Why You Need to Have a Will and Estate Plan in Place at a Younger Age

Estate planning is something most people associate with retirement or old age, but the reality is, that having a will and estate plan in place at a younger age is just as important—if not more so. Life is unpredictable, and while it may seem like something to worry about down the road, planning for the future early can bring peace of mind and protect your loved ones from unnecessary stress.

Here’s why setting up a will and estate plan while you’re young is crucial.

1. Protect Your Loved Ones

If you pass away without a Will or an estate plan in place, state laws will determine how your assets are distributed. These laws may not reflect your wishes, and the process can be messy and lengthy. At a young age, you might have a partner, children, or even pets who rely on you. Creating an estate plan ensures that you can designate who will care for them, how your assets are divided, and avoid putting your loved ones through a legal battle.

2. You Have More Assets Than You Think

Even in your younger years, you may have accumulated significant assets—whether it’s a home, savings, investments, or valuable possessions. A Will allows you to control how those assets are distributed. Without one, these possessions could end up in the wrong hands or get stuck in legal limbo. Estate planning ensures your hard-earned assets go to the people or causes that matter most to you.

3. Avoid the Probate Process

When someone dies without a Will, their estate must go through probate, a court process that can be time-consuming and costly. Probate can be particularly challenging when no clear instructions are left for asset distribution. By having a Will, you can bypass or minimize the probate process, making things easier for your family. An estate plan can include trusts that can further streamline the distribution of your assets without the need for probate.

4. Incapacity Planning

Estate planning isn’t just about death; it’s also about preparing for the unexpected. Accidents, illnesses, or injuries can leave you incapacitated and unable to make decisions for yourself. A well-crafted estate plan includes powers of attorney for health care and financial matters. These documents will appoint trusted individuals to act on your behalf, ensuring your wishes are honored if you can’t communicate them yourself.

5. Clarify Your Healthcare Wishes

A young person’s estate plan often includes medical directives, such as a Living Will and a durable power of attorney for health care. These documents outline your preferences for medical care if you become seriously ill or incapacitated. It’s essential to have these decisions made in advance, as medical emergencies can happen unexpectedly. Without clear instructions, your loved ones may face difficult decisions during stressful times.

6. Plan for Your Children or Dependents

If you are a parent or caretaker, having a Will in place allows you to designate guardians for your children or dependents in case something happens to you. This is one of the most important aspects of estate planning for young families. Without a plan, the court may decide who takes care of your children, and it might not be who you would have chosen.

7. Ensure Financial Security for Your Future

Having a will and estate plan is also an opportunity to think about your long-term financial goals. It encourages you to take stock of your current financial situation and plan for future growth, including retirement planning, life insurance, and tax strategies. A well-designed estate plan can help minimize taxes on your estate, ensuring that more of your wealth stays in the hands of your beneficiaries.

8. Establish Your Legacy

Estate planning is not just about protecting assets; it’s about creating a legacy. Whether you have charitable causes you care about, a family business to pass on, or specific instructions for how you want to be remembered, a will and estate plan provides a way to leave a lasting impact. It helps ensure that your values and intentions are preserved for future generations.

9. Peace of Mind

Life is unpredictable. Whether you’re in your 20s or 30s, you likely have a lot to look forward to—but also face risks and challenges. Setting up a Will and estate plan at a younger age can give you peace of mind knowing that your wishes are documented, your loved ones are protected, and your financial future is secure. It also removes the burden from your family, who would otherwise need to make tough decisions and allow them to grieve their loss.

10. Cost-Effective When Done Early

While hiring an attorney to create a comprehensive estate plan may seem like an upfront expense, it’s far less costly than having to deal with probate or legal battles down the line. Creating an estate plan when you’re young may also be less complex, making it more affordable. Many estate planning services offer packages tailored for younger individuals with basic needs.

How McGrath Law Firm Can Help

Planning for the future can be a complex process, and having the right legal guidance is essential to ensure that everything is in place. McGrath Law Firm specializes in estate planning and will help you create a personalized strategy that meets your needs and protects your loved ones. Whether you’re looking to set up a Will, trust, or healthcare directives, McGrath Law Firm’s experienced attorneys will work with you every step of the way to make sure your estate plan reflects your wishes and provides peace of mind for you and your family.

Conclusion

Estate planning isn’t just for the elderly or wealthy—it’s for everyone, regardless of age or financial situation. Creating a Will and estate plan early in life can protect your loved ones, ensure your wishes are honored, and give you peace of mind. Don’t wait until you’re older or facing an unexpected crisis. Start planning for your future today, and make sure your loved ones are cared for no matter what life throws your way.

