5 Ways to Protect What's Yours

 

Have you been so focused on building assets that you haven't given much thought to protecting them? Naming beneficiaries, creating a will, and other estate planning tasks can help preserve what you've accumulated and distribute it to the people and causes that are most important to you after you're gone.

 

Yes, it's an uncomfortable topic, but think of it this way: Do you want someone else making these decisions for you? Let’s take a look at some of the important documents you need to put in order should anything unexpected occur.

 

Create a Will.

A will is an essential legal document that sets forth your wishes regarding the distribution of your property and the care of any minor children when you die. It documents your wishes and is used to determine the distribution of probate assets in your name when you pass away. It designates an executor, who carries out the provisions of the will. If you don't have a will, your assets will be disbursed according to state statutes - which may not be according to your wishes.  Whether you have a will or not, the distribution of your estate assets will generally be subject to a legal process known as probate. This process varies from state to state. Dying intestate (without a will) can further tie up your assets in the potentially costly delay - and public display - of the probate process. Without a clear estate plan, you may unintentionally trigger legal challenges among family members, because it may be unclear how you intended your assets to be passed along.

 

If you have minor children, you must designate a guardian for them. If you don't specify who is best suited to look after your children if both you and your spouse die prematurely, the state will. In addition, consider that under some state intestacy laws, if you are married at the time of your death, your current spouse may inherit all your assets. If you have children from a previous marriage, this may not be the result you intended.

 

Choose who'll act on your behalf.

In addition to a will, it is important to consider a power of attorney. A power of attorney appoints an agent to act on your behalf regarding financial and other matters while you are alive. It can be a durable power of attorney, which takes effect immediately, or a springing power of attorney, which takes effect at the time of your incapacity. It typically authorizes someone to act on your behalf concerning your financial affairs and is often executed by one spouse for another.

There are several considerations to keep in mind when setting up a power of attorney. Any competent adult can serve as your agent. It can be general or limited; for example, it can apply only to particular assets or accounts that you own. Given that you are giving someone authority to make important decisions on your behalf, it is important that you exercise great care in selecting your agent.

 

A healthcare proxy names the agent who can make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable to communicate for yourself. Before someone can act as your healthcare proxy, you must become incapacitated and be unable to make informed decisions for yourself.

 

You'll want to be specific about what decisions your health care healthcare proxy agent can and cannot make on your behalf. You may also want to draft an advance medical directive, also known as a living will. This expresses your wishes to your agent and doctors when considering the use of life-sustaining procedures.

Consider naming an alternative power of attorney and alternative health care proxy in case the person you've initially named is unable to serve on your behalf.

 

Name beneficiaries on financial accounts.

 

Designating a beneficiary for investment accounts - and insurance policies - can be as important as writing a will. These decisions are critical but not complex. Assets in your retirement accounts pass directly to the beneficiaries you've designated with your account custodian, trustee, or plan administrator. Furthermore, your beneficiary designations generally supersede any accommodation you have made in your will for your retirement account. Remember to name beneficiaries on all retirement accounts, such as 401(k) accounts and IRAs. In many instances, having beneficiaries designated on an account allows the account to pass outside probate, enabling your beneficiaries to avoid the time and expense of the probate process. As with all accounts, estate taxes may still apply. Be sure to consult your tax advisor.

Under IRS rules, required distributions from an inherited IRA are generally based on the age of the beneficiary, not the age of the original IRA owner. So if your beneficiary is younger than you, these rules can minimize the taxable amount that must be withdrawn each year after your death.

 

Employer-sponsored retirement plans. If you are married, keep in mind that some employer-sponsored retirement plans automatically designate your spouse as the beneficiary unless you name another beneficiary and your spouse has consented in writing. You should check with your company to understand their policy on beneficiary designations.

Non-retirement accounts. Designating a beneficiary - or beneficiaries - on a nonretirement account, such as a brokerage account, may establish a "transfer-on-death" (TOD) registration for the account. For an individual account, a TOD registration allows ownership of the account to be transferred to a designated beneficiary upon your death.

Keep everything up to date.

 

Even the best plan isn't effective if it doesn't keep pace with your life. Consider setting aside a special time each year - around tax time, for example - to review not only your paperwork but any life events that have occurred. Moving, having children or grandchildren, or losing a loved one can have a big impact on your plan overall.

 

Ask for help.

It's important to know the difference between what you can do on your own and when you need professional help in preparing for the unexpected. Do-it-yourself estate planning is risky, so it makes sense to ask an attorney to draw up legal documents such as your will, power of attorney, and health care proxy. An experienced professional can save you money and spare you headaches

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LIFE’s online calculator at www.lifehappens.org/lifecalculator.

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The Affordable Care Act,