Estate Planning: Getting Your Affairs In Order

The Law Office of Claire E. Lewis provides comprehensive estate planning services to create the legacy you want and to protect yourself in the event of incapacity. We provide the following estate planning checklist to help you prepare for your initial meeting with our attorney, Claire, who will discuss each element of the process to create a plan that meets your specific needs.

The Basics Of Planning For Life And Death

I. Execute Your Planning Documents

Everyone who is 18 or older should have at least a simple estate plan.

A. Durable power of attorney: A power of attorney is a document that you, the principal, can sign giving another person, the attorney in fact or agent, the authority to handle your affairs. All powers of attorney in Indiana are “durable,” unless you state otherwise. “Durable” means simply that the power of attorney remains in effect even if you subsequently become incapacitated. Choose from:

1. Springing power of attorney: This type of power of attorney “springs” into effect only if you become incapacitated. Your agent will need a doctor’s statement, which indicates you are no longer able to manage your affairs in order for the document to be effective.
2. Power of attorney – effective on signing: I recommend this type of power of attorney as privacy laws may prevent your agent from having access to your medical records. If this is the case, a doctor will not be able to provide the agent with the medical certification needed for the springing power of attorney to be effective.

B. Health care directive: You can create a comprehensive health care directive to include all of the following directives:

1. Health care power of attorney: A power of attorney can also grant health care decision-making authority to your attorney in fact. However, the health care power of attorney should be done in conjunction with an appointment of health care representative in order to give the attorney in fact/representative full health care decision-making powers.
2. Appointment of health care representative: The Indiana Health Care Consent Law allows you to sign a document designating an individual who is authorized to make health care decisions in the event you become unable to make your own decisions.
3. Living will: In this type of document, you can detail your wishes for being kept medically alive in the event you are severely incapacitated, terminally ill or your death will occur shortly, according to a medical professional treating you.

C. Documents Or Designations That Address The Disposition Of Your Estate When You Die.

1. Revocable living trust or last will and testament
2. Payable on death (POD) or transfer on death (TOD) designations on accounts or transfer on death deeds to transfer real estate interests to your beneficiaries upon your death
3. Joint bank accounts or jointly held real estate. Beware the “five Ds”:
   1. Death of the joint owner
   2. Disability of the joint owner
   3. Divorce of the joint owner
   4. Disaster, which befalls the joint owner (e.g., the joint owner is sued as a result of an accident, and your account or real estate owned jointly with the individual is now at risk.)
   5. Dishonesty by the joint owner who has complete access to your account and takes all the money in the joint account

II. Make A Complete Listing Of All Of Your Holdings: Know What You Own!

1. Real estate
2. Bank accounts, including checking, money market, savings, certificates of deposit, etc.
3. Brokerage accounts
4. Life insurance policies
5. Annuities
6. United States government savings bonds
7. Any other asset

III. Consider The Possibility Of Long-Term Care

1. Work with your financial planner to ensure you have sufficient resources to cover the cost of long-term care.
2. Consider long-term care insurance. The Indiana SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) at http://www.in.gov/idoi/2495.htm can provide valuable information to help you choose the right policy for you.
3. Look at the Indiana long-term care insurance program (partnership program) to determine if it is right for you. The website for this program is http://www.in.gov/iltcp.

IV. Know The Tax Implications Of Your Estate Plan

1. Federal estate tax for very large estates (The federal estate tax exemption is $5.45 million per individual in 2016. For most families, the “death tax” does not apply. But for those who do, the tax hit is significant.)

Are You Ready To Create Your Estate Plan?

Call our Indianapolis offices at 317-953-2452 or contact us online to arrange a consultation.