When it comes to your estate plan, ambiguity can lead to disputes among family members and uncertainty surrounding your end-of-life wishes. Why leave such important matters up in the air? In today’s blog, we will be exploring five solutions that may be able to help you avoid ambiguity and vagueness in the estate planning process.
Know what you want
The most important step in avoiding estate planning ambiguity is to first know what you truly want. By asking yourself key questions about what you want and who you want to carry out your wishes, you can achieve a more clear, unambiguous idea of what your estate plan should include.
Understand the difference between terms
If you’re not familiar with estate planning, it’s easy to confuse similar sounding terms and ideas. Knowing the difference between a healthcare surrogate and a preneed guardian, or a will and living will, will prove crucial to the specifics of your estate plan and end-of-life wishes… so having an understanding of these terms can be enormously helpful.
Pay attention to key words and phrases
Once you know the different meanings behind key ideas, it’s time to put that knowledge to use and draft your plan accordingly. Pay special attention to the wording you use and be ready to reconsider potentially misleading language. (This is a key part of the estate planning process, and your attorney will likely be of great help to you in actually putting your plan into words.)
Use a straightforward approach with friends and family members
When it comes to eliminating ambiguity from your estate plan, it pays to be clear in your in-person interactions, too. When speaking with friends and family members you appoint in your plan, be sure to let them know what you want their role to be and avoid sugarcoating or avoiding certain topics. It may seem hard now, but it will let you and your loved ones share a better understanding of your plan—and that makes all the difference.
Consult with an attorney
For one final “fail safe,” be sure to consult with your attorney to clear up any confusion or questions still surrounding your plans. While you may have a general grasp of what you’ve stated in your plan, an attorney can provide you with an added dose of confidence by guiding you along the way and eliminating vague or misleading language from your plan.
When you take special measures to avoid ambiguity in the estate planning process, you will be able to enjoy a future filled with a better peace of mind—as well as the dependability of the friends and family members you trust. If you’re interested in updating your estate plan or drafting a new one, please call our office today. We can help you design a plan that’s as clear and effective as possible.
