A Plan Made With Love
Taking care of your heart extends far beyond regular check-ups and healthy habits; it means caring for the people who matter most: your loved ones. February is Heart Health Month, and if you want to ensure your family’s best interests stay close to heart, it’s an opportunity to protect them in your estate plan. From health care proxies to naming guardians, taking these steps with your plan is a lasting way to show your love and support. Prevent decision-making stress. One of the first safety instructions you receive on a flight is to put on your own oxygen mask first before helping others. The same principle applies to your estate plan. An advance directive allows you to specify your medical preferences should something happen to you. This protects your well- being and also reduces emotional burden and stress for your family. You can appoint a health care proxy, a person who will be responsible for making critical decisions about your health care if you cannot. Having a clear plan in place spares your loved ones from confusion and the worry about making difficult choices for you that may not align with your wishes. Ensure children’s future security. If you have children, they are at the heart of everything you do, and you can provide more for them than just assets. You should name a guardian in your estate plan, a person you trust to love and care for your minor children if you should pass away or become incapacitated. Without this, the court would have to make that choice for you, and it might not be the person you want to watch over your kids. By appointing someone you know will raise your children in accordance with your wishes, you set them up for a happy, healthy life. As you review your estate plan, you can safeguard your family in many ways. Just as you have to prioritize taking care of your physical health to keep your heart strong, you also have to make healthy choices for your estate plan. Let your heart guide you and your estate plan protect what matters most.
KEEPING YOUR FAMILY’S BEST INTERESTS AT HEART
Contact us at The Manely Firm to ensure your estate plan aligns with your family’s needs now and in the future.
Is Your Love Legally Protected? VALENTINE’S DAY REALITY CHECK
Valentine’s Day is all about love, commitment, and big feelings, but it’s also a good moment for a little reality check, especially for new couples. When relationships grow serious, love doesn’t disappear just because conversations about legal protections come up. The truth is that tools like prenuptial or cohabitation agreements can actually strengthen your bonds and ensure both partners are secure and safe.
you owns significant assets, such as a home or family business, these legal agreements can ensure they remain separate property, preventing potential disputes later on. It’s also a way to care for one another in the event of the unexpected, spelling out what will happen financially if someone becomes ill or can no longer work. Together, you can keep things fair as you decide what finances you will share, manage separately, and the boundaries you mutually agree upon for debts or investments.
2 Agreements, Different Timing Prenups and cohabitation agreements provide many of the same benefits and protections for couples. The key difference is that a prenup is for couples who are about to get married, and the cohabitation agreement is for unwed couples in long-term relationships. Both provide a plan for assets, shared responsibilities, and other familial and financial issues. A cohabitation agreement can also help grant some of the legal protections married couples receive automatically, like health insurance coverage or health care directives. Existing Assets, Clear Protection One of the main reasons to consider a prenup or cohabitation agreement is to protect both of your assets and finances. If one of
Kids’ Interests, Front and Center If you or your partner have children, a legal agreement can define parental responsibilities and protect your children’s future inheritances. You can specify what portion of your estate will go to them in the future and what would happen in the case of a separation or death. Although child support and child custody are determined through separate processes, based on the child’s best interests at the time, prenuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements protect their financial interests and establish financial rules. If you’re ready to have these loving, important conversations, The Manely Firm is here to help guide you. Contact us for a consultation today.
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