensive will ready to be |
| If you think you don't have much, consider that the | | | | notarized. Your Durable Power of Attorney for Health |
| less you have the more your family needs a well | | | | Care and a Living Will are also available. Take care of |
| written estate plan to see that it goes to them, not | | | | your family. |
| taxes and attorneys. | | | | Make those decisions now while you still can. 75 |
| Also, some of the biggest fights in estates can occur | | | | percent of Americans don't have a will. Talk with |
| over personal items such as a sterling silver tray or a | | | | your attorney about a Durable Power of Attorney |
| family heirloom. Planning ahead can avoid costly court | | | | for Property, Bank Power of Attorney, Revocable |
| actions and family rifts that may never be repaired. | | | | Living Trusts, Testamentary Trusts, and any other |
| A will can't help you and your family when you're | | | | legal documents that could benefit your family. They |
| alive. If an accident or a stroke leaves you mentally | | | | must be written carefully so they don't conflict and |
| incapacitated and you don't have a Durable Power of | | | | void each other out. |
| Attorney for Property in place, there is no one to | | | | |