Life Stages and Key Milestones That Affect Your Estate Planning Needs
Estate Planning: A Guide Through Life's StagesEstate planning is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. The need for an estate plan can vary depending on your life stage, family situation, and financial circumstances. While it's never too early to start planning, certain life events and stages can serve as crucial reminders to create or update your estate plan. Let's explore when you might need an estate plan based on key milestones in your life.
Life Stages and Your Estate PlanMarriage, starting a family, approaching retirement, the birth of grandchildren and being in retirement are all normal, happy life stages. Each phase, however, has unique implications for your estate planning journey. Each phase can also serve as a reminder to create or update your plan. You can learn more by reviewing our Estate Planning Guide for Every Life Stage.
Specific Circumstances and Estate PlanningThere are other situations that occur in life that should require attention to your estate plan. This could be having a child with special needs, marrying someone who is not a U.S. Citizen, addressing estate planning as an LGBQT+ family, getting a divorce, and more. You can learn more by reviewing our Guide to Specific Estate Planning Circumstances.
Updating Your Estate PlanEstate planning is not a one-and-done process; it's a dynamic strategy that should evolve with your life. It is important to review on a regular basis (every five years or so) to make sure that your plan is still in alignment with your financial situation and goals. For some ideas about what should prompt you to do such a review, visit When to Update Your Estate Plan.
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Emily Smith-Lee is the owner and founder of slnlaw. She is a 1996 graduate of Boston College Law School. She was previously a partner at the Boston office of a large international firm, where she worked for thirteen years before starting the firm that became slnlaw in 2009. She has been recognized as Massachusetts Superlawyer each year since 2013, and in 2018 earned recognition as one of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly's Lawyers of the Year.
Jenna Ordway: Jenna is a 2013 graduate of Quinnipiac Law School, and also earned an LLM in Taxation from Boston University in 2015. She has been affiliated with slnlaw since 2011, first as a law clerk and then as an attorney. Jenna has been recognized since 2019 as a "Rising Star" by Massachusetts Superlawyers. Jenna wrote a book on estate planning: The Road to Peace of Mind: What You Need to Know About Estate Planning. Jenna has helped many individuals and families with planning to protect their legacies and loved ones, and planning for the future and succession of their businesses.
Sharleen Tinnin: Sharleen is a 2010 graduate of Northeastern University School of Law, and earned her LLM in estate planning from Western New England Scool of Law in 2016. She has been with slnlaw since 2023. Prior to joining slnlaw, she worked with King, Tilden, McEttrick & Brink, P.C. on complex civil litigation matters. She previously worked for the United States Department of Justice, and received an "Excellence in Justice" award in 2017. Sharleen has helped many clients with planning for their legacies and their future, and navigating the probate process in Massachusetts after the death of a loved one.
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