[TheJames]

How many here have made estate planning an important part of their retirement planning? It amazes me how many people fail to plan for what will happen to their money and belongings after they die. Too many people leave it up to chance, and unfortunately leave a mess and unnecessary expense for their loved ones.

[homebase]

My mother was embroiled in a very lengthy and expensive legal battle with my step-brothers after my step-father died without a will. In the end the legal fees were over $65,000, and my step-brothers walked away with a lot less than they would have gotten had they just took what they were legally allowed to have by law instead of fighting for more. A will or trust would have prevented a legal battle and the horrible waste of money that resulted.

[jason]

Already done, shortly after getting married. We know who gets what, how and why depending on our age and the children's age. We used a lawyer to do all the paperwork, well worth the money. They gave us three or four copies. They kept a copy for free for us too.

[TheJames]

That is exactly how it should be Jason. As homebase mentioned, things can go wrong really fast when there isn't a concrete plan in place. Money does crazy things to people. I started this thread because I'm a police officer. I was sent to a call of a fight at a funeral home. The family was fighting (physically, no less) about money and belongings and Mom was still in the casket a few feet away. It was disgraceful.