An estate plan is more than just a will. All adults should have an Advance Directive for Health Care to make your wishes known and to appoint someone to speak for you if you have a medical emergency. You should also have a Durable Power of Attorney to appoint someone to manage your financial affairs in case of a medical condition.

A will distributes assets shortly after your death. A trust generally is used to distribute assets over a number of years after your death.

Marengo County Extension is offering a program on estate planning at the local office at 2400 E. Coats Ave. in Linden on March 8 at 6 p.m. There is no charge for the program but pre-registration is required.   Please call the office at (334) 295-5959 to register for the program.

The material will be presented by Robert Tufts, a tax attorney and retired professor from Auburn University.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, March 13 issue of the Demopolis Times.)