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Unmarried people should put a priority on developing the traditional estate planning documents that don’t pertain to disposition of property: the health care proxy (or advance medical directive or living will) and financial power of attorney. Without these documents, when the single person is unable to make medical decisions or take care of financial matters, there might not be someone to make decisions whose authority will be readily recognized.

A second marriage can be a balm for the heartache of losing a spouse, be it through death or divorce. Most people mean well: They want their spouse to inherit their possessions when they die, and their heirs to split what's left when the spouse dies. And they want everyone, including their children and their spouse's children, to be happy. No one wants a brawl to break out when the will is read. Here are five ways to prevent that.

A child’s wedding day is one of the happiest occasions in life for most parents, especially when they approve wholeheartedly of that child’s choice of mate. Sometimes, however, the choice is not always welcomed and parents become concerned about how to protect assets they plan to leave their children in case of a divorce.

If you are considering a divorce, it’s critical to understand the impact of your divorce on what would happen in the event of your incapacity or death, either during the divorce or after. Unfortunately, most divorce lawyers do not give any thought to incapacity or death, simply because they do not have training on these issues specifically and it’s not at the forefront of their minds when they are advising you through your divorce.

When a marriage is falling apart, the first thing on your mind probably isn’t your estate plan – but it is something you’ll have to consider soon. Not only is it important to address issues of inheritance, but you also need to address concerns like who has your powers of attorney and health care proxies. If it’s currently your spouse, that could lead to unintended consequences for you and a lot of personal distress for your loved ones.

Beyond the emotional impact that divorce can have on couples of any age that decide to split, it can have a potentially devastating effect on the retirement plans of those who divorce later in life. Divorce after 50 usually results in a loss of income for both parties, which can mean working longer to fund a single retirement.

Drawing up a will can be an emotionally taxing process. But it’s one that becomes especially difficult when a spouse is left to cope with the task after their partner passes away. Suddenly, what was once a joint decision made with a lifelong partner becomes a task a widow must face alone.

If you aren't married and have no children, you may think you don't need an estate plan. But nothing could be further from the truth. Unlike with married couples, there could be no specific person who can legally make medical decisions for you should you become incapacitated. And if you were to die without an estate plan, your property would likely go through the probate process and potentially be awarded to a beneficiary you never would have chosen yourself.