Having a near-death experience can often trigger individuals into taking action. Some Maryland residents may feel the need to travel more or take advantages of other opportunities, and others may begin to wonder how their families would get along after their deaths. Though it is hoped that such an experience is not needed to spur individuals into action, creating an estate plan could help ease the worries that may stem from such an event.
Because everyone is going to die, everyone may wish to consider creating their own end-of-life plans. However, it is common for individuals to balk at such an idea because they may consider themselves too young to need a plan or because they believe that their families will just know what to do. Unfortunately, death can affect anyone at any age, and without a plan, family members may end up with little say in the matter.
There are laws that could come into play when it comes to distributing an estate, and, therefore, individuals may want to communicate their wishes as early as possible. It would be prudent to talk to family members about arrangements, but creating the documents necessary to legally ensure that those wishes are carried out may be a vital step. Various decisions can be made ahead of time, and individuals may rest easier knowing that plans have been made.
Making the decision to create an estate plan may be emotional and seemingly overwhelming. As a result, when individuals are ready to take the steps to create their plans, they may want to seek assistance. If so, consulting with an experienced Maryland estate planning attorney may be a useful step to take.
Source: Forbes, “What Every Estate Planning Lawyer Wants You To Know About Death And Dying“, Jeena Cho, June 13, 2016