Tuesday, December 16, 2014

12 Steps For Christian Estate Planning

By: Laurie Valentine- COO & Trust Counsel

A Christian estate plan is one you develop by determining how God wants you to: (1) provide for your family and other “dependents” at your death and (2) have your finances managed and decisions made for you if you became incapacitated and no longer able to do those things for yourself.

Step #12 Don’t Wait! Failing to plan is really planning to fail. And, failing to keep your plan up-to-date may be even worse.

You don’t have to have all the answers to get started. Most estate planning documents are changeable. So, you can start with fairly simple documents and then “tweak” them from time to time throughout your life as you sense God’s plan for how you should provide for your family and other beneficiaries changes.

And, make sure to review your plan on a regular basis (every three to five years) and also when there are significant changes in your family (births, marriages, deaths, etc.) and/or in what you own. Look at everything---your estate planning documents; how all assets are titled; and beneficiary designations. Determine if: (1) the alternate beneficiaries for the shares of beneficiaries who have died are still who you want; (2) the possibility you might have more children/grandchildren was provided for in your existing documents; and (3) the persons named to serve as executor, trustee, power of attorney are still willing and able to serve in those capacities.

For more information, please call us at (502) 489-3533 or toll free in KY at 1(866) 489-3533.

The information in this article is provided as general information and is not intended as legal or tax advice. For advice and assistance in specific cases, you should seek the advice of an attorney or other professional adviser.

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