Estate planning is a process by which an individual seeks to secure the orderly transition of wealth and control of assets to the natural objects of his bounty with a minimum of disruption and depletion for taxes and expenses.

Because you want your property to be passed on — at your death — according to your wishes.

Yes, estate planning is very emotional. Unfortunately, if you disregard it now, there will be problems that can create a burden, both psychologically and financially, on those that you’ve left behind.

Proper estate planning can provide you peace of mind.

Because the property is yours, you want to decide what happens to it. Sadly, this is not always true. If nobody knows your wishes, those wishes cannot be carried out.

Happily, there are two quick, simple, and inexpensive steps that you can take to make sure that your affairs are managed according to your wishes, even after you die:

1. Write or update your will. If you don’t say what should happen to your property, the state will. Everyone should have a current will.
2. Let others make decisions when you can’t. Use basic tools — the living will and the durable powers of attorney, for both financial and health care decisions — to let your trusted advisers make key decisions if you are incapacitated.