When the summer months hit, everyone's thoughts typically turn towards vacations and outdoor fun. Before you hit the beach, you may want to put a plan in place for your estate. You never know what's around the next corner and, if you don't plan for the future, you're leaving your family without direction.

Decide Who Will Receive Your Assets
If you don't take the time to make out a will or a trust, your assets will likely be divided up through a court proceeding. This means you may be leaving your family with a messy legal battle, just as they're grieving your loss. More importantly, it will mean you'll have no control or say over who gets your assets.

Provide for the Future of Your Minor Children
If you have minor children, you may want to establish who will get custody of them upon your death. If you fail to do this, the state may make the determination for you. While the court may try to choose family members to care for the children, they also have the right to appoint guardians who are not relatives. Working with an estate planning lawyer in Portland can help you make the best arrangements for your children.

You Can Choose Your Executor
The executor, or Personal Representative, administers the terms of the will and attends to matters of probate. This ensures settling credit card accounts and other debts, paying off taxes owed, and notifying businesses of your passing. All of this must be taken care of, before the remainder of your assets can be distributed to your heirs. This is why it's important to select someone you trust and who is organized and will act responsibly.

Without having a will or trust in place, you can leave your surviving loved ones with a financial and legal mess. They may be ill-prepared to handle the situation, and this can leave your estate in probate for a much longer period. By working with an experienced Portland estate planning attorney, such as Kali Kali Yost Law, you can ensure your family will be taken care of in your absence. They will have a legal advocate to answer their questions and help them deal with the legalities of probate, after your passing. By taking care of this now, you can spend the rest of your summer with your family and have fun, knowing that you have prepared for the future.