Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, and Amy Winehouse are just some of the celebrities who suddenly passed away without a will in place. While this concept can be impossible to grasp with the amount of money they have earned throughout their career, passing without a will is a reality that a lot of people face.
While these stars’ families are thrust into a legal battle as to who has the right to what, an ordinary Joe’s family might not have such resources.
The bottom line is, regardless of whether you are young or old, as long as you have assets, having a plan on how to lessen the burden on your family in the event of your untimely death is important.
1. Invest in insurance.
A friend selling you a final life expense insurance when you are just in your 40’s might seem farfetched. However, having an insurance policy, no matter how big or little can lift your family off a huge financial burden.
The earlier you have your insurance policy at hand, the more financially secure your family can be in the time of your death. It is an investment that you will not be able to enjoy in your lifetime, but it is something that your family will definitely thank you for.
2. Write a will.
Regardless of whether you have huge assets and properties, or have few and simple ones, having a will in place is very important. A lot of families are torn into legal battles just because their loved ones die without drafting a clear will on who will get what.
Save your family from such burden by having a will and place and updating it from time to time. Again, regardless of your age, as long as you start possessing assets, having a will and testament in place is a must.
3. Work with a lawyer.
You might know your assets better than anyone else, but having a lawyer to guide you through how to handle what you have can help make things a lot easier. This is especially true if you have complicated family relations and have equally complicated assets. You will be surprised at how having good legal counsel can help make a difference.
4. Communicate with your loved ones.
No one knows when death will come. You might be standing here today, but will be gone tomorrow. Letting your loved ones know about your wishes and goals upon your death might not be a topic that people are keen on talking about. However, doing so can clear a lot of issues, which can eventually help your remaining family members better handle your death.
5. Prepare yourself.
No one likes to die. But the only way you can properly execute your wills and prepare your asset is if you yourself are prepared for your own demise.
Death is inevitable. But putting on a lot of stress and financial burden to your family is something you can easily avoid with proper planning and investment. There is no such thing as too late because as long as you are living, you have the power to take control of things and make life easier for your family.