Most New Mexicans who end up in a difficult estate situation didn't ignore the problem. They started. They did a little. They assumed they were covered.
A will was signed years ago. A beneficiary was named on a 401(k) before the divorce. A trust was drafted but never funded. A power of attorney was never executed at all.
Each of those gaps costs families time, money, and conflict at the worst possible moment.
This 20-page guide covers the nine mistakes our attorneys see most often in New Mexico estate planning conversations, why each one is more costly than it looks, and exactly what to do about it.
Inside, you'll find:
- Why a will alone is not a complete estate plan (and what's missing)
- The beneficiary designation mistake that sends retirement accounts to the wrong person, even when the will says otherwise
- What happens in New Mexico if you die without a will (the answer surprises most families)
- Why leaving assets directly to a minor child backfires
- How to choose the right personal representative and avoid a common, costly mistake
- Why a trust isn't just for the wealthy, and when it makes sense for a New Mexico family
- The life events that make an existing estate plan outdated
- Why generic online documents don't work in a community property state
- What incapacity planning is, and what it costs when it's missing
