A Spiritual Estate Plan is Absolutely Essential to Many People

With all the issues surrounding estate planning it can be easy to forget that your estate plan is a reflection of your choices, values and desires. People with strong religious convictions or those who hold spiritual values close to heart, should always keep their values in mind as they create their plan and make decisions.

For example, people who choose to leave inheritances to their children often feel that the gifts they leave behind have moral or spiritual implications. Some parents, for example, have one child who is significantly better or worse off financially than their other children. In this situation a parent may feel that giving children different gifts depending on their needs is the right way to go.

There is also a tricky question when dealing with stepchildren, former spouses of your children and grandchildren from previous relationships. Many, if not most, grandparents choose to give gifts to their grandchildren equally, while others may decide a different strategy is appropriate.

Other people may want to create an estate plan that focuses largely on charitable giving or donations. Needless to say, choosing the right charity is a necessary step when deciding to give a gift. A charitable institution that supports your spiritual or religious convictions is the ideal choice in any situation. If you are unsure of what charities to select, you should spend some time investigating your options and choosing one that matches your own beliefs.