As the saying goes around this office, “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Michael Wild in a baby carriage!”

While estate planning might not seem romantic, and you probably don’t usually finish that rhyme with Michael Wild, there is something to be said for estate planning as a romantic gesture. It certainly indicates a lot of commitment to your spouse, family, and the people who mean the most to you. No Valentine? No problem. Estate planning is still vitally important for you, even if you’re a bachelor or bachelorette.

Estate Planning & Marriage

If you’re getting married or are currently married, you should definitely be creating or updating your estate plan. An estate plan decides where your assets will be transferred when you die. Here are some things to consider when including your spouse in your future.

  • Marital property. Marital property is jointly owned between you and your spouse. It is property that you purchased using marital assets. You and your spouse will have to decide where you want it to go in the event of your death. Because it is marital property, it needs to be a decision made that involves the two of you.
  • If you die, you will probably want to make your spouse a beneficiary of at least some of your assets. In an estate plan, you can specify your spouse as the beneficiary through a living trust, which sets up a three-party relationship whereby the trustee grants your spouse the assets upon your death. You can also make your spouse the trustee for your children, who you can make beneficiaries.
  • Decision-making in emergencies. An advance directive allows you to delineate the healthcare choices you want in case you sink into a coma or are otherwise too incapacitated to make these decisions. You can also name your spouse as a decisionmaker, if you choose. You can name them Power of Attorney, which gives them the authority to make financial decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make them yourself.
  • Money is pretty romantic, and the tax cuts that estate planning can get you and your spouse will be pretty significant, particularly since the estate tax will soon be dissipating in a few years’ time.

Don’t Forget the Kids

Your “baby carriage” probably won’t have Michael Wild in it, but he definitely can help you figure out how to best take care of your kids via estate planning. If you have minor children, you definitely need to make sure that you assign guardianship to them in the event of your death. You can also put aside money for your kids’ colleges and name them as beneficiaries or your Power of Attorney. Your children will benefit highly from your estate plan.

No Kids, No Spouse, No Problem

If you’re single and childless, you should still have an estate plan. You likely have assets and property and, if you die, you don’t want to drag your relatives through probate court. Estate planning can divide up your property and transfer it quickly, with as little hassle as possible.

This Valentine’s Day, show your loved ones commitment and care by creating an estate plan or updating a currently existing one. No matter what your status in life, everyone can benefit from estate planning.