5 Benefits of Estate Planning for Families

An often overlooked but crucial aspect of preparing for the future is estate planning for families. Estate planning is the process of making arrangements to distribute your wealth and assets after you are gone, ensuring they go to the people and causes you care about most.

While estate planning is essential for everyone, it is especially crucial for parents with young children, older adults, and individuals with significant assets. It helps to ensure your loved ones are provided for in the way you intend them to be and that executors of your will respect and follow your wishes.

At NCHS, we understand the importance of estate planning for families and the role charitable giving can play in it. By including charitable giving in your estate plan, you can leave a lasting legacy and positively impact the world.

But why is estate planning for families so important? Here are a few reasons to consider:

1. Provide For Your Family and Loved Ones

An estate plan can ensure your loved ones are provided for after you are gone. This includes everything from financial support to guardianship arrangements for minor children. It makes it possible for them to receive their inheritance in a timely and efficient manner. Doing so can eliminate any uncertainty that may arise after your passing. An estate plan can also help protect your assets from creditors or other legal issues.

2. Avoid Probate, Protect Your Assets

Probate is the legal process that occurs after your passing. It can be time-consuming, expensive, and delay asset distribution to your beneficiaries. An estate plan can help avoid probate, making the process easier and less stressful for your family and loved ones. With proper planning, your assets may avoid ending up in probate court or going to unintended beneficiaries.

3. Minimize Taxes

Creating an estate plan can not only help ensure that your desired distribution plan is respected, but it can also help minimize taxes. Certain estate planning tools, such as a trust, can provide tax benefits to help reduce the amount owed to the government. Additionally, gifting assets during your lifetime helps decrease the taxable value of your estate. By working with a qualified estate planning attorney and financial advisor, you can create a plan that takes advantage of these tax-saving strategies and protects your loved ones' financial future.

4. Create Peace of Mind

Estate planning is an essential aspect of life that provides peace of mind for parents and caregivers. By planning for the future, you can ensure that your loved ones will be financially and emotionally secure long after you are gone. This preparation can help to alleviate any stress or anxiety about what will happen to your assets and, more importantly, your children.

Estate planning for families lets you clearly outline your wishes and ensure executors carry out your plans correctly. This includes designating guardians for your children, establishing trusts, and determining the distribution process for your assets.

It's an important step in securing your family's future and providing lasting security. Whether you're just starting your family or have been parenting for years, it's never too early or too late to begin the estate planning process.

5. Incorporate Charitable Giving

When you create an estate plan, you have the opportunity to incorporate charitable giving. This enables you to leave a legacy that will benefit your loved ones and the community. Charitable giving is a great way to support causes that are close to your heart and make a positive impact on the world.

Here are a few benefits of charitable giving:

• Fulfill your philanthropic goals - Charitable giving allows you to support the causes you care about most and make a meaningful impact in your community.
• Receive tax benefits - Charitable giving can also provide tax benefits, such as deductions on your income tax return and reduction of estate tax liabilities.
• Leave a legacy - By including charitable giving in your estate plan, you can leave a legacy and make a positive impact that will continue long after you are gone.

At NCHS, we have seen firsthand the positive impact that charitable giving can have on the community. By incorporating charitable giving into your estate plan, you can support the vital work we do and help ensure that Nebraska’s children have access to the resources they need to thrive.

Estate planning for families is an important aspect of life that everyone should seriously consider. By creating an estate plan, you can ensure that you provide for your loved ones, your intentions are clear, and your legacy is lasting. Including charitable giving in your plan benefits the causes and organizations you care about and can also provide tax benefits and create a positive impact that lasts beyond your lifetime.

To learn more about leaving a lasting legacy of supporting families to put children first, contact our team at 402.898.7793 or legacygiving@nchs.org.