Avoid These Common Mistakes

P TLANNING ODAYAvoid These Common MistakesHere are a number of common planning mistakes that you can easilyavoid with proper planning. The last thing you want is to leaveconfusion and disputes among your loved ones. Yet that is often theThe result when estates are not thoughtfully planned.Legacy1. Waiting Too Long — It is human nature to procrastinate aboutsomething as unpleasant as planning for what happens after your ownSocietydeath. Yet it is critically important to put your plan in place while youare still healthy and thinking clearly. While we always seem to believethat we have plenty of time to take care of our final affairs, the fact ofthe matter is that we never know for sure when our time will come. Ifyou do not go ahead and take care of it now, you may never get anotherchance.2. Failing to Review Your Plan Regularly — Once you haveyour estate plan in place, it is important to have it reviewed periodicallyto make sure it continues to reflect your wishes. A review is alsoimportant when changes in the law may affect your plan. A general ruleis to have your plan reviewed every three years, or sooner, if you havehad a major change in your circumstances, such as the death of yourspouse, a divorce, a large inheritance or the death of a major beneficiary.3. Trying to Do It Yourself — If you want your estate plannedproperly, do not try to do it yourself. Instead, visit a qualified attorney.KEEPINGAttorneys are trained to understand your ...