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Do an image search for “estate planning” and you’ll likely see lots of pictures of couples, some young, some older, many with kids. But singles – many without kids – have specific estate planning needs that shouldn’t be ignored.

If you've got a life partner but no marriage certificate, estate planning is a must. Without it, neither of you will inherit from each other—and neither of you will have a say in the other's end-of-life medical care. If you die without a valid will, state law will dictate where your solely owned property goes after your death, and it won't go to an unmarried partner. Instead, if you have no children, your closest relatives, including your parents, would inherit.

There is an increasing population of single people without children – and they realize they need an estate plan. These people can be successful individuals who don’t have a spouse or child to leave their assets. If you are a part of this demographic, here are some tips...

The importance of estate planning for singles has never been more significant. Estate planning is not just for married couples; estate planning is for singles too. Singles have unique estate planning issues that require specific attention.

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.