Think About It: Do You Want Your Loved Ones To Struggle After Your Death?

A little over a year ago, the Wall Street Journal published an article on the general lack of estate planning titled "The Mess They Left." The message was clear: Keep your stuff in order. According to polls, more than 50 percent of deceased persons in California do not leave a will or provide any information to survivors about what they own, what they owe, and what they want. The proportion is much higher for cases of accidental death.

Surviving family members can be overwhelmed and must spend a huge amount of time in a frustrating quest for paperwork, records, and contact information for associates and advisors to figure out where the assets are and what should be done with them.

What Would Happen Were You to Die Tomorrow?

To say that the death of a family member is an emotional event is an understatement. However, dying is also a major legal and financial event. Most people, especially before they retire, are very active, lead a complex life with multiple transactions, have a great number of business and private relations, and have little time to reflect or plan. They will often overlook the obvious fact that one does not choose the timing of one's death. The result could be chaos on top of overwhelming grief for your survivors.

There is no way out: you will have to put your stuff in order. Start now, because you don't know what comes next and there is a lot to look at:

• Ownership documents
• Legal documents you signed
• Responsibilities you accepted
• Beneficiary forms related to various financial accounts and policies
• Tax returns
• User IDs and passwords, keys and codes, safes and locations
• Advisors, business contacts, bank & financial contacts, friends
• Income sources
• Expenses, debts, and payment methods
• Marriage contracts
• Community and separate property
• Real estate, valuables, and financial property

As a San Diego probate and estate planning attorney, Scott Grossman can help you with this process. There are two things to remember at this stage:

• Don't leave all the work to survivors who only have a fraction of the information you possess.
• Planning the probate of your estate is a source of satisfaction for all: fewer taxes and expenses, fair distribution, and no stress.

Talk to San Diego probate attorney Scott Grossman about your situation, your goals, and any questions you might have. Call us at (951) 683-3704 or (866) 840-0000 for your FREE 30-minute telephone consultation.

If you want to be well informed about California probate and trust administration, order our FREE books and DVDs:

• The Insider's Guide to California Probate and Trust Administration
• Probate a Will or Administer a Trust After the Death of a Loved One

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