When meeting with a Houston estate lawyer, people discuss their financial, legal, and personal concerns and desires, but they often forget to discuss their religious or spiritual desires. If religion is a significant part of your life, it only makes sense to incorporate it into your estate plan.
Where to Find the Information You Need
If you would like to ensure your estate plan upholds your religious preferences, you will first want to provide that information to your Houston estate lawyer. Further, if you have specific desires related to giving to your religious organization, share this with your estate planning lawyer, as well. Setting out your goals in advance will help your attorney incorporate them into the planning process.
Most Common Estate Planning Issues Affected by Religion
Once your lawyer understands you goals, he or she will point out several areas of your plan that may be impacted by your religious beliefs. Here are a few to consider:
Final Arrangements
Burial and funeral arrangements are the most obvious aspect of estate planning that would be influenced by religion. Many religions require certain types of ceremonies or burial locations. To ensure that your wishes are followed, it’s important to include them in your estate plan.
Health and End-of-Life Decisions
Living Wills and Healthcare Directives are also influenced by religious beliefs. Some religions have official positions on life support, blood transfusions, etc. If you want your end-of-life care to align with your religious beliefs, be sure your wishes are properly laid out in your legal documents.
Distribution of Assets
Some religions require you to distribute your estate a certain way. Even if it does not, you may have a desire to leave part or all of your estate to your particular faith community. A qualified estate lawyer can help you create a charitable giving plan that faithfully conforms to your religious beliefs.
Each estate plan is unique. That is why it is important to seek the counsel of a qualified estate planning lawyer to make sure that your plan accomplishes your goals. To set up a consultation today please call the Your Legacy Legal Care at (281) 885-8826.
Kimberly Hegwood is the Managing Attorney of Your Legacy Legal Care, a Houston estate planning law firm. With more than 25 years of experience practicing law in Texas, she represents clients in a wide range of legal matters, including elder law, asset protection, estate planning, Medicaid crisis planning, probate, guardianship, and other estate planning practice areas.
Kimberly received her Juris Doctor from the South Texas College of Law and is a member of the State Bar of Texas.
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