Questionnaire help: Estate Planning Goals

People range from wanting reasonable tax efficiency to wanting to pay as little tax as the law allows. If you are anywhere on that range, this goal may fit.

You might choose this if:

• Your estate may be large enough for estate tax. Washington and Oregon tax estates at much lower levels than the federal government.
• You have made, or plan to make, large gifts during your life.
• You want to know whether planning now could reduce taxes later.
• You are open to more complex planning in exchange for lower taxes.

A disability may be permanent or temporary, and physical, cognitive, or related to mental health. Planning can support that person without upsetting their benefits or care. For more, see this article.

You might choose this if:

• A beneficiary has a medical or cognitive condition.
• A beneficiary receives, or may one day receive, government assistance.
• You are concerned about someone’s long-term care needs.
• You want flexibility in how support is provided.

Property left directly to someone can be reached in a divorce, a lawsuit, or by creditors.

You might choose this if:

• You are concerned that a beneficiary’s spouse could gain access to what you leave.
• A beneficiary works in a profession with a high risk of lawsuits.
• You want what you leave to stay protected over time.
• You are unsure whether a beneficiary would protect an inheritance on their own.

This is about support, not judgment. Many people want to help a beneficiary use an inheritance well.

You might choose this if:

• You are unsure how a beneficiary would handle a large inheritance.
• Your beneficiaries have different levels of financial experience or maturity.
• You want to set guidelines for how the money is used.
• You want to avoid tension between siblings who receive their shares differently.

This goal is about your own care and affairs if you can no longer manage them.

You might choose this if:

• You want to be clear about who makes decisions for you.
• You are concerned about the cost of long-term care.
• You have health or aging concerns.
• You want your values respected if you cannot speak for yourself.

Charitable gifts can reflect your values, your legacy, or your gratitude.

You might choose this if:

• Supporting charitable causes is important to you.
• You already give to charity during your life.
• Charitable giving is a family tradition.
• You want flexibility in how charitable gifts are made.

Some families have dynamics that call for a clear structure.

You might choose this if:

• There are strained relationships among family members.
• You are concerned about disputes after your death.
• You want neutral administration or very clear instructions.
• You want to ease the emotional burden on your loved ones.

This goal is about dignity and honoring your values at the end of life.

You might choose this if:

• You have strong feelings about medical treatment or comfort care.
• Cultural or religious beliefs shape your end-of-life decisions.
• You want to make decisions easier for your loved ones.
• You want your wishes clearly written down.

Some people prefer a neutral or professional person to handle their estate.

You might choose this if:

• You do not want to burden family members with the job.
• You want the estate handled impartially.
• Your assets or your family situation are complex.
• You want to lower the chance of conflict.

Pets are often part of the family. For more, see this article.

You might choose this if:

• You want certainty about who will care for your pets.
• You want to avoid last-minute decisions.
• You want to set aside money for their care.

Shown if you have a child under 18. You choose who would raise your children if you cannot.

Shown if you have children. Planning can reach more than one generation, whether or not you have grandchildren yet.

You might choose this if:

• You want grandchildren to benefit, now or later.
• You are interested in education funding or long-term family support.
• You want flexibility in how property passes beyond your children.
• You are thinking about your family legacy, not only the next inheritance.

Shown if you have children. Blended families often need extra planning to balance fairness and expectations.

You might choose this if:

• You have children from more than one relationship.
• You want to support a spouse or partner while saving property for your children.
• You are concerned about how property could shift after a remarriage.
• You want to lower the chance of family conflict.

Shown if you have a child under 26. Once a child turns 18, parents need the child’s own documents to help with their medical or financial matters. For more, see this article.

Shown for married couples and partners planning together. Your spouse or partner may need support managing money after you are gone.

Shown for married couples and partners planning together. You want what you leave to reach your intended beneficiaries even if the survivor remarries.

Shown if you are not married but in a committed relationship. You want to know what happens to property you own together. For more, see this article.

Shown if you are not married but in a committed relationship. Unmarried partners usually need documents to act for each other in a medical or financial emergency. For more, see this article.

Shown if you are widowed. Your late spouse’s plan may give you rights or duties, for example as the beneficiary or trustee of a trust.

Items such as jewelry, art, heirlooms, or collections.

You may want to raise this if:

• You want particular items to go to particular people.
• Some items have financial or sentimental value.
• You are concerned about how belongings will be divided.

Some property needs extra planning, especially when a family wants to keep it.

You may want to raise this if:

• You own a vacation home or shared family property.
• You want a property to stay in the family.
• You are concerned about how several beneficiaries would manage a property together.

Some people prefer to leave a set amount rather than a percentage.

You may want to raise this if:

• You want to give a specific dollar amount to a person or charity.
• You want a simple gift without a trust.
• You want certain people to receive a set amount however large your estate is.

Some property is meant to stay with a particular side of the family.

You may want to raise this if:

• You want property to stay within your bloodline.
• You own property jointly with relatives.
• There are existing agreements about how property must pass.

Some people want certain property to pass to others while a spouse is still living.

You may want to raise this if:

• You have children from a prior relationship.
• You want a business or a particular asset to go directly to someone else.
• You want flexibility in how benefits are shared between a spouse and others.

When several children are involved, family dynamics can matter a great deal.

You may want to raise this if:

• You are unsure whether equal shares feel fair in your situation.
• Your children have very different needs or circumstances.
• You are concerned about conflict between them.
• You want to support long-term family harmony.