Unfortunately, a sudden onset of illness or debilitating accident has the potential to cut any life short. If you pass away without a will, you may not be able to provide for your family’s future or control what happens to your businesses.
Everyone can benefit from proper estate planning, regardless of their age or health condition. If nothing else, planning your estate can help you gain a greater understanding of your finances and obtain peace of mind that your family will be cared for in the future.
The Goals of Proper Estate Planning
The purpose of estate planning is to retain control over your assets after you pass away. This process can help ensure that your family or other nominated beneficiaries take possession of your property as you see fit.
The primary concern for most people is their personal assets. These may include a family home, vehicles, and bank accounts. A valid will helps ensure that appropriate beneficiaries receive a person’s property after their death.
A solid estate plan can also help manage a decedent’s debts. It is important to nominate a willing and competent executor to care for an estate, as this can ensure that debts are paid quickly and that the remaining value in the estate flows to the beneficiaries.
How Complex Should my Estate Plan Be?
Ensuring that your wishes are met after death can be fairly straightforward. According to North Carolina General Statutes § 31-3.3, a written will must simply contain the signature of the testator. The testator should sign the will in the presence of two witnesses, who will then sign the document as well. Alternatively, a testator can bring the will to witnesses after signing it to attest that the signature is authentic.
This is all that is necessary to create an estate plan. There is no special language that a will must contain. However, an experienced attorney could provide valuable assistance in ensuring that a will contains all of your wishes. Additionally, a well-practiced lawyer has experience drafting wills in a way that leaves no doubt as to a person’s intentions. A person can contact legal counsel at any point in their life to help draft their will and begin planning their estate.
Take the Time to Seek Legal Guidance on Estate Planning
Estate planning is not something that only older people need to consider. Any person with assets or personal property should think about what will happen to that property if they pass away. This is especially important for individuals who are married or have children. A proper estate plan can help secure the financial future of one’s family members and other beneficiaries.
A knowledgeable attorney could provide clarity and insight throughout the estate planning process. Legal assistance is often useful in learning the purpose of an estate plan, identifying your assets and liabilities, and crafting testamentary documents. If you are wondering if it is a good time to start estate planning, give us a call today for more information.
Author Bio
Paul Yokabitus
Founder & Estate Planning Lawyer
Paul Yokabitus is the founder of Cary Estate Planning, where he helps North Carolina families protect what matters most through wills, trusts, probate, and special needs planning. Known for his “planning, not paperwork” approach, Paul turns complex legal concepts into clear, practical strategies so clients feel informed and confident at every step. He has been recognized as a Business North Carolina Legal Elite attorney and a Super Lawyers Rising Star, and was named to the Triangle Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. A graduate of Campbell University School of Law, Paul lives in the Triangle with his wife, Alix, and their two sons.
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How We Help North Carolina Families
Paul and his team at Cary Estate Planning are fully committed to creating a personalized experience to develop thorough and comprehensive estate plans. They value their clients and go above and beyond to make sure that no details are missed. I would highly recommend Paul to anyone looking to create an estate plan.
I was referred to Paul by my Real Estate Attorney and I could not say enough about how exceptional the client service has been from everyone I spoke to. The communication is prompt and I feel like they really took the time to answer all my questions and set things up exactly as I wanted, but also recommended things to make it easier on my family down the line.
After attending one of Paul’s estate planning seminars, my husband and I knew we wanted Paul to assist us with our estate planning. His honest, professional approach to this necessary part of life put us at ease with the process. We will continue to recommend Paul and Cary Estate Planning.
We had a great experience working with Paul Yokabitus and the team at Cary Estate Planning to set up our Will and Estate Plan. The process was clear and easy, and in the age of COVID, our signing session was very well done, easy, and safe.
The Cary Estate Planning team will make sure that you have the information you need to be confident in your estate planning decisions. I learned so much from videos, a one-on-one in-person consultation, the website, emails, and a newsletter mailed the old fashioned way. The fee is very reasonable given the importance of estate planning. No matter the size or number of your assets, don’t procrastinate like I did!
Paul is a masterful attorney. He’s very good at taking your intentions and defining that into a durable Trust and Will. Best of all he is as simple and plain-spoken as you like. Or as fast as intellectual as you may be. It’s all about your your speed and your desired outcomes. Would strongly recommend this firm.
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Attorney Offices in Cary and Raleigh
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