Typically, you’ll hear us talk about how much of an impact an estate plan can have for a family. And it’s true: Loved ones go through far less questions, decision-making, and inconvenience with a proper estate plan in place.

The same is true for those who aren’t married – but there are different challenges. In fact, it’s why the Wall Street Journal ran an article with the sub-title reading “It can be more complex than for married couples.”

So what challenges are there?

It starts with beneficiaries. On your insurance policies, retirement plans, etc., you’re usually required to name a beneficiary. This determines who gets the payouts from that account. If you’re single with children, that can make the decision easy (unless they are minors) – but for those without, there are a myriad of options.

Heirs are a similar matter. For those married, it’s nearly always the spouse listed, followed by children, and so on. But the typical line of “who gets your items” changes if you haven’t established a family. If someone has no living relatives, your assets could end up in the state’s coffers.

Establishing a clear directive for who – whether relatives, charities, etc. – receives your wealth is important.

There are also different provisions to make for long-term care and other special situations. Estate planning focuses on making things as easy as possible in bad situations, and we know them all!

Then, the worst-case scenario: What happens if you live alone and someone needs to make decisions for your health?

Without a proper directive in place, there can be situations where distant relatives are left with the responsibility. Take, for example, this Main Street article:

“I just had a client become disabled due to a brain injury,” [Karen] Lee says. “Although he had written a will in 1997, he never had a power of attorney. He was not only single and had no kids, he was an only child. There was no one to help make medical or financial decisions.” Lee says her client’s first cousin stepped up, but had to go to court to get granted conservatorship to make decisions on his behalf. “That took four months. And even after, all decisions had to be made with the court approval. It was a colossal mess,” she says.

So whether you’re single, married, or in whatever stage of life, there is an estate planning solution for you. And as a law firm devoted entirely to the practice, we’ve worked with hundreds of clients from all backgrounds – meaning we understand how to best have your wishes carried out should something tragic occur, but also to help maximize the benefits you leave for your family.