Write It Down: Elevating Your Estate Plan
By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi
January 31, 2023
The month of January coincides with a fresh start for many people. Whether it be joining a new gym to going "dry" by not drinking any alcohol for the month to finally getting your estate plan drafted (or updated), many of us resolve to improve our condition at the start of a new calendar year. For those of you focused on creating or improving your estate plan, I suggest the following quote as a guiding light:
“Paper is to write things down that we need to remember. Our brains are used to think.” ― Albert Einstein
Specifically, when managing your powers of attorney consider making a list of each person or entity that you provided a copy of the form to. For example, my power of attorney for health care is on file with: my hospital, my primary care doctor's office, my spouse, and each of my alternate agents. Rather than remember this list, I have a notation in my estate planning binder. This will aid me down the road when I update my document to make certain the updated form is given to all of the same entities and ensure the old form is shredded or properly negated.
American productivity consultant David Allen summarizes it best with the following quote;
“Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.” ― David Allen
Thank you for reading. Remember, a blog post is not indicated to convey legal advice but rather to cause thought and reflection. It is best to consult with a lawyer in your home state for advice specific to your unique situation.
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