Kelly Erb, the “Tax Girl” columnist for Forbes, recently reminded us that IRS tax season opened officially on January 31st. Many of us know IRS taxes are due on April 15, and those of us who need to know also keep a mental (or written calendar) notated with other due dates for corporate taxes, quarterly taxes, and so on. So I’m thinking, while we all have tax stuff on our minds, let’s also declare this time of year to be “Estate Planning Season.”
Think about it. There’s really no bad time to consider, or act on, your decisions regarding estate and asset manners. If you are married, if you have children, if you have strong charitable inclinations, all these things can – and should – spur you to action toward creating legally valid documents. That includes wills, trusts, and guardianship designations.
I say this not just because I am an estate planning attorney, but because I believe it makes good sense. Spring is a season of renewal. So I think the coming weeks would be a great time to start something new, like redoing our will, or re-examining the terms of a trust. If important matters like these are on your mind, why not let me add my experience to your spring “to do” list and help you create or revise your estate plan. At least, I think it would be valuable to go over things and be sure all your plans and documents are up-to-date and comprehensive.
Even if you just have questions about any aspect of estate planning, I hope you’ll give me a call to discuss them and how they may affect you in the present and future. Call me at your convenience – I can be reached at 818.956.9200.
