Oklahoma Estate Planning Myths: I am too young for an estate plan

From the series Oklahoma Planning Myths . . .

MYTH: I am too young for an estate plan.

FACT: This is only true if everyone knew the exact time when they would die or become incapacitated. In an estate plan, you make decisions that protect your family regardless of your age:

1. Everyone needs to have a health care power of attorney in place to enable someone to make health care decisions for them in the event they become incapacitated, as well as financial decisions. This is almost purely an action you take for your family because it will be your family members who are faced with the tough decisions if you are incapacitated and unable to make the decisions.

2. You can nominate the guardians for your minor children to ensure that the people you want to care for your children are most likely to be appointed as guardians.

3. You can choose the people that will administer your estate.

4. You can decide how to transfer your property so as to best protect your family.

For other information on estate planning, including a podcast called “Estate Planning Demystified” check out my Oklahoma Estate Planning page.

Posted by Shawn Roberts

On this blog, I write about and try to answer practical Oklahoma legal questions. My focus and most experience is in estate planning and business issues including Oklahoma non-compete law. I make a living as an attorney in the law firm I founded, Shawn J. Roberts, P.C. in Oklahoma City. I live in Edmond with my wife Amy and my two children, Sam (19) and David (11). We live precisely in the path of where the "wind comes sweeping down the plains."