One important aspect of planning for death is creating an estate plan. A well-crafted estate plan is one of the most important steps that you can take to ensure your loved ones are taken care of after you die. Several things need to be included in an estate plan, and an experienced estate planning attorney can help you make sure that everything is covered. Here are a few of the most crucial estate planning services that an estate planning attorney can help with. 

1. Financial Directives

Financial directives guide how your finances should be managed if you become incapacitated or pass away. This can include things like authorizing someone to access your bank accounts, pay your bills, and make investment decisions on your behalf. An experienced estate planning attorney can help you to create a comprehensive financial plan that takes into account your unique circumstances and objectives. For example, if you have young children, you may want to designate a guardian to manage their inheritance until they reach adulthood. Or, if you have a complex financial situation, you may need to set up trusts to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes.

2. Medical Directives

Medical directives, also known as advance medical directives, provide instructions on the kind of medical treatment you do or do not want to receive if you are unable to communicate your wishes yourself. This can include things like whether you want to be resuscitated, what kind of life-sustaining treatments you do or do not want to receive, and organ donation. An attorney can help you to understand the different types of medical directives and come up with a plan that meets your needs.

3. End-of-Life Planning

End-of-life planning involves making decisions about what will happen at the end of your life. This can include things like funeral arrangements, cremation versus burial, and whether you want to be buried or have your ashes scattered.

4. Estate Taxes

Estate taxes can have a significant impact on the amount of money your loved ones will inherit after you die. There are a variety of strategies that can be used to minimize the tax liability of your estate, and an attorney can help you choose the best option for your particular situation. They can help you with things like taking advantage of tax breaks and other strategies, such as setting up trusts.

If you don't have an estate plan in place, now is the time to get one created. Contact a local estate planning attorney today to get started with these estate planning services.