Completing the preparation of an estate plan to address legal and financial matters, both while you are living and after you have passed, brings peace of mind to the person making the will, their executor and heirs. A recent article from yahoo! finance, “Top 5 Ways To Make Estate Planning Less Painful Than Death,” takes a lighthearted approach to an admittedly serious subject.
Estate planning can be broken down into key parts. For most individuals, this includes a last will and testament, a power of attorney in case of incapacity, medical directives, a plan for caring for children, a business succession plan,and arrangements for digital assets. The following five steps can help make the estate planning process easier.
Leave a paper trail like Hansel and Gretel’s breadcrumbs. Creating an inventory of all assets, real estate, checking and savings accounts, retirement accounts, insurance policies and contact information for your estate planning attorney, financial advisor and accountant. Your executor will greatly appreciate this. Create a hard copy document, keep it in a secure location and inform your executor of its whereabouts.
Plan for incapacity unless you want your family to move into court. When you create an estate plan, you’ll have an opportunity to create a Power of Attorney document. This allows you to name a person to make legal and financial decisions on your behalf if you are unable to communicate your wishes due to illness or injury. Be careful about who you name, as this person will be making important decisions on your behalf. You’ll also want a medical power of attorney or healthcare proxy, so someone can make medical decisions if you can’t. The legal POA and healthcare POA don’t have to be the same person.
Work with an experienced estate planning attorney, not an AI program. Online programs are unable to address the state-by-state nuances in the law and the challenges of creating an effective estate plan. An attorney who has helped hundreds of families will be familiar with the various challenges that arise from individual situations. Does your state allow you to combine a legal and healthcare POA into one document? Do you need a trust to protect property from probate or Medicaid? An estate planning attorney is necessary to ensure that your documents aren’t deemed invalid and dismissed by the court.
Do you dare to put some fun in a funeral? If you have specific wishes for your funeral memorial and burial or cremation, you’ll need to have them memorialized. Including these wishes in your will could be a mistake (should we say a grave error?) because your will may not be reviewed until weeks after your passing. You may want to purchase a plot in advance or decide on a funeral home beforehand so loved ones aren’t faced with planning and paying for a funeral when they are still grieving your loss. Think of it as your last chance to control your send-off.
Who does Mom love best? Parents always say they love their children equally. However, sometimes, when their estate is administered, children find out otherwise. Even if you aren’t distributing your estate in equal shares, it’s best to do two things: ensure that your will and beneficiary designations work together. Your will names a guardian for minor children and names an executor, who is responsible for administering your estate after you pass. You can also establish a pet trust to provide funds for the care of your animal companions.
Perhaps the best way to make thinking about being prepared for sickness and death less stressful is to educate yourself about what needs to be done and create a plan with the help of an estate planning attorney.
Taking a proactive approach to estate planning can transform a daunting task into a thoughtful and organized process. Our Los Angeles estate planning attorneys can guide you through creating a plan that protects your assets, provides for your loved ones, and ensures your wishes are honored.
If you have any questions, schedule a free appointment with us through our online appointment page.
You can also read reviews from some of the hundreds of clients we have helped over the years.
Reference: yahoo! finance (Aug. 14, 2025) “Top 5 Ways To Make Estate Planning Less Painful Than Death”
Founded in 1975 by L. Rob Werner and serving California for over 50 Years, our dedicated attorneys are available for clients, friends, and family members to receive the legal help they need and deserve. You can trust in our experience and reputation to help navigate you through your unique legal matters.
Whether you need help creating a living trust or navigating probate, our living trust law firm's compassionate team of estate planning lawyers and probate lawyers are here to help you and ready to answer your questions.
Our goal is to make your case as easy as possible for you. Hiring a lawyer can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. From the moment you contact our firm, through the final resolution of your case, our goal is to make the process easy and understandable. We cannot change the fact that probate is a long and complicated process, but through our Werner Law Firm Difference, we strive to go out of our way to keep you informed of your case through every step of the way. We are constantly refining our processes and procedures for a more streamlined and calm client experience. Our goal is to have you feel like a burden was lifted from your shoulders, and that we made the whole process an easy one
If you're dealing with a legal matter, we urge you to schedule a free initial appointment today and join the many satisfied clients who have contacted Werner Law Firm.
23 Corporate Plaza Dr., Suite 150
Newport Beach, California 92660
