Perhaps the daunting job of assembling an estate plan is simpler for the client if individual tasks are divided into categories such as “must do now” and “do someday later.” At least this is what a recent NY Times article suggests; however, because the “must do now” category includes creating and periodically reviewing a will & any necessary trusts, dealing with beneficiary designation forms for non-probate assets, and pre-designating health-care proxies and guardians, the bulk of the work appears to fall in the “must do now” category.
See Paul Sullivan, Assemble a Paper Trail, and Make Sure Your Heirs Can Follow It, NY Times, March 24, 2010.
Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this to my attention.
