Let’s say you have spent the time and money necessary to create an estate plan that includes a will, a living will, durable powers of attorney, advance health care directives and maybe even a trust. Then you move to another state, for retirement or a better job. Will your estate plan travel intact with you when you move?
The answer is, not necessarily. This is because the state laws that govern estate plans differ from state to state. Although one or more of these documents may work perfectly well outside the state where they were drafted, there may be additional steps you need to take to ensure that they do (locating witnesses, getting affidavits, etc.). In some cases, they won’t work at all due to differences in state law.
If you are moving to a new state, or have moved here from another state, the best course of action is to have your current estate plan reviewed by an estate planning attorney who practices in your new state. He or she can tell you what needs to be done to ensure your estate planning documents perform the way you planned in the first place.
The Flanigan Law Group provides Southern California residents with personal attention for estate planning, administration and litigation legal services. When disputes between families, arise, they are very successful in resolving legal estate issues quickly and efficiently while preserving financial and emotional resources. Contact the Estate Planning Lawyers at the Flanigan Law Group at 949-450-0041.