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Why National Estate Planning Week is the Perfect Time to Start Using SaveOr

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National Estate Planning Week is an annual reminder of the importance of preparing for the future. Held every third week of October, it highlights the need for families to organize their estate plans and ensure a smooth transition of assets to the next generation. One critical but often overlooked aspect of this is managing tangible personal property. This is where SaveOr, a platform designed to help families easily document, organize, and assign their valuable and sentimental items, comes in.

 

Here are a few reasons why National Estate Planning Week is the ideal time to start using SaveOr:

 

1. Estate Planning Isn’t Just About Money

Most people think of estate planning as organizing financial assets—bank accounts, real estate, and investments. However, tangible personal property, like family heirlooms, art, and sentimental items, can be just as important. SaveOr simplifies this by allowing families to catalog and manage these items digitally, ensuring that cherished possessions are not overlooked during the planning process.

 

With SaveOr, you can take photos of each item, record their stories, and assign a recipient, making it easier to include these details in your estate plan. This week provides a timely reminder to address both your financial and personal property with equal attention.

 

2. Prevent Family Conflict

One of the top reasons estate planning is so important is to avoid disputes after someone passes away. Many families experience conflict over personal property because it’s often difficult to know who values what items the most.

 

By using SaveOr, you can prevent these disagreements before they arise. The app offers a feature where family members can express interest in specific items. This way, you get an early understanding of who values what, avoiding assumptions and misunderstandings. For example, a piece of old furniture you assume no one wants might hold great sentimental value for a family member, while a more expensive item might go unnoticed.

 

3. Collaborative Planning

Estate planning is a collaborative process, especially concerning personal property. SaveOr fosters transparency by allowing families to share their E-States (a digital estate that includes all their belongings) with loved ones. Invitees can see what items are available and provide feedback on them. This interaction removes the awkwardness of in-person conversations about possessions and promotes honest discussions.

 

Estate Planning Week is a great time to start these conversations with family members. Digitizing and organizing everything with SaveOr can make this process less stressful.

 

4. Save Time and Reduce Legal Complexity

Traditional estate planning can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to documenting personal property. SaveOr reduces this burden by automating much of the process. The platform allows you to generate Personal Property Memorandums. According to Nolo.com, 33 states recognize personal property memorandums as legally binding when following your state’s instructions. These documents can easily be shared with your estate attorney and executor, ensuring that your wishes for tangible items are clear and enforceable.

 

During National Estate Planning Week, estate planners, attorneys, and financial advisors encourage families to act. By incorporating SaveOr, you’re making your estate planning process more efficient and ensuring that every aspect of your life—down to the smallest keepsake—is thoughtfully addressed.

 

5. Leave a Legacy of Stories, Not Just Things

One of SaveOr's most unique features is its ability to capture the story behind every item. You’re not just assigning monetary value to objects but preserving their history for future generations. Whether it’s your grandmother’s wedding ring or a vintage family photo, you can share these items' emotional significance.

 

National Estate Planning Week offers a chance to reflect on the past and plan for the future. By documenting the stories behind your personal property, you’re preserving more than just items—you’re passing down memories and values to your loved ones.

 

Real-Life Success Story: A Seamless Family Transition

  1. Consider the case of a client who used SaveOr to inventory their estate before they passed away. Rather than engaging in heated arguments over who should get certain items, the children had already expressed their preferences through SaveOr, and there was a tangible personal property memorandum in place to follow. The process was transparent and stress-free. Because they had conversations on this topic with their parents, there were no surprises or arguments due to heightened emotions. The parents had even recorded personal stories behind significant objects, making the handover more meaningful. According to EstatePlanning.com, arguments occur at these times because, in many cases, “psychological sense of self is intertwined with the approval that an inheritance represents, especially when the decedent is a parent.”

 

 

How to Get Started This Week

Starting with SaveOr during National Estate Planning Week is simple. Begin by creating an account on www.saveor.com and cataloging the most important items in your home. Invite family members to view the E-State and express their preferences. By the end of the week, you’ll be well on your way to a fully documented estate that not only lists your possessions but also reflects the thought and care you’ve put into your legacy.

 

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Author:

Matthew Scola 

Founder of SaveOr, an estate planning platform focused on helping families through challenging life events. His insights come from interviewing and working with families and professionals to find a solution to the challenges of downsizing, estates, and estate management.

 

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