New Year, New You! Make Estate Planning A Priority in 2021

By Attorney Kelly Jesson

This year, make a resolution to prioritize estate planning. Estate planning allows you to gain control and peace of mind over difficult and unpredictable situations. We have previously written about the difficulties caused by dying without a will in North Carolina and the pitfalls of the probate process in North Carolina; however, many of the “worst-case” scenarios can be avoided with proper planning. Let us help you make 2021 the year you plan for emergency scenarios and protect your business and personal assets for the benefit of your loved ones through estate planning.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 has shown us that there are no guarantees, but it has also highlighted what is most important to each of us: family. Estate planning allows you to plan for what happens when you pass away, including naming a trusted person to handle your final affairs, name guardians for minor children, and distribute your assets according to your wishes. In addition to planning for death, our office drafts durable and health care powers of attorneys, where you can name agents to make both financial and medical decisions for you if you are incapacitated and cannot communicate.

There is no reason to wait to do planning, and as the pandemic continues to be a part of our “new normal,” you should get a plan in place before it is ever needed. If you do become incapacitated or ill, it may be more difficult or impossible to get documents in place, as you must have testamentary capacity to create valid estate planning documents.

Our office has created new procedures due to COVID-19. Our office staff wears masks, and masks are required by every person entering the office. We also social distance as much as possible, with witnesses watching you sign the documents through the conference room windows. We do not share or reuse pens that may be used by clients and we wipe down all surfaces before someone comes in to do a document signing. We are also meeting our clients in the parking lot, where they can remain in the car while signing documents, which limits their exposure to germs in the building. For all appointments prior to the signing appointment, we offer virtual appointments so we can still “meet” our clients while reducing risks of exposure.

Some of our clients delay estate planning because they do not have any friends or family members they trust to serve in fiduciary roles. In some circumstances, members of the firm may serve in these roles for the client if the client feels comfortable. It is better for you to take control and name someone yourself than to have the government appoint someone in an emergency or when you pass away.

We want to help you take CONTROL in 2021! Please call Jesson & Rains if you have questions about getting your estate plan in order or updating an existing estate plan. While You Build, We Protect.