2024 is winding up and January 1, 2025, is only 5 weeks away. People around the globe will spend many days celebrating, observing holidays, gathering with friends and family, and reminiscing about loved ones. December brings the full gambit of emotions from laughter to sadness, love to annoyance, and wishful thinking to motivation. As we say goodbye to 2024 and welcome in the new year, it may be time to start this year with up-to-date estate planning.

I know what you’re thinking, why are we talking about estate planning when we should be enjoying the holiday season? Because I love giving gifts for the holidays, and a good estate plan, that includes a succinct Last Will & Testament, is a gift that your loved ones need – and one you can only give to them while you are alive.

The old saying “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure” is not exactly true in estate planning and probate proceedings. I find that the actual truth is “One person’s treasure is another person’s trash”.

If I can give people one key piece of advice, bequeath certain items to specific people in the Will. The follow-up piece is to add a statement that allows the rest of the estate to be liquidated. It is overwhelming for the remaining family members to sort through decades of your “treasure” after you are gone and even more expensive for the family members or administrator to dispose of it.

It’s hard emotionally, physically, and mentally for family members to dispose of personal property when they are actively grieving for the loss of their loved ones. More often than not, I have family members become so burdened by the sheer amount of stuff that has been left for them to clean up that the family grants me full authority to sell or trash everything.

I gather up family photos and anything in particular the family asks for but still it costs thousands of dollars for estate sale companies to sell and clear out the decedent’s personal property. The family goes from feeling guilty about getting rid of everything, to angry or annoyed that they were put in this position to begin with. A good estate plan eliminates this burden on your family and ensures that your last wishes are known and observed.

So, while you are celebrating and observing the upcoming holiday season with your family and friends, think about giving them the gift of good estate planning. Should you have questions or need more information, please contact Attorney McBride.