Making an estate plan means deciding more than just what becomes of your property and assets after you pass away. Sitting down with an estate planning lawyer and making a plan is one of the biggest things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones after you die.  This plan allows you to make sure that, regardless of what occurs, your loved ones know what you wish to happen and have a guide to follow to ensure your wishes happen. Here are some benefits to having an estate plan.

Protects those you love

If you decide that you do not need an estate plan, the law decides what will happen to your property after your death. This means that a judge makes the decisions as to how your assets and property will be managed and distributed after you die. People you may not want to benefit from your hard work will be able to receive your belongings. Someone you want to have no hand in managing and distributing your property and assets may be appointed by the courts to do just that. Estate plans detail the person responsible for providing care to your minor children in the event you are unable to fulfill your duties as a caregiver. If you do not assign someone to this role, children may become the center of family squabbles regarding who should be responsible for them and provide guidance for them. The person who cares for them may not be someone you want to care for them or even someone you would never trust with your child.

Protect Yourself

You can become incapacitated without any warning when an accident or medical emergency arises. When this occurs and you are incapacitated, even temporarily, it means that someone has to make decisions about your personal and medical affairs. You need to ensure your bills continue to be paid, you receive the medical treatment you deserve, and you do not return to find your life in shambles. Without an estate plan, you may find that your family has to go to court to handle these matters for you. This means that they would have to spend time and money instead of paying the required immediate attention to what you need. Estate plans typically include powers of attorney who are designated to handle financial and medical decisions if you suddenly become impaired. It can also spell out what you want as far as medical needs go to ensure your wishes are carried out in the event you are unable to make them for yourself.

Having a solid estate plan in place protects yourself and your loved ones after you die. It also protects you and them if you are suddenly unable to make decisions on your own. Losing a loved one is hard enough without fighting over what the loved one would have wanted. Protect yourself and those you love by developing a plan that states your wishes clearly in a plan they can follow.