When it comes to estate planning, most people understand the basics of the need of a will and maybe a trust. However, this is just a small part of the many important aspects of estate administration in Maryland or in any other state. Forgetting to consider many of these aspects is the most common mistake that people making while trying to plan an estate.
One of these common mistakes is forgetting to take digital assets into consideration when creating an estate planning strategy. Many forget that property is not only confined to what they own physically. It is important to inform one’s spouse or close family about one’s digital assets. This will include arranging transfer of passwords to bank accounts, email accounts and even social media sites. Also, one should include important digital documents being stored online or on a computer.
Another common mistake people make in estate planning is forgetting to take into account the possibility of significant life changes. For example, after a marriage breaks up, it will be important to update one’s estate plan in order to reflect this change. Also, second marriages can complicate things. An updated estate plan can help to avoid some conflict between children from first marriages and second spouses.
These are just a few of the mistakes that people make while planning for estate administration in Maryland. Other mistakes can include forgetting to take into consideration pets or carelessly deciding on a trustee. These mistakes can cause potential legal problems for intended beneficiaries and loved ones. In conclusion, the key to good estate planning is ensuring thoroughness as well as updating estate planning documents as needed.
Source: Forbes, “7 Common Estate-Planning Blunders Not To Make“, Sheryl Nance-Nash, Sept. 15, 2014