• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
    • Communities We Serve
      • Minnesota
        • Bemidji
        • Crookston
        • East Grand Forks
        • Fertile
        • Thief River Falls
      • North Dakota
        • Devils Lake
        • Dickinson
        • Grafton
        • Grand Forks
        • Minot
    • Job Opportunities
    • Speaker Connection
  • Estate Planning
    • Asset Protection
    • Business Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Financial Planning Assistance
    • Incapacity Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • Probate
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
  • Elder Law
    • Are You A Caregiver
    • Conservatorship
    • Coping with Alzheimer’s
    • Hospice Care
    • Life Care Planning Services
    • Medicaid Benefits
    • Nursing Home Planning
    • Veterans Benefits
  • Seminars/Webinars
  • Resources
    • Client Resources
      • Estate Planning Resources for Farmers
      • Elder Law Resources
        • Bemidji
        • Grand Forks Elder Law
        • Minot Elder Law
        • Thief River Falls Elder Law
      • Estate Planning Checklist
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Probate Checklist
      • Probate Resources
        • Bemidji Probate
        • Grand Forks Probate
        • Minot Probate
        • Thief River Falls Probate
      • Relocation Toolkit
      • Top 10 Estate Planning Techniques
    • DocuBank
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Free Medicaid/Long-Term Care Calculator
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Asset Protection
        • Business Planning
        • Business Succession Planning
      • Elder Law
        • Medicaid Planning
        • Veteran’s Benefits
        • Nursing Home Planning
      • Estate Planning
        • Estate Planning & Divorce
        • Estate Planning for Women
        • Job of an Executor
        • Families Without an Estate Plan
        • Gift, Estate, and Inheritance Taxes
        • Including Philanthropy in Your Estate Plan
        • Including Your Pet in Your Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
        • Power of Attorney
        • Serving as Executor
      • Financial Planning
      • Incapacity Planning
        • Social Security Benefits
        • Understanding SSI and SSDI
      • Trust Administration & Probate
        • Probate
        • Small Estate Probate
        • Trusts
        • Wills
    • Newsletters
    • Probate & Estate Planning Savings Calculator
    • Professional Resources
    • Published Books
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning for Niches
      • Trust Administration
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review us
  • Contact Us
  • Blog

GermanLawGroup

Estate Planning & Medicaid Attorneys in Grand Forks , North Dakota

Call us today(800) 774-7576

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Attend A Free Seminar
Home » Do I Need a Letter of Instruction?

Do I Need a Letter of Instruction?

March 3, 2022Estate Planning

Grand Forks estate planning attorneys

As your estate plan evolves, you will likely find the need to include additional estate planning tools and strategies that help you accomplish additional goals and fulfill the needs of your growing family. Despite the abundant tools available to help you with your estate plan, you may find that you have pertinent, even crucial, information that applies to your estate plan, yet does not fit anywhere in your existing plan. The Grand Forks estate planning attorneys at German Law explain what a Letter of Instruction is and why you might want to include one in your estate plan.

Why Might You Need Something More in Your Estate Plan

The average estate plan will include several common documents. For example, a Last Will and Testament typically serves as the foundation of an estate plan, allowing you to appoint an Executor for your estate, gift assets, and nominate a Guardian for minor children. It cannot, however, explain why you did not gift your estate equally to your children nor why you appointed a sibling, instead of a spouse, as the Executor. You might also include a trust, which can help achieve a variety of goals, and into which you will transfer assets. A trust agreement, however, is not the best place to leave detailed instructions about upkeep of those assets or why you decided to pass down those assets in staggered disbursements. An advance directive can specifically grant an Agent the ability to make healthcare decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself and lets you make certain healthcare decisions yourself ahead of time. It cannot explain the reason why you made those decisions though. A Letter of Instruction can help fill in all those missing pieces.

What Is a Letter of Instruction?

As the name implies, a Letter of Instruction is a document that you may include in your estate plan that provides instructions not found elsewhere in your plan. A Letter of Instruction, however, can also be used for other similar purposes. Anything you choose to include in your Letter of Instructions is not legally binding on anyone; however, the information you include can be crucial to your overall plan. Some common uses for a Letter of Instruction include:

  • Provide the location of important estate planning documents, such as your Will, life insurance policies, or a trust agreement.
  • Provide a summary of all assets you own along with account numbers and/or online log in instructions to access the accounts.
  • Names and contact information for people that need to be contacted after your death.
  • Instructions for maintaining assets. This could be as simple as how to winterize your vacation cottage or how to value your rare coin collection.
  • Explanations for controversial decisions you made within your estate plan. For example, if you gave a large donation to charity or disinherited a child, this is your opportunity to explain why you did what you did.
  • Express your wishes with regard to your funeral and burial. Ideally, you included a funeral component in your estate plan; however, you may wish to add details to ensure that your wishes are honored.

Do You Need a Letter of Instruction?

