What inspires you to get up everyday and go to work?
For many of us, we work hard to provide for our family, our children and our partner especially.
We buy a house so we can go home to the best place at the end of the day, where our loved ones await with cheery faces and loving embraces. We buy a car so we can drive our children to school and take them somewhere fun on weekends. And on summers and Christmases we look forward to spending longer time with them and taking them to adventures to make memories that will last a lifetime.
Families are not always traditional.
Who is your family?
For many people, the answer is simple. A family is a basic unit of society composed of the husband, wife, and children.
Yet, not everyone is in this place.
Family is a place that gives you a reason to live and a purpose to fulfill. Family keeps you alive because they make you feel needed and appreciated. They make you happy and they make you feel seen and your life meaningful.
Not everyone finds that in a traditional family.
Some people may choose to be single all their life, but may find family in lifelong friendships.
Some may find love in adoptive children who they love as their own. And some may find joy in being a furmom.
Some may find it in their second attempt at love. And some may treasure children from multiple marriages but recognize that the younger ones may need more provisions.
Others may find their purpose in a cause that goes beyond familial bonds, and may want to protect their legacy.
In this day and age love and family comes in many forms.
In this day and age, love and family comes in many forms. But one thing remains constant, when you find something that you truly love, you’ll want to protect them with all that you have, even after all you pass on.
The most important reason for planning your estate.
The most important reason for planning your estate is for your intentions to be clear and for the relationships among family to stay harmonious.
This is especially true in special circumstances.
Meet May, the veteran professional with two adopted children
May has never found her forever romance.
She devoted most of her life to honing her craft as a director. Struggling in her younger years, she found success later in life. She never married, but found joy in taking care of two adopted children.
To May, her adopted children are her children. But it’s not always clear to those around her.
May has been single until her forties, and people in her family have always assumed she’d die as an old maid. Her decision to adopt came as a surprise.
May’s motivation for having her estate planned is to clarify that she loves her adopted children as good as natural born children. And that she wants them to inherit from her.
She wants her intentions clear and legally binding to avoid stress on her children, barely of legal age, in case her brothers, sisters, nieces, or nephews question her will.
Not everyone understands Maggie, the furmom
Not everyone understands furparents and the joy and companionship pets have bought them.
Maggie’s first family was her husband and two children. They lived a full life, supporting their children in school and school activities and travelling to cabins in the woods and beaches whenever they had free time.
But her two children are both adults now. They live mostly in the city and visit once or twice a year. She also lost her husband ten years ago.
Ever since, Maggie’s main companions are her three active corgis. They keep her happy and healthy by encouraging her to walk them everyday.
Now in her 70s, Maggie is certain her corgis will outlive her. She wants to make sure they are well-provided even after she passes away. She also wants them to live somewhere with parks and playgrounds.
While Maggie is happy to leave most of her properties to her children as what is expected to happen under the Louisiana Intestate Succession Law, she also wants to make provisions for her neighbor Betty to care for Coco, Milo, and Bella, and for the pups to be provided for.
Great things start from small beginnings
30-year-old Tim just bought his first property. This is a wise indicator for him to start planning his estate.
As his wealth flourishes, he can revisit his will to reflect the assets added to his possession.
Planning your estate is a continuous process. Finding time to look into it may inspire you to grow your wealth and be mindful of actions that may impact your estate and heirs.
By thoughtfully organizing your affairs, you provide a final, meaningful gift to your family and loved ones, sparing them uncertainty and stress.
Beyond asset distribution, a well-crafted estate plan safeguards your well-being during your lifetime. It can include a power of attorney for financial and healthcare decisions, so trusted individuals can act on your behalf if you become incapacitated.
If you need help understanding Louisiana’s specific laws or have estate planning questions, feel free to schedule a consultation with our team.
