Married
Protect Your Family’s Future
From newlyweds to those celebrating their golden anniversaries, all married couples should have a plan that protects their futures. It’s inevitable that couples will face tough decisions as their love matures. We can help you discuss important topics like term insurance, powers of attorney, and living wills, and create documents that ensure your wishes are carried out. Plan today for the future you want.
Schedule a free meeting with one of our experts to learn more.
Plan for Every Possibility
Being married does not guarantee that everything shared by a couple will remain with the surviving spouse. At AlerStallings, we can develop an estate plan that addresses all of your needs and concerns, and offers peace of mind no matter the circumstance. We help you consider all the possibilities and develop a custom plan that protects the ones you love the most.
It’s Never Too Early To Prepare
When you and your spouse first get married, it’s natural to not focus on the many what-ifs in life. But it’s important to do everything you can to protect your future. This applies to young newlyweds, those that have been married for years, second marriages, blended families, and more. Take a moment to consider these possibilities.
What are you going to provide for your your surviving spouse?
Do you want to give broad decision-making authority or would you rather limit it?
Do you and your current and/ or former spouse have shared goals?
Do you have a will?
When did you last update your will?
Do you have more than a will?
When did you last update your will?
Have you made plans to protect your spouse?
Do you know what's going to happen to your estate?
Is your estate going to go through probate?
Have you protected your spouse from unnecessary taxes?
Putting Together
A Plan
All of our plans start with the end in mind. How do you want to ensure your spouse is protected in the event of any type of situation? We then walk you through everything you need to consider and offer sound advice. While we have served thousands of families like yours, the plan we create for your family is customized to fulfill your wishes.
A thorough plan might include the following information:
Give your spouse or other trusted person the ability to make decisions for you and your children if you can’t.
Your wishes documented and likely carried out without struggle or strife.
Protecting family members by ensuring assets go where they can be managed and distributed.
Life Changes.
So Should Your Plan.
Estate plans work when they’re up-to-date with where your family is today. Right now it might be just the two of you. But if the day comes when your family expands, it’s important to have a plan that works.
You may need to consider the following:
Preserve assets
Give your family the assurance that comes with knowing creditors won’t seize your estate after you’re gone
Avoid probate
Be sure your family doesn’t have to deal with the stress or costs that come with making sure your estate goes where you want it
Protect children
Put together a plan that helps make sure your children are cared for by whom you choose and that they are financially protected.
Want More Information?
This topic can be stressful and complex. So it’s not unusual to have questions and concerns.
Here are a few of the things we get asked most often.
Estate planning is generally the term used to describe the process of organizing and planning for when you become incapacitated and for the transfer of your wealth upon your death. Essentially estate planning is two-prong: 1. Naming powerholders who can make decisions about your financial and medical state during your lifetime when you cannot or chose not to manage your affairs yourself and 2. Addressing what happens to your assets when you die. Specifically, making sure that what you have goes to whom you want, in the amount and manner you desire, such as by outright bequests or the placing of assets in a trust for the benefit of the spouse, children or grandchildren.
This is an agreement with three parties: Trust-makers, the Trustees (or Trust Managers), and the Trust Beneficiaries. For example, a husband and wife may name themselves all three parties to create their trust, manage all the assets transferred to the trust, and have full use and enjoyment of all the trust assets as beneficiaries. Further “back-up” managers can step in under the terms of the trust to manage the assets should the couple become incapacitated or die. Special provisions in the trust also control the management and distribution of assets to heirs in the event of the trust-maker’s death. With proper planning, the couple also can avoid or eliminate death taxes on their estate. The Revocable Living Trust may allow them to accomplish all this outside of any court proceeding.
A revocable trust can be revoked as long as those who granted the trust are of sound mind. Revocable trusts allow your assets to avoid the probate process, which is often a big financial burden on your estate. A Revocable trust provides more control over how distributions are made
An irrevocable trust cannot be revoked, so the document will continue to exist for as long as the terms of the trust dictate. This trust cannot be terminated prematurely. With careful drafting, an irrevocable trust can meet your goal (asset protection, tax planning) and allow flexibility in customization. When used properly, irrevocable trusts can be used to protect your assets from Long-Term Care.