How Is Estate Planning Different for Couples Without Children?

Estate planning too often focuses on couples with children who wish to decide how and when to pass down an inheritance to future generations. Consequently, couples without children often believe that estate planning is not equally important for them. Nothing could be farther from the truth. As the Knoxville estate planning attorneys at Stivers Law explain, estate planning may be different – but still essential – for couples without children.

The Changing Nature of Marriage in America

Data published from numerous studies, including one by the Institute for Family Studies (IFS), indicate that more and more couples are reaching their retirement years without children. While some of these childless couples could not have children, a growing number are choosing not to have children. Regardless of why you do not have children, the fact that you are part of a childless couple has important estate planning implications.

Do I Need an Estate Plan If I Don’t Have Children?

I am frequently asked this question, due in large part (I believe) to the emphasis placed on the benefits of estate planning for parents wishing to pass down an inheritance to children and/or grandchildren. The simple answer to “Do I need an estate plan if I don’t have children?” is “yes!” There are multiple reasons why you still need a comprehensive estate plan as a childless couple, including:

• Avoiding intestate succession. If you die without a Will or trust, your estate assets are distributed using the state’s intestate succession laws. If your spouse survives you, your spouse will inherit everything; however, that does not mean you do not need an estate plan! On the contrary, it increases your need for a plan because upon the death of the surviving spouse the remaining assets must be passed down using the intestate succession rules in the absence of a Will or trust. That means your parents, siblings, or more distant relatives will inherit your assets – a result with which you may not agree.
• Incapacity planning. While your spouse is alive and capable, he/she will be allowed to make medical decisions for you and/or control most assets if you become incapacitated. If you survive your spouse, or your spouse is also incapacitated, someone else must make those decisions and/or take control of your assets. To ensure that the “someone” is someone of your choosing you need an estate plan in place.
• Estate administration. Once again, your spouse might be the logical (and legal) choice to administer your estate if you die; however, if your spouse predeceases you or is unable to act as your Executor, the court could appoint anyone to fulfill that role. To make sure someone of your choosing oversees the administration of your estate you need to have at least a basic Will or trust agreement in place.

What Should Be in My Estate Plan?

Working with an experienced estate planning attorney ensures that the plan you create is uniquely tailored to your needs; however, there are some common components found in the estate plans of most childless couples, such as:

• Will or Trust. Creating a Last Will and Testament or trust agreement avoids leaving behind an intestate estate and ensures that someone of your choosing oversees the administration of your estate.
• Charitable gifting. Many childless couples want to give some or all of their assets to charity when they die. You must have an estate plan in place with the appropriate tools to make sure this happens. Moreover, there are numerous advantages to making charitable gifts while you are still alive instead of waiting until your death.
• Advanced directives. Executing the appropriate advance directive is the only way to ensure that you get to choose who will make healthcare decisions for you if your spouse is no longer alive or is otherwise unable to make them.
• Power of Attorney. If someone needs to take control of your assets while you are alive and your spouse is not an option, you do not want a court to decide who that person will be. A Power of Attorney lets you give someone of your choosing that authority.

Contact Knoxville Estate Planning Attorneys

For more information, please join us for an upcoming FREE webinar. If you have additional questions or concerns about estate planning, contact the experienced Knoxville estate planning attorneys at Stivers Law by calling (305) 456-3255 to schedule an appointment.

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How Estate Planning Can Protect Unmarried Couples If You Have Young Children Estate Planning Is Important If I’m Single Without Children, Why Do I Need an Estate Plan?