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There are a number of fundamental components to consider when working with a financial advisor and estate attorney to draft your estate planning documents. Below you will find an outline of each item.
Last Will and Testament
A Last Will and Testament (“Will”) is a legal document naming guardians for your minor children and directing the distribution of your assets upon your death. While a Will can be contested and does go through the probate process, a Will is the bare minimum legal protection you need. Without one, the court may appoint guardians for your children who may or may not provide for them as you desired.
Personal Property Memorandum
When writing your Will, one of the most important tasks is to identify who should inherit your personal property. Do you want to leave everything to your spouse, for example, or do you have lots of items you’d like to leave to different relatives and friends? One solution is to draft a separate document, called a “Personal Property Memorandum,” which is simply a signed list, containing items along with the people you wish to inherit them.
A Durable General Power of Attorney
This legal document gives someone you choose the right to make financial decisions on your behalf, if you are unable to do so. You name this person as your agent (this person does not need to be an attorney) who steps into your shoes, legally speaking. If you should become incapacitated, your agent can maintain your financial affairs until you are again able to do so, without any need for court involvement.
Without a durable general power of attorney, your closest blood relative – who may not be your choice and may not know your wishes – will generally be given this authority.
A Living Will
This document is your declaration that you do not desire to receive life sustaining treatment if there is no significant hope of recovery. In the Nancy Cruzan decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that to be taken off life support , you must have declared your desire before becoming incapacitated. Even if you are young and in good health, you may want to consider having a living will in place. The failure to have a living will upon incapacity can create tremendous emotional and financial costs to your family.
A Health Care Proxy/Durable Medical Power of Attorney
While a living will is your legal declaration not to use life sustaining measures, a health care proxy is designed to grant someone you choose the legal power to make medical decisions for you, if you are unable to do so on your own. As with a durable general power of attorney, if you don’t have a health care proxy, your closest blood relative will generally be called on to make decisions for you. These documents, combined with a holistic financial plan, will help build the foundation of your loving legacy.
Sources/Disclaimer
If you’d like to learn more, please contact Julia A. Peloso-Barnes.
Article provided courtesy of Julia A. Peloso-Barnes, a Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor.
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning, charitable giving, philanthropic planning and other legal matters.
The author(s) are not employees of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC ("Morgan Stanley"). The opinions expressed by the authors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley. The information and data in the article or publication has been obtained from sources outside of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of information or data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. Neither the information provided nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation by Morgan Stanley with respect to the purchase or sale of any security, investment, strategy or product that may be mentioned.
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Peloso-Barnes is not registered or excluded or exempt from registration.
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