People without children often believe that they don’t need a solid estate plan. However, non-parenting couples and individuals should still work closely with an attorney to map out the distribution of their assets. Here are a few estate planning tips for people without children.

Estate Planning Best Practices for Households Without Children

1. Make Sure You Have a Will

If you pass away without a will, your assets will be distributed to family members according to state laws. If you don’t have children to automatically inherit your estate, this can cause conflict and confusion among your loved ones, as these laws follow a formula and don’t take personal relationships into account. A will is the only way to ensure that specific family members receive what you want them to and to avoid potential drama among your family after you’re gone.

2. Use a Power of Attorney

Estate planning is about more than dividing assets among family members. It also provides you with an opportunity to put someone in charge of making decisions for you if you become incapacitated due to illness or an accident. With this document, called a power of attorney (POA), you can legally appoint someone to make financial, medical, and other important life decisions on your behalf. Without a POA, this job will be assigned to someone by the court.

3. Make Charitable Donations

According to a 2019 survey by Caring.com, 24 percent of people who don’t have a will say it’s because they believe they don’t have enough assets to leave. Five percent think they don’t have anyone appropriate to which to leave their assets. If you fall into one of these categories, consider leaving what you have to a charity. There are several types of trusts you can use to leave assets to a charity — an estate planning attorney can help you determine which is most appropriate for your circumstances.

If you need help putting together an estate plan, the attorneys at Renzullo & Associates Law in Winsted, CT, are eager to help. For more than 40 years, this law office has been helping clients throughout the state effectively handle complicated will and probate matters. The firm is also experienced in civil and appellate litigation, family law, criminal defense, real estate issues, and more. Visit their website to learn more about their practice areas, or call (860) 379-9885 to speak with a knowledgeable attorney today.