Bill met with his attorney and had some estate planning documents prepared.  He went home and placed them in his gun safe. When his children were visiting, he proudly told them that "I took care of it." "It" was referring to planning for his disability or death.

 Bill had taken a critical step towards having an estate plan that would help things go more smoothly on his disability or death. However, like many people, he let his children believe that because he had prepared documentation, that in the future there would be nothing else to do.

Look at it from the perspective of his children. They took their father at his word, that "I took care of it" and assumed that there was nothing to do upon his disability or death. This is a critical mistake many families make. The reality is that there is a lot to do when a person dies. There are no self-executing magic estate plans that miraculously take care of things in the future. Someone has to take action and deal with matters upon your disability or death, and that "someone" is usually your family members.

Most family members don’t know what to do, how to do it, or understand how they should pay for the assistance they need. There is a 100% chance you’re going to die. And there is a 100% chance that someone will need to do something after your death. If things are going to go smoothly and effectively after your death, you must take steps to prepare your family.

Remember, estate planning is a process of preparation prior to your disability or death.  It is not having a certain type of document. By taking the time to prepare, you can be assured that the process will be easier on your family.

If you would like to learn more about available estate planning options, visit: www.EstatePlansThatWork.com to sign up for a complimentary educational workshop.