Estate planning: when it's time and how to do it

When you are deep in the day-to-day of life, the thought of planning for your eventual death is probably not top of mind. In fact, said Fidelity, "roughly half of Americans don't have a will, and even fewer have an estate plan."

But coming up with a plan for your finances in the event of your death (or incapacitation) is an important part of protecting your assets and your legacy — and making sure that your loved ones, like your kids, are taken care of. 

When is the right time to start estate planning?

Technically, "many financial advisors would recommend starting an estate plan the moment you become a legal adult, and updating it every three to five years after that," said Trust & Will.

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But for many, there are certain life events that can indicate it is time "to start (or update) your estate plan," said Trust & Will. These triggers include:

• When you start a savings account
• When you purchase a home or other property
• When you inherit money or other assets
• When you get married or divorced
• When you have a child, or grandchildren are added to the family

Do you need a full estate plan, or is a will good enough?

While "most people with assets or a family should execute a will," said Fidelity, "not everyone needs an estate plan." 

A will is a "relatively simple document that sets forth your wishes regarding the distribution of property" as well as any "instructions regarding the care of minor children," said Fidelity. An estate plan, on the other hand, "goes much further than a will," in that "not only does it deal with the distribution of assets and legacy wishes, but it may help you and your heirs pay substantially less in taxes, fees and court costs." Essentially, a will is one part of an estate plan.

A will can be a good place to start, but it may not end up covering all of your bases. As Kiplinger said, "the strategies used by young couples just starting their careers and families will not work for seniors with significant assets and multiple generations to consider."

Where should you start to make an estate plan?

First off, said NerdWallet, you will want to make an inventory, as doing so is a "good way to get a handle on your tangible and intangible assets." Tangible assets include things like "homes, land or other real estate," while intangible assets are things like checking and savings accounts, retirement accounts and investments. Also make note of "any liabilities you may have outstanding," such as a mortgage or student loans.

If you do not yet have a will, it is vital to create one. You can tackle this task on your own — "several software programs are available to assist you, as are various DIY websites," said Investopedia — or you can hire a professional to help. If applicable, during this process, you will "name a guardian for your children — and a backup guardian, just in case," said NerdWallet.

You will also want to look into "naming beneficiaries in certain retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans," as well as for "life insurance policies, certain bank accounts, and other assets," said CNBC. Doing so will help ensure that those assets "pass according to those instructions rather than what's in your will," said CNBC.

Beyond these basics, an estate plan also involves a number of "important legal directives," such as a trust, a medical care directive and a financial power of attorney, said NerdWallet. As you get deeper into establishing your estate plan, you will want to weigh these elements, as well as the estate tax laws of your state. 

You might consider hiring an attorney or estate tax professional to help, particularly if "you have doubts about the process" or a particularly "large and complex estate," said NerdWallet.

And remember: Once you have drafted your estate plan, it's not a set-it-and-forget-it type of thing. You will want to keep reevaluating your plan periodically, particularly when you go through any of the major estate planning triggers outlined above.