If you do not have children, you may assume estate planning has little to offer you. But while you may not need to name a guardian or manage a child’s inheritance, you still face important decisions about your future and property. An estate plan can document your wishes, especially when there is no obvious person to take on those responsibilities.
When Washington law decides who inherits
If you die without a will, Washington law determines who inherits your estate based on legal family relationships. Your property may pass to a spouse or registered domestic partner, parents, siblings or other relatives. An unmarried partner or trusted friend may receive nothing unless your estate plan specifically provides for them.
Choosing who can act on your behalf
Estate planning extends beyond what happens after your death and can address incapacity during your lifetime. Without adult children, there may be no obvious person to make decisions for you. Financial and health care documents can grant this responsibility to individuals you designate.
Making room for the people and causes you value
Your priorities may extend beyond leaving an inheritance. Estate planning documents can address wishes such as:
- Providing for an unmarried partner or close friend
- Funding care for a pet
- Passing sentimental property to chosen recipients
- Leaving assets to a charity or cause
These provisions can help direct your assets toward the people, causes and responsibilities you value.
Put your choices at the center of your plan
Without children, traditional assumptions about inheritance and decision-making may not fit your circumstances. Identifying who you trust to make decisions and who should receive your property can help define your estate planning priorities. These choices can form the basis of a plan that reflects the life and relationships you have built.