Whether or not you have substantial assets, comprehensive estate planning is just good stewardship. A well planned estate may be the best gift you will leave your loved ones. Without it, you can't be sure where your assets will go when you are gone. What is more, unless you've protected your assets from the impact of estate taxes, much of your estate will never pass to your heirs, but instead will be redistributed by the government. Estate taxes, in some cases, can consume a large portion or of your estate.
Estate planning can be a difficult process for some people.
The earlier you begin planning your estate, the more options you will have available. It is difficult to face our mortality and many of us do not believe we have enough in the way of assets to even worry about our estate.