Whether or not a Letter of Instruction is right for your estate plan is ultimately a decision you must make after consulting with your estate planning attorney. Although the instructions you include in a Letter of Instruction are not legally binding, they can go a long way toward assisting with the probate of your estate and can help prevent litigation. Anything you can do to make your Executor’s job easier will ultimately benefit your loved ones. Moreover, if any of the terms of your estate plan are likely to cause conflict or animosity, explaining why you included those terms can deter litigation, or assist your Executor defend your wishes if litigation cannot be avoided.

Contact Grand Forks Estate Planning Attorneys

Please join us for an upcoming FREE seminar. If you have additional questions or concerns about the need for a Letter of Instruction, contact the Grand Forks estate planning attorneys at German Law by calling 701-738-0060 to schedule an appointment.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Raymond German, Estate Planning Attorney
Raymond German, Estate Planning Attorney
Attorney at German Law | Wealth
Raymond J. German provides a wide range of estate planning services to his clients, with a primary focus on creating peace of mind providing for the security of their loved ones, reducing taxes and avoiding a probate, all with a well-crafted estate plan. Mr. German defines the mission statement for German Law as “Helping one family at a time pass on values, beliefs and finances, that can be shared for generations to come.”
Raymond German, Estate Planning Attorney
Latest posts by Raymond German, Estate Planning Attorney (see all)
  • Estate Planning Steps for the Beginner - January 26, 2023
  • Common Medicaid Myths Debunked - January 19, 2023
  • Why Single Adults Need an Estate Plan - January 17, 2023

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Estate Planning Steps for the Beginner
Estate Planning Steps for the Beginner
Why Single Adults Need an Estate Plan
Why Single Adults Need an Estate Plan
Tips to Help Prevent Estate Disputes
Tips to Help Prevent Estate Disputes
Do I Need an Attorney to Make a Basic Will?
Do I Need an Attorney to Make a Basic Will?
Pondering Portability
Pondering Portability
What the Proposed Treasury Regulations Mean for Deductions Under Internal Revenue Code Section 2053
What the Proposed Treasury Regulations Mean for Deductions Under Internal Revenue Code Section 2053

Primary Sidebar

TESTIMONIALS

Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Needed to come in to get specific advice for our needs. The attorney spoke to us in terms we could understand, coming to our level and did not make up feel uncomfortable. They were very considerate and caring. We didn’t feel rushed. We felt like they cared and knew what they were doing.

C.P., Minnesota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

We were wonderfully satisfied. Wayne did an outstanding job of explaining, diagramming and answering questions and concerns.

JW & CD, North Dakota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

They were courteous, efficient, knowledgeable, and trustworthy.

D.T., Minnesota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Very helpful. Our children and us are are confident in your group.

-Anonymous, Fargo, North Dakota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

"Very professional, covered all, expertise, friendly, peace of mind now."

- Anonymous, North Dakota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

So much of a client's high or low opinion of an organization depends on their welcomed feeling. I felt that every time I visited the office, every person I talked with listened and took action on my concern or questions! They were also very friendly.

~J.R., Grand Forks, ND
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

From phone calls to signing the final documents I was treated with respect, kindness, and understanding by Wayne & Jenn. Every business that wants their business represented well should have someone like Jenn & Wayne. They both made me feel relaxed and assured I was at the right place at the right time at this time in my life. 

~ Deborah Rucinksi, North Dakota 
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

All of the paperwork was completed in a timely matter. Wayne was very good in explaining the trust to us. 

~Anonymous
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Thank you for taking care of my finances after I am gone. I worried about probate once; hopefully this has been solved. Everyone was very polite and helpful. Thank you Katie for answering my questions, and also Jenn.

- Anonymous
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

This Avvo rating is killer and so deserved! You are the best brother! The only thing is I think the 10 rating is too low, in my book you go to 11! Congratulations on the award, you should be very very proud. See you at your Holiday party, thx for the invite.

Anthony G., Los Angeles, CA
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Everyone at German Law was helpful and pleasant. I felt good about my decision, I thought I was doing the right thing for myself & my family. Wayne took his time and didn't rush, which is good because a lot of this can be over people's heads.

A.W., Red Lake Falls, MN
Client Review
April 15, 2021
    

Excellent

Very interesting, informative and valuable information and ideas.

Valuable information.

RP
Client Review
April 15, 2021
    

5 STARS! Thanks for allowing this to be on a webinar! Very interested in this topic.

Great Estate Planning Guide

SD
November 25, 2022
    

John provided very short turn-around time that we needed. He built an amortization schedule that really met our needs. He was responsive and very easy to work with! Quick and easy!

 

Cammy was also very helpful and professional!

November 25, 2022
    

Really Liked it.
Assisted by John Oelke

November 25, 2022
    

Excellent!

<
>

Subscribe to Our Blog

Subscribe to our blog to get the latest estate planning news and updates!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

FREE ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHEET

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Where We Are

German Law
2650 32nd Avenue South, Suite O
Grand Forks, ND 58201
Phone: (701) 738-0060
Fax: (701) 738-0064

See Larger Map Get Directions

Office Hours

Monday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 PM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Map

Footer

  • Speaker Connection
  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • About The American Academy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Connect to Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
footer-logo

© 2023 German Law
All Right Reseved.

Attorney Advertisement