If you’re unsure where to begin, consult with the professionals at McGrath Law Firm. Their team of experienced estate planning attorneys can help you navigate the process and create a personalized plan that works for you. The earlier you start, the better prepared you’ll be for the future.

These cases and legal matters appeared in the Concord Monitor

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Throughout the career of Attorney McGrath he has been recognized by various professionals in the legal field.

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DOVER – A civil suit was filed in Strafford County Court Tuesday on behalf of the family of Benjamin Shannon alleging his shooting death by three law enforcement officers on March 10 in Rochester was the result of negligence and improper police procedures.

In an emotional news conference at the Comfort Inn in Dover Tuesday afternoon, Shannon’s mother, Beverly, and his older brother, Wayne Shannon, Jr., described Shannon as a troubled young man at the time of his death. They said he was dealing with both drug and alcohol issues, in addition to being agoraphobic (a fear of crowds), at the time of the shooting.

Having difficulty holding back tears, and having to pause frequently to compose themselves, his mother an_d brother described Benjamin as having been a happy-go-lucky guy who used to enjoy the simple things in life such as camping, fishing, his dog, his family and, in particular, the sport of boxing.

But on Tuesday, Shannon’s mother recalled seeing her son being wheeled out of the house on a stretcher.
She said, “He was crying out, ‘I have been shot, help me.’ Those were the last words I heard him say. It hurts me so much that police would not let me leave my van (where police placed her during the incident) to go to him to at least look into his eyes and have him understand his mother was with him.”

Shannon was taken after the shooting to Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester where a medi-vac helicopter transported him to Maine Medical Center in Portland. He died there shortly after midnight.
Through their attorney, Peter G. McGrath of McGrath Law Firm in Concord, Beverly and Wayne Shannon said they hoped the resolution of the case would provide enough money to set up a program to help young people with alcohol and drug problems and to create sports programs dedicated to Ben Shannon.
McGrath said the lawsuit was filed against both the Strafford County Sheriffs Department and the Strafford County Probation Department.

He said the suit alleges four primary allegations against those departments: negligence, wrongful death, negligent supervision and violation of civil rights that led to the shooting and death of Shannon, 34. The suit also alleges negligence of infliction of emotional distress on Shannon’s mother and family.

According to McGrath, two probation officers and one Strafford County deputy sheriff went to Shannon’s mother’s home on Periwinkle Drive in the Saks Mobile Home Park in Rochester around 3 p.m. on March 10. It was there, his filing recounts, that they failed to follow what are generally accepted as safety standard for police officers. The suit alleges the officers failed to follow routine protocols that should have been followed in such a confrontation.

McGrath, a former prosecuting attorney, said proper procedure in this type of situation is for police to back off when confronted as they were, contact a supervisor and call for backup.

McGrath recounted the officers came to Beverly Shannon’s house and told her they were looking for Wayne Shannon. She told them he was not there, but she let the officers in the house and they proceeded down a hallway where they “observed Benjamin in a room and shouted, ‘Somebody in there? Come out. ‘”
Wayne Shannon told reporters at the news conference he did not understand why anyone would be looking for him because his parole officer knew he was in Vermont at a rehab hospital at the time.
According to the filings detailing the incident, a shouting match erupted between the officers and Ben Shannon while they were in the hallway.

Reports are that Shannon told police to back off and police responded by saying, “Ben, you don’t want to do this.” Shots were fired shortly afterward.

One officer went back down the hallway and took Beverly Shannon and a girlfriend who was visiting Ben Shannon out of the home and put them in Beverly’s van.

McGrath said it still isn’t known which officers did the shooting or what caused the shooting to begin. But he said one bullet fired through a bathroom door apparently struck Shannon, who was in a crouching position.

He said two officers then went into a room and through another door to come up behind Shannon, where they fired at least three or more shots at him. Three bullets passed through the wall of mobile home. Whether four or five shots were fired is a matter of contention, McGrath said.

Shannon was reported to have been struck by at least three bullets, but McGrath said the number that struck him has not been confirmed. McGrath said Shannon was not known to be violent and was not armed when he was shot.

“They had no search warrant and no reason to exert deadly force,” McGrath said. He later clarified that police did not need a search warrant as they were at the house regarding a parole violation.

Earlier reports noted Ben Shannon was recently charged with robbery of a Rochester variety store while armed with a pellet gun. He was out on bail on charges related to that incident but had failed to keep appointments with parole officers.

Although he said it seemed inappropriate to discuss it in detail at this time, McGrath said it is just a fact that the family has significant medical bills and funeral expenses as a result of death of Shannon.
He said the Attorney General’s report on their investigation is still probably weeks away and that the state has requested Ben Shannon’s medical records from the family that he does not believe they are entitled too.

“Regardless of the conclusions of the AG’s investigative report,” McGrath said, “we will go forward with this suit.”