Many of us like to fantasize about winning the lottery. We muse with our friends about how we might spend the money, and we dream about never wanting for anything ever again. The odds are against us, of course, at least as far as the lottery goes. But that doesn’t mean – at some point in our lives perhaps – we won’t actually come into a major cash windfall, usually in the form of an inheritance, or perhaps through the settlement of a legal claim.
The best offense is a good defense. Planning before receiving such a cash windfall is critical if you want to keep it and have it provide for you for the rest of your life and for your loved ones after you are gone. Most people who receive a windfall lose it almost as quickly as they receive it.
Plan ahead for a cash windfall
If you see a windfall coming your way, make these plans:
- Consider putting any large windfall you receive into an asset protection trust, first and foremost. You may even want to consider appointing a co-trustee to govern the trust alongside you so you can honestly tell friends and family that you do not have unrestricted control to your assets when they come asking for handouts.
- Hire an advisor you trust to help you invest the assets you receive in a manner that is aligned with your values and will support you to use the windfall to support the long-term life you desire; if you need recommendations to a trusted investment advisor, contact us.
- Get all of your own estate planning documents updated, including your Will, Revocable Living Trust, Health Care Directives and Power of Attorney, plus establish a relationship with a personal lawyer so if and when anything happens to you, your family will be supported to stay out of court and out of the conflict.
Get a professional’s opinion
If you anticipate receiving a windfall and need legal assistance, or if you’d like to ensure your family stays out of court and out of conflict if and when something happens to you, reach out to us.
This article is a service of Bridge Law Firm. We are an award-winning law firm that specializes in business and estate planning for clients like you. The goal for every family is to stay educated on all topics like this, avoid probate, avoid estate taxes, and build a legacy for you and your loved ones. What sets our firm apart is that we build lasting, lifelong relationships with our clients. They rely on us to keep them updated, provide sound legal counsel, and be there for them immediately if any problems should ever arise. The best part is we don’t charge hourly fees to our families, so you never have to worry about speaking to us.
If you’re ready to keep your family out of Court, contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.