Giving Straight Answers to Common Estate Planning Questions
By Tamara Cain, Attorney and Estate Planning Educator, Cain, Cain & Janik
Q: Once I sign my estate plan, am I finished?
A: That may be the most common misconception I encounter in estate planning. After helping hundreds of families over many years, I’ve noticed that most people view estate planning as a project. They gather information, meet with an attorney, sign documents, and check an important item off their to-do list. Once the documents are signed, they are placed in a safe location and often remain there for years without any other thought.
The problem is not that the plan was poorly designed. In many cases, the plan was exactly what the family needed at the time. The problem is that life continues to move forward while the documents remain unchanged.
