When it comes to estate planning, most of us put it off until we get married or have children. But for those who never marry or start a family, putting off this important task may mean that your final wishes are never carried out.

Now more than ever before, Americans are putting off marriage or forgoing it altogether. A report from Pew Research Center in 2012 showed that 20% of adults aged 25 and older had never been married. That’s a stark contrast to 1960 when just 9% of the population over age 25 had never wed.

The number of women who have never had children has also fluctuated, with 20% of women between 40 and 44 never having children in 2005 and 15% in 2014.

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who fall into the never-married crowd, use these four estate planning tips to ensure your final wishes are carried out.

1.   Yes, You Do Need a Plan

Estate planning is perhaps more important for single individuals than for married couples.

“The need for a plan becomes even more important for single individuals,” says Brad Micklin, an estate planning lawyer at Micklin Law Group in Nutley, New Jersey. In this case, there are no obvious heirs, so it’s not quite clear who you want making these decisions.”

For married couples, the process is quite simple: the surviving spouse and children inherit the deceased’s estate and are given medical and legal authority.

For those who are not married and do not have children, the process can get complicated. State laws follow strict genealogical laws when it comes to inheritance, and figuring out who gets what can be a lengthy process that takes up a great deal of time and money.

Experts say it’s better to make a choice than to have everything you own go to a distant relative you never even met or have never liked.

2.   Choose Your Heirs Wisely

Speaking of heirs, you should choose yours wisely. Most never-married individuals choose siblings, long-time companions or nieces and nephews as heirs. Parents, other relatives, and friends come in a close second. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to appointing heirs. 

It’s also common for single individuals, particularly those who are older, to add charities to their list of heirs. For wealthy clients, charitable bequests also serve another beneficial purpose: to reduce estate taxes. If you have a cause that is close to your heart, you may consider leaving a portion of your assets to the charitable organization in your will.

3.   Revisit and Revise Your Plan Regularly

No matter whether you’re single, married or divorced, it’s important to revisit your estate plan regularly and revise as necessary.

The need to update your will and other estate planning documents becomes even more important if you’ve named friends as heirs or medical or legal authorities. Friendships, like marriages, can change over time.

Family dynamics and circumstances change, too. Perhaps you decided to split your estate evenly between your two siblings. A few years pass, one gets married and is now more financially stable than the other sibling. It’s not uncommon in this type of scenario for individuals to update their plan and leave a smaller portion to the more financially-stable sibling.

In other cases, singles leave the bulk of their estate to a long-time companion, only to have that companion leave years later or pass away. In these circumstances, plans must also be updated.

Whenever there is a change in your life or the lives of the people named in your estate plan, you may consider revisiting and updating to reflect your current wishes.

4.   Consider Appointing Professionals to Handle Legal and Financial Tasks

Experts still debate whether financial beneficiaries should also be granted medical and legal authority.

It can be difficult for heirs to take on estate work when they are still grieving from the loss. For this reason, you may consider appointing an accountant, lawyer or bank trust officer to take care of the financial and legal tasks associated with the estate.

As for medical issues, experts often recommend appointing someone close to you – a relative or friend who lives nearby and will have the time to take on this duty.

Estate planning isn’t reserved for the married-with-children crowd. No matter your age or marital status, it’s important to start planning for your future now. A well-thought-out estate plan will ensure that your final wishes are carried out after your death, rather than leaving the fate of your estate up to the court.