Even though a large portion of Texas citizens do not commit to estate planning, many residents are heavily encouraged to do so that their property can end up in the right hands after unpredictable circumstances. Part of why most Texans refuse to begin estate planning is because they do not want to think about their death and instead desire to focus on the present and near-future.
An estate lawyer’s job is not to make you uncomfortable, but to make sure you are ready. They will ask you several questions to help you prepare for multiple scenarios, but one that might make you wince is if they ask you about any potential health issues you could get or if you have family history of a certain disease. While it may not seem relevant at the moment, it can be crucial information for an estate planner to know to properly prepare your asset division.
Customizing for your illness
While it is unpleasant to think you have a high chance of obtaining a particular disease like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, it can make it easier for the planner to properly divide your estate. Serious illnesses can put a dent in the estate plans of most Texans from the amount of medical expenses necessary for treatment.
By informing your lawyer of this disease, they can use their experience from working with clients with similar conditions to craft a plan that allows you to receive proper health care without taking away too much of what you want your heirs to get.
Knowing your medical preferences
It is important to make several areas of your plan known now to avoid leaving it to someone else in the future should you be in an incapacitated state. If your family has a history of multiple sclerosis, then you know you there could be a point later down in your life where it can be difficult to communicate your desires.
If your lawyer knows the disease you might have, then they can inform you of what treatments that other Texas patients typically receive and your options for prolonging it. Now you can inform them of what you want rather than let a family member or spouse guess it.
Assuring your future
Your estate plan might require future updates depending on the conditions of yourself, your family, your spouse, your friends or anyone else you plan to put in your will or trust. While an attorney asking you about any potential diseases in your future might invoke an uneasy feeling, answering it can be some of the first steps towards ensuring the safety of your assets. It can help you build a commitment towards preparing your estate to guarantee that it will end up in the right hands.
If your estate planning attorney does not bring it up in your meeting or it is not on the paperwork, make sure to mention it at some point in your discussion so you arrange your assets in the best way that you can.