• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
  • Services
    • Asset Protection & Business Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration & Probate
  • Elder Law
    • Coping With Alzheimer’s
    • Emergency Medicaid & Nursing Home Planning
    • Guardianship & Conservatorship
    • Hospice Care
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Veterans Benefits
  • Seminars
  • Areas We Serve
    • Ballwin
    • Chesterfield
    • Clayton
    • Creve Couer
    • Des Peres
    • Edwardsville
    • Fenton
    • Glen Carbon
    • Glendale
    • Kirkwood
    • Maryland Heights
    • Oakland
    • Sappington
    • St. Louis
    • Sunset Hills
    • Valley Park
    • Webster Groves
  • Resources
    • Asset Protection Worksheet
    • Elder Law Resources
      • Chesterfield Elder Law
      • Fenton Elder Law
      • Kirkwood Elder Law
      • Sunset Hills Elder Law
      • St. Louis Elder Law
      • St. Peters Elder Law
      • Webster Groves Elder Law
    • FREE Estate Planning Seminars
    • FREE Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Estate Planning
      • Families Without an Estate Plan
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Trust Administration & Probate
    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
    • Medicaid Resources
    • Multimedia
    • Newsletters
    • Presentations
    • Pre Consultation Form
    • Probate Checklist
    • Probate Resources
    • Retirement Planning Checklist
    • Special Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning For Niches
      • Trust Administration
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Amen, Gantner & Capriano | Your Estate Matters, L.L.C.

St. Louis Estate Planning & Elder Law Attorneys

Logo
CONNECT WITH US TODAY (314) 966-8077
ATTEND A FREE WEBINAR
Home / Estate Planning / Estate Planning Mistakes You Can Easily Avoid

Estate Planning Mistakes You Can Easily Avoid

April 12, 2013

Estate Planning Tagged With: Estate planning mistakes

Over half of all Americans do not have an estate plan. If you have finally decide not to be one of them, and are prepared to finally create your own estate plan, make sure that you avoid some common mistakes.

As tempting as it may be, do not rely on “do-it-yourself” estate planning forms. This is not the area of your budget where you want to choose saving money over substance. More importantly, in the long run, using generic forms may cost your loved ones considerably more than you saved by using them. Even a simple mistake in your estate plan could invalidate the entire plan and your beneficiaries will pay the price in the long run.

As you create your estate plan, take the time to understand the difference in property ownership laws. Jointly owned property, for example, can be owned in more than one way. The exact words that are used on the ownership document will determine what happens to the property after your death. It could transfer directly to the co-owner, or could become part of your probate estate

Be sure to include tax and probate avoidance in your planning. Remember that every dollar you save in taxes is a dollar that will go to your beneficiaries. Likewise, the more assets that you can keep out of probate, the less probate will cost and the more your loved ones will receive.

Last, but not least, be sure to review and revise your plan on a regular basis. Changes in the law or important life events may warrant a corresponding change to your estate plan.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Paul Gantner
Latest posts by Paul Gantner (see all)
  • Staying Current is Especially Important in the Pandemic - November 17, 2020
  • Staying Current is Especially Important in the Pandemic - October 1, 2020
  • How Will You Age in Place and Be Able to Die at Home? - August 16, 2020

Filed Under: Estate Planning Tagged With: Estate planning mistakes

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Updating Your Plan: Powers of Attorney
Updating Your Plan: Your Trust or Will
Tax Planning for 2021
Updating Your Plan: Beneficiary Designations
What the 2020 Election Could Mean for Your Estate Plan
Preparing for the Unexpected…and the Eventual

Primary Sidebar

Download our free Estate Planning Worksheet

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • youtube

Blog Subscription

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Where We Are

Amen, Gantner & Capriano
10733 Sunset Office Drive, Suite 425
St. Louis, MO 63127

See Larger MapGet directions

Office Hours

Monday8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Map

map for Amen, Gantner & Capriano Your Estate Matters office
  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • About The American Academy
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Footer

Connect to us

  • Facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • youtube
footer-logo

© 2021 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.

Amen, Gantner & Capriano,
Your Estate Matters, LLC

Attorney Advertisement