Do this before traveling

By Patricia Nugent

According to a survey in Forbes magazine, 92% of Americans are planning to travel more in 2024.

While you’re scouring Tripadvisor and finalizing reservations before hitting the road or friendly skies, it’s a good time to put your affairs in order.

“This time of year, people about to go on vacation call me to draft or update a will, trust or nomination of guardian document at the last minute,” says Attorney Margaret T. Karl, who helps people handle their final wishes through estate planning. “Unlike many processes that have become more quickly managed online, creating a will isn’t that quick. It takes two half-hour meetings with me. All people need to bring to the first meeting are the names, addresses and phone numbers of people they wish to appoint as executors and guardians for their children, as well as a basic idea of their assets.”

She explains that during the first meeting she gathers the information, then drafts a will and presents to the client to review, then they come back and sign.

The whole process takes about three weeks.

“Parents travelling together who don’t have a will should ask themselves who they want as guardian to their children if something happened,” she says. “If you pass away without nominating a guardian for your children, the court will nominate someone. People should have the peace of mind of knowing what would happen to their kids in the event they pass away, and not leave it up to the courts.”

If you already have a will in place, and just need to update and amend it before vacation, Margie says she has notary publics working in her office and you can make an appointment to take care of that.

Margaret T. Karl, Attorney at Law, is located at 25800 North Depot Street, Suite 102, in Olmsted Falls. Call 440-782-5051 or visit OlmstedOhioLaw.com.