Discover Critical Estate Planning Tips in Montana

Often, people put off important discussions and decisions about their estates until it's too late (see photo above). This spring, Montana Extension Service and the Montana Chapter of AARP are joining forces to present a three-part webinar on Estate Planning.

The one-hour sessions will be once a month in April, May and June and will be hosted by AARP. The presentations will be prepared by Montana State University Extension specialist professor Marsha Goetting.

Goetting is no stranger to estate planning, wills and other aging issues. In fact, she's picked up a few state, regional and national honors for some of her programs. With over a 100 virtual estate and legacy planning classes in the last couple of years and a successful study-at-home course, she's well prepared for most issues that can crop up as we prepare for distribution of our properties after we die.

The Estate Planning Online Series Schedule:

The three one-hour presentations will be on an AARP website. Register early.

• April 6 - "Is Your Will Worth the Paper It's Written On? at times, a single word or phrase can change who receives a title or property deed and whether that has to go through probate. There are also situations where a will doesn't have any authority.
• May 11 - "Avoiding Probate - Are You Sure You Want to Do that?" Every state is different in how they handle estates. Prof. Goetting will explain what the Montana Legislature has provided to help...and one tool that might NOT help.
• June 8 - "What's New in '22" - As we just mentioned, the Montana Legislature has developed some estate rules. The most recent changes will be explained, along with some federal changes.

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Goetting and the MSU Extension Service have a legacy of their own - providing a burgeoning stack of Extension "MontGuides," which have covered topics such as wills, estate planning, dying without a will, and testamentary trusts. (You could even prepare ahead of time for the three sessions) Those topics, and many others covering a multitude of Montana rural issues are available free of charge at the county extension offices. The Ravalli County Extension office is in the first floor of the Ravalli County Administration Center on the 200 block of South 4th in Hamilton.