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In this post, we’ll continue our discussion of why everyone needs an estate plan. Loss of Control Losing control over how your assets are distributed after death isn’t the only negative consequence of failing to plan. You and your family may suffer physically, financially and emotionally while you are still alive. For example, a properly designed and implemented plan allows you to name people you trust to make medical and/or financial decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. Without a plan, someone will petition the court for the right to make these important decisions for you. The court could very well decide to choose a person or persons you would never have wanted to have such authority. The result? You may not receive the level of medical care you would have wanted. Conversely, you might be subjected to medical procedures you would not have wanted to keep you alive

We often discuss the benefits of estate planning. However, a discussion of what can happen when a person fails to plan is perhaps a more powerful way to stress the importance of proper planning. Let’s look at a few potential consequences of not having a plan of your own. If a person passes away without a will or trust, his or her estate assets are distributed according to what is known as intestate succession. It is important to note that certain assets are not subject to intestate succession laws. These can include funds in an IRA, 401(k) or other retirement account; property owned in joint tenancy or tenancy by the entirety; proceeds from life insurance policies; payable-on-death bank accounts; and securities in a transfer-on-death account. Most other assets are transferred according to intestate succession. As a result, “who gets what” follows a strict formula, with no regard to the actual