Legal documents retirees need to start their estate plan

Before stepping into retirement, it's essential to take the time to create legal documents that will protect you and your assets now and after you pass. Most people plan to create only a will to distribute their assets, but there are other documents that are necessary to have a complete plan.

Setting up a complete estate plan will help you plan for all eventualities and relax into your new life, whether for you, that means hitting the golf course or packing up the RV.

Why you should make an estate plan now

Retirement is a signal of change. "It is always good to review your estate plan whenever you have major changes to your life, be it a new job, marriage, birth or adoption of a child, retirement, or death in the family," suggests Matthew Erskine. Esq. of The Erskine Company in Worcester, Massachusetts. "This is because some of the assumptions you made when you [initially] drafted and executed your estate plan may now no longer be valid."

Your family may be different, say with added grandchildren or a new spouse. Now that you're retiring, you're also changing how you earn, manage, and spend your assets.

Erksine points out that a new law called the SECURE Act has changed how some retirement plans will be distributed to your heirs after your death, so it's important to work with a financial or legal specialist who can help you understand what will happen with those accounts, as well as how you might want to change your estate plan in response.

Why you need a will

A will is an absolute requirement for estate planning, because, without one, state laws decide which of your relatives get your assets. Steve Weisman, Esq. with Margolis and Bloom in Boston explains, "With the laws of intestacy, your estate may well not go to the people you wish and in the amounts that you wish. A well-prepared will can specify the conditions and circumstances under which people will receive assets. You cannot do this if the estate is passed intestate." A will also allows you to leave gifts to charity, which are not an option under intestacy law.

You'll want to be sure your will meets your state's unique legal requirements so that it is enforceable, which means making sure it is signed and witnessed correctly. A key decision about the will is your executor, the person who will be responsible for getting the will probated and distributing your assets. Select someone who is responsible, and be sure to ask them first.

The benefits of a living trust

While a will and a living trust both lay out how to transfer your assets after you pass, there are some key differences between them. A last will may be easier to set up, but it often needs to go through the court probate process after you're gone. A fully funded living trust should avoid probate, which can save time and money and avoid being part of the public record. But transferring your assets into a trust can take time and require additional paperwork, so be sure to talk to an attorney about whether a trust is right for you.

How to protect your healthcare rights

Staying healthy is probably a huge focus for you right now, so it's smart to get legal documents in place to protect all of your healthcare rights. A healthcare directive is the way to spell out all of your end-of-life healthcare wishes.

Weisman explains that you can also appoint a healthcare proxy (aka healthcare power of attorney) "someone to act on your behalf to make healthcare decisions which may, if you wish, include the ability to terminate treatment, but also include the ability to approve various treatments. You get to choose the person to make the decisions on your behalf and even set certain conditions if you wish."

It's important to talk with the person you choose to be sure they are willing to take on the responsibility and to discuss what your actual wishes are.

How to safeguard your financial affairs

Most people assume that an estate plan has to do with what happens to your assets after you die. While that's an important component, you also want to take steps to make sure that your financial affairs will be protected throughout your lifetime.

Weisman explains that a durable power of attorney "allows you to appoint someone to make financial decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated. If you do become incapacitated and do not have a durable power of attorney, the courts may have to appoint someone as your conservator to make financial decisions on your behalf." You definitely want to have control over who will manage your finances, so a power of attorney is a must.

The person you choose will be able to manage your bills, investments, real estate, business, and even make gifts on your behalf. It's a huge responsibility, so you'll want to choose someone you trust who understands your wishes.

Doing the necessary legal work now will mean that your retirement years can involve less worry and more time to enjoy the people and things that you love.