Cost and convenience are often deterrents to completing an estate plan. Consequently, many individuals and couples turn to “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) options.
Plenty of DIY options exist: websites, other online applications, books with CDs, etc. These options are admittedly less expensive; however, you get what you pay for … and that is not much. These options may save you money on the front end; however, for a variety of reasons (discussed below) they often end up costing you more later and/or they fail to accomplish your goals.
10 reasons why DIY estate planning falls short:
- No legal advice. The fine print and warnings typically state that no legal advice is provided. How can you be completing legal documents without any legal advice? An estate planning attorney’s job is to assess your situation, make recommendations, educate you and create a plan that best fits your needs and objectives.
- One size fits all. DIY options are not interactive enough to discover all issues that should be considered. You cannot communicate your goals and wishes with the DIY options. You cannot discuss your family, health and financial situation with the DIY options. The DIY options cannot explain to you what would happen without an estate plan (or with an existing estate plan under current law). And, the DIY options cannot explain your options so that you can choose the best fit for your family’s needs. Consequently, you cannot be sure that the DIY generated estate planning documents achieve all of your objectives.
- What if. DIY options often fail to plan far enough and provide for a back-up guardian, personal representative or trustee.
- Trust distributions. A trust is recommended for the control and maintenance of property left for minor children. With the assistance of an attorney, you can create and structure a trust and distribution terms according to your beliefs and wishes. The possibilities are endless. DIY options are not built to permit flexibility in the trust distribution terms so you often receive a cookie cutter plan.
- Incapacity planning. Estate planning includes planning for incapacity. DIY options often fail to plan for this possibility. This failure can become quite costly should your loved ones later need to go to court to get someone appointed to act on your behalf. Additionally, consider what would happen to your minor children should you become incapacitated.
- Beneficiary designations. Beneficiary designations on life insurance policies and retirement accounts often need to be changed in order to comply with your overall estate planning objectives. DIY options often do not walk through this additional step. Failure to change beneficiary designations can negate any estate planning undertaken.
- Additional children or grandchildren. Many DIY options do not include subsequently born or adopted children. This can cause serious issues for growing families.
- State specific. Estate planning, including incapacity planning, is largely governed by state law. DIY options are generic and therefore may not comply with or include Minnesota specific rules. Additionally, DIY options often do not keep up with changes in state law due to state court opinions and interpretations or regulatory updates.
- Thinking outside the box. DIY options do not plan for what you do not tell them. DIY software can ask questions and books have a question list; however, there is no conversation with an attorney that permits thinking in response to your answers. Therefore, it is very possible that something unique to your situation will be overlooked.
- Tax planning. Tax planning is both a federal and state issue. DIY options do not usually consider both aspects; therefore, you may be missing out on tax savings opportunities.
I am all in favor of DIY projects; however, DIY estate planning is something you should think twice about. Although DIY options purport to be cost effective and to provide “peace of mind,” you may not be getting what you bargain for.
If you insist on doing it yourself, I suggest that you at least invest a little time and money to have an attorney review your documents and provide feedback. It is well worth the investment to be sure your documents say what you want and comply with Minnesota law.
Photo: denovich
