Estate Planning

Your estate is everything you own in your name and your share of anything you own with other people. Estate planning lets you give what you own to whomever, however and whenever you choose to pass it on. If that sounds like something everyone should do, that's because it is.

Why make an estate plan? If you own your home, participate in a retirement plan or have a life insurance policy, the value of your estate may be greater than you think. You need to know that value, and estate planning ensures you will. That knowledge will determine if any taxes need to be settled after your death and the value of the remaining assets you can leave to your heirs. 

What's in a plan? Estate planning typically consists of five steps: 

• Writing a will
• Establishing trusts
• Donating to charities to offset your tax burden
• Naming beneficiaries and an executor
• Making funeral arrangements

Features & Benefits

At Heartland Bank, a division of German American Bank, we design estate plans that:

• Provide care instructions for you and your loved ones in case of disability
• Remain effective if you move to or own property in another state
• Keep your affairs private and confidential
• Give you control over all of your property
• Include trusts for young and disadvantaged children and grandchildren
• Provide federal estate tax planning
• Provide for estate administration upon your death