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Navigating estate planning as a new parent

On Behalf of | Aug 19, 2022 | Estate Planning

When you become a parent in Georgia, your life changes in ways that you could never imagine. Suddenly, you have someone who is completely dependent on you for everything. If you should die and you have not designated a guardian for your child, he or she may not be taken care of the way you would want them to be. This is why estate planning is so important.

How should you go about estate planning as a new parent?

First, you need to make sure that your will is up-to-date. This document will dictate what happens to your child if something happens to you. Check whether you have appointed a guardian for your child and whether you need to make any changes. You’ll also want to consider setting up a trust. This can be used to provide for your child’s education, health care, and other needs.

You should also take a look at your life insurance policy. Make sure that the beneficiaries are still up-to-date and that the coverage is enough to provide for your family if something happens to you.

Lastly, don’t forget about Powers of Attorney. These estate planning documents appoint someone to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to do so yourself. This could be incredibly important if you become seriously ill or injured and are unable to make decisions for yourself.

What are the benefits of estate planning?

Perhaps most importantly, it gives you peace of mind knowing that your family will be taken care of if something happens to you. It also allows you to control how your assets will get distributed. Last but not least, it can help you minimize tax liabilities while making it easy for you to avoid family conflicts and disputes.

If you don’t have an estate plan in place, now is the time to start putting one together. Remember, if you don’t have a plan in place, the state will make decisions on your behalf – and these may not be in line with your wishes. With a little bit of effort, you can ensure that your family remains safe if something happens to you.