Are you eager to see the world again after being "stuck" at home for the better
part of two years? Have you checked the travel requirements for your
destination? Do you have a quarantine plan in place? Do you have the
necessary estate planning documents if you are required to quarantine? While
the need to do an estate plan often comes up when travel plans are made, the
pandemic has brought it to the forefront of people's minds. Common questions
asked are:
What happens if something goes wrong during the trip?
Who is going to pay my bills if I get stuck in quarantine?
What if I die?
Who is going to take care of the kids?
What happens to all my stuff?
These are some of the questions that people tend to ask and worry about as
they get ready to go on a trip. Do you really want to be worrying about whatifs?
Based on the number of pre-vacation requests for appointments, this is
exactly what people worry about right before going on a vacation. It is very
common for people to call a few days or a few weeks prior to a big vacation with
the hope of putting together a quick estate plan or to make changes to their
current estate plan. However, a quick turnaround is not realistic for a welldesigned
estate plan. An estate plan that is drafted in a matter of hours or days
may not have been fully reviewed for errors or legal mistakes. A well-designed
plan takes time (six to eight weeks) so that it can be properly drafted, reviewed
by multiple attorneys, and reviewed by you to ensure that your document
reflects your estate planning goals.
If you are thinking about putting together an estate plan before your next
vacation, please plan ahead. Like booking your flight early to get the best deals
and making sure that your passport is not expired, setting an appointment
early to do your estate plan several months before your trip is prudent. It will
give you sufficient time to decide on the best tools to meet your goals and
desires, to think through your distributions, and to review all of your
documents. Getting ready for a vacation is stressful enough. Do not add the task
of trying to meet with your estate planning attorney at the last minute. Proper
estate planning takes time.
If you are planning a vacation this year and have concerns about your estate
plan, please call Rehberg Law Group at 206.246.8772 to set up an
appointment. Attorneys' schedules vary and may be booked several weeks
out. Remember, estate planning is not something you should do at the last
minute. This process should start three to four months prior to your vacation.