Examples of Estate Planning: Protecting Your Assets and Loved Ones
Estate planning is an important process that helps you protect your assets and ensure that your loved ones are taken care of after you are gone. There are several different types of estate planning tools and strategies that you can use to achieve your specific goals and needs.
Creating a Will
One of the most basic forms of estate planning is creating a will. A will is a legal document that outlines how your assets will be distributed after your death. It also allows you to name a guardian for your minor children and appoint an executor to manage your estate. For example, you may want to leave your house to your spouse and your investments to your children.
Setting Up a Trust
Another common estate planning tool is setting up a trust. A trust is a legal entity that holds assets for the benefit of a specific person or group of people. There are several different types of trusts, such as revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, and special needs trusts. For example, you may set up a trust for a beneficiary with a disability to provide for their care and support without disqualifying them from government benefits.
Creating Powers of Attorney
Powers of attorney are legal documents that allow you to appoint someone to manage your affairs if you become incapacitated. There are two types of powers of attorney: one for financial affairs and one for healthcare decisions. For example, you may want to appoint your spouse as your power of attorney for financial affairs and your adult child as your power of attorney for healthcare decisions.
There are two types of power of attorney allowed under Irish law:
- A power of attorney which gives either a specific or a general power and ceases as soon as the donor becomes incapacitated
- An enduring power of attorney which takes effect on the incapacity of the donor
Both cease on the death of the donor.
Making Advance Healthcare Directives
An advance healthcare directive is a legal document that outlines your medical wishes in case you become unable to make decisions for yourself. This includes end-of-life care and life-sustaining treatment. For example, you may want to specify that you do not want to be placed on life support in case of a terminal illness.
Estate planning is an ongoing process that should be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect changes in your life and the laws. It is essential to work with a qualified estate planning attorney to ensure that your estate planning documents are properly executed and updated as necessary.
Why not contact us today and let us show you how we can help you achieve your financial goals? The first meeting is at our expense. Don’t just take our word for it, read our client testimonials to see the positive impact we’ve had on their finances.
MBC Financial is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.