Not all of your children or grandchildren will pick great spouses.
You just heard the news.
Your granddaughter is engaged.
There is a ring and pictures and wedding planning.
According to a recent Wills, Trusts & Estate Prof Blog post titled "They're Engaged!...Top 5 Financial Considerations Before the Wedding, " you should also work on your estate planning.
Why?
Divorce.
If this marriage were to end in divorce, you would not want the ex-spouse to receive your assets.
You may want to talk with a divorce lawyer in the state of residence of your grandchild.
You should work with your estate planning attorney to create a plan to protect your assets should the marriage of your grandchild go south.
So, how do you find an "experienced" estate planning attorney?
First, ask around. Friends, family and other professional advisors are trustworthy sources.
Second, conduct an "organic" search on "Google" for "estate planning" near you (e.g., "Estate Planning Anytown MoKan").
Third, either way, verify! Check out the education, experience, ratings and client reviews of any attorney before you contact him or her.
How?
Two helpful online resources are just a mouse click away to assist with your due diligence: Avvo.com and Lawyers.com.
Check any Avvo ratings, client ratings/testimonials and attorney endorsements on Avvo.com and any "peer ratings" by judges/other attorneys and any client ratings/testimonials on Lawyers.com.
In fact, I use both of these services to thoroughly vett attorneys before referring members of our "client" family for legal help in other areas of law or for matters in jurisdictions outside Kansas or Missouri.
Remember: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When making your financial, tax and estate plans, do not go it alone. Be sure to engage competent professional counsel.
Reference: Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog (July 27, 2017) "They're Engaged!...Top 5 Financial Considerations Before the Wedding."
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