The NBA Finals are here and alas! All good things must come to an end. Now, we’re not trying to start an argument on who’s going to win (though that could be a conversation lasting hours), but I think we can all agree that the NBA season coming to an end is a sad moment for some basketball fans. Next up is football season, as well as the closeout of baseball season. 

While the NBA Finals’ coming to an end might just mean that you have to wait around for next season, that doesn’t mean that is the case with everything else. Make sure you’re prepared for the next “season” of your life through careful estate planning. 

New Family Members 

New family members are exciting! Whether it’s a new baby being born or a new relative by marriage, you will want your estate plan to reflect these new family members you love and care about. If you want your new granddaughter or in-law to get part of your estate, make sure you contact an estate planner and update as soon as possible. That way, you will ensure that your estate plan reflects your true wishes.

Thinking About Your Kids’ College

College is essential to getting a job these days. This doesn’t mean just a four-year program. Higher education comes in many forms, including learning a valuable trade or attending a two-year program to get your associates degree. Whichever form your kids choose, it will likely cost at least some amount of money. Starting a tax-advantaged 529 plan is an excellent way to prepare for the future (and get some IRS breaks for doing so!).

Speaking of Kids…

If you have young children, you will want to put in a guardianship plan for them in the event that something happens to you and your spouse. That way, your kids are well-taken-care-of in the worst scenario. No, it’s not an easy thing to think about or even consider, but it is vital to prepare for even the remotest possibility. Choose a guardian you know will take care of your kids’ day to day needs. Consult with that proposed guardian to ensure that you are on the same page.

Preparing for Sickness

If you get sick, you probably have some instructions in mind for the doctors. Maybe you want a certain medication or to avoid a certain procedure. These instructions are important and personal. They need to be codified in a piece of writing and/or entrusted to a POA (Power of Attorney) to make sure your wishes are honored. Doctors and nurses are almost always responsible people, but they won’t know what you want unless you tell them, and you might be too sick to do so. A healthcare directive and plan for this worst-case event will serve as a safeguard for you.

And Everything Else, Too

There is a ton of stuff that goes into an estate plan, and there’s no way to cover everything in such a short article. It really comes down to who and what are important in your life. And then, once you have that list, estate planning is about protecting these people and assets for the future. The future is always going to be uncertain, but you should still make an effort to prepare for every eventuality. As famous author Stephen King once said, “Everything’s eventual.”

All good things come to an end, but there are ways to prepare. You might be entering one of the next “seasons” of your life above, whether new members of the family are coming in or leaving the nest. It always helps to have a game plan and be one step ahead. By careful estate planning and contacting an estate planning attorney, you can make sure you get the process right.