ESTATE PLANNING: YOU HAVE OPTIONS
Many individuals equate estate planning to drawing up a last will to direct the transfer of their assets to their loved ones someday. Indeed, you can go this route but it is not always going to be the best choice. You have options, and you should explore them because the best way to arrange for the transfer of resources varies on a case-by-case basis.
Your unique personal situation is going to have a lot to do with how you should proceed. For example, someone who is in possession of resources that exceed the estate tax exclusion amount is going to have different objectives than someone whose resources fall within the exemption amount.
If you are divorced and remarried and you have children from a previous marriage you face a different situation than someone who has never been divorced. Single parents have concerns that some other people may not. If you have a person in the family who has a disability this may require estate planning steps that would not be taken otherwise.
People who are in the military or those who formerly served in the military may have to go about things differently than civilians.
The typical layperson is not going to know the best way to proceed given his or her specific situation. This is where professional guidance comes in. If you would like to explore your options with regard to making preparations for the inevitable, take action right now to arrange for a consultation with a good San Bernardino estate planning lawyer.