With the new year upon us there’s no better time than now to think about your future. Everyone wants to know that their legacy is secured for their family and that their health care will be managed well in their later years, but how many of us have actually taken steps to make sure this happens?

The numbers are depressing. A recent study from Caring.com showed that, just as the year before and the one before that, only about one-third of Americans have an estate plan. In the Orthodox community we know that there’s an imperative not only to have an estate plan, but to create one that is halachically valid while still achieving your goals. The new year is a great time to start taking action on planning your estate.

My Family Will Take Care of It

We hear this response quite often, and of course our families are there to help us as we age and to wrap up our affairs when we pass away, but estate planning isn’t about removing your family from the equation, it’s about giving them the help and guidance they need to follow your wishes.

We’ve discussed this in past articles, but it’s worth repeating. A good estate plan is not just about asset distribution, it will contain several documents that each serve a different purpose:

Last Will and/or Living Trust. This document explains how you want your wealth distributed when you pass away, as well as names people in your life to serve in important roles in wrapping up your affairs.

Power of Attorney. These documents authorize someone to act on your behalf, whether that means making financial decisions or discussing treatment options with your medical team.

Living Will. This document describes your preferences for treatment and lays out all halachic requirements in this regard.

In addition to these fundamental documents, a good estate plan will contain some ancillary documents such as guardianship paperwork and HIPAA authorization. When it’s all complete, you’ll be able to rest assured that no matter what the future brings, you and your family are prepared.

How can Rosenblum Law help? At Rosenblum Law it’s our mission to help you get your halachic estate plan completed. To that effect we have worked tirelessly to develop a process that is convenient and straightforward for our clients. We’ll guide you every step of the way and be there to answer any questions and design an estate plan that meets all of your needs, all for an affordable, flat fee.

*New Year Special* Call or email us to book your consultation during the month of September and we’ll provide you with a $100 discount on any estate plan we create on your behalf.

Rabbi Adam (Chananya) Rosenblum, Esq. is the founding attorney and principal of Rosenblum Law, which has provided over two decades of legal service to the community at large.

In addition to serving as principal of Rosenblum Law, he is involved in a number of volunteer and charitable endeavors, including mentorship, giving weekly Torah classes and running educational trips for Jewish outreach organizations.