Though many have forgotten how to hit a nail with a hammer for a long long time, they are having to re-learn quickly due to the high cost of labor and materials. Though many jobs around the house are required by law to be accomplished by licensed tradesmen, there are a lot of stuff you can do on your own that adds value and beauty to an otherwise drab backyard or home. Many publications on the market can be bought, containing step by step instructions on how to do these projects as well as the needed materials and suggestions on how to bring about a desired effect with the least amount of investment in terms of materials.
Learn how the experts do it and make an economical project look as if it were done by the experts. One thing though, expect to make mistakes(actually, a lot of them), as you get to learn the craft. Weekend warriors as they are called has people who normally work during weekdays using their free weekends to work on such projects. You control the cost and the quality of materials so it makes your project something that reflects you and your particular taste.
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Your role in the process is an active role, not a passive one. You should avoid the attorney who is content with simply telling you what to do, and then throwing together some documents to accomplish it. That is the attorney’s plan – not yours.
In summary, if you’re working with the right estate planning attorney, you should plan on being involved in three distinct steps:
1. Develop a plan with counseling-oriented (rather than document-oriented) professionals.
2. Commit you and your family to an ongoing maintenance and education program.
3. Assure that your wisdom is passed along with your wealth.
As you consider those you love, and those material things that you’ll someday leave behind, only a properly designed and implemented estate plan can ensure that your goals for those loved ones are accomplished.
Many estate plans in America don’t work. They often consist of fill-in-the-blank documents, delivered in a one-time transaction, and never updated. If that’s all an attorney can offer, that’s not the right attorney for you. Choose an attorney that is counseling-oriented, values-based, and as strong on relationships as he or she is on the law.
