Whether you just turned 18 or are 118, one thing you share with your married counterparts is the need for essential estate planning.

If you already have an estate plan created when you were Single, then you must bring your estate plan up-to-code to reflect your wedding vows.

Are you the parent of minor children? If yes, then they are your most valuable treasure. So, what arrangements have you made for their care?

Unfortunately, little attention has been paid to the critical estate planning challenges confronting blended families. A lot of those who have blended family house-holds don't even have their estate plans up-to-code.

Do you have children who are college-bound or already there? Do you have a wedding scheduled (or one or more down the road)? Perhaps you are beginning to help aging parents with personal, health care and financial responsibilities.

Retirement is often an exciting, yet bittersweet time of life. Chances are good that all of your children have left the nest with lives and growing families of their own.

Estate planning for retirement ensures that you, your adult children, and parents have your legal ducks-in-a-row. After all, you likely have witnessed what can happen when families are not up-to-code with their estate planning.

Whether due to divorce or death, you are now Single again. You may have children and even grandchildren. In any event, you need to create (or revisit) your estate plan.