Most estate planners assume that having a will or living trust can keep their heirs from having to go through probate. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. There are numerous variables, potential oversights, and often confusing elements in the estate planning process. Any one of them can result in a need for probate. Learn more about how to reduce this risk with help from the following information.

Comparing Wills and Trusts

There are two basic methods used in estate planning: wills and trusts. Wills are an effective way to address guardianship issues, but they often increase the risk of probate because they can be challenged by family members. Living trusts are less likely to result in probate. Still, it is important to realize that a living trust does not eliminate the need for a will; almost no one disburses their entire estate through a living trust. Further, there may be elements in your estate plan that cannot be covered by a living trust.

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Millennials are some of the most driven, open-minded, and goal-oriented individuals alive today. Yet, when planning their future,  few consider estate planning. Most think they are simply too young, but nothing could be further from the truth. Learn more about why even millennials should have an estate plan, and how you can start yours.

Why Start Estate Planning Now?

If you are like most people in their 20s and 30s, you likely have a long list of endeavors you would like to pursue. From art projects to technology developments, these potential money-making ideas are worth something, long before they come to fruition. An estate plan can help protect these concepts and ideas, ensuring they are passed on to someone that can utilize them, should anything happen to you along the way.

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If there is one thing you can count on in life, it is that things will change. Some changes are more internal, such as a new passion or career goal. Others are external. The former, though often positive, are likely to have little impact on the future of your estate. In contrast, the latter may require a significant change to your estate plan. Learn more about these changes in the following sections, and how an attorney can help ensure they are effectively addressed.

Re-Marriage and Divorce

Changing your marital status - whether from single to married or married to divorce - will, in most cases, warrant an update to your estate plan. This is especially true in the case of divorce and second, third, or other subsequent marriages. You should not tackle the changes alone, however, since blended families and ex family members can further complicate an already complex process. Instead, ask an attorney for assistance.

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If you have children from a previous marriage or relationship (or your spouse does), then careful estate planning is absolutely critical to the financial future of your loved ones. What does that really mean, though? How do you move forward and ensure that everyone receives their fair share upon your death, and that any minor children are cared for in your absence? The following explains, and provides some key information on where to find assistance with your blended family estate plan.

Why is Estate Planning is So Critical?

Estate planning is a difficult process - not just because it is a complex matter, but also because it requires you to think about your death: what might happen, what you want to happen, and how you want your assets to be distributed. Yet it truly is necessary, especially when you have children or a blended family. Children need a guardian named if they are minors. If they are adults, those who are not blood related could potentially lose out on an inheritance. Or it could cause arguments in your family after you are gone. Estate planning gives you the chance to make your wishes known, ensures that the right assets go to the right individuals, and protects minor children by ensuring they have a guardian that you and your spouse trust.

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Although same-sex marriage is now legal on a national level, few couples have thought to come forward and update their estate plan. Unfortunately, this can be problematic. It can also lead to a significant loss of funds upon a party's death. Learn more about how an updated estate plan can benefit you and your partner, and why it is so important.

How Estate Planning Has Changed or Same-Sex Couples

Prior to 2015, same-sex couples who were not in a state that legally recognized their marriage had to find inventive ways to ensure their partner received benefits upon their death. Many had to take out insurance policies that were much higher than heterosexual couples because there needed to be enough to pay for estate taxes. This has now changed.

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