For every two clients eager to meet with us and get their estate planning strategies in place, just as many delay because of lingering preconceived notions and even a few irrational estate planning fears about what is involved and what might happen next. 

Deep down, they may know this critical piece of life planning can only help protect everyone they love and everything they own. And yet, they push the conversation off to another day or stick to their beliefs that estate planning is too good to be true. What are those estate planning fears, exactly? Here are six more common fears we have encountered over the years. 

1. They will be nickeled and dimed by their attorney — Quality estate planning is absolutely a financial investment, but some people genuinely believe they will be charged for every phone call, every meeting they schedule, and every question they have.
2. They are scared of attorneys — Regardless of the area of expertise, they think all attorneys are impersonal and cannot be trusted.
3. They think they will pass away — One of the top irrational estate planning fears many people have is the belief that if they put together a Will or Trust, they are somehow more likely to pass away sooner. In other words, they think they will jinx themselves.
4. They will create unnecessary sibling rivalry — Sometimes, siblings cannot get along, and parents crafting their estate planning strategy often worry about what will happen when they are no longer here to keep the peace.
5. Money and assets somehow will not end up with the right person — In other instances, the children are not the problem at all. It is their child’s spouse who causes grief, and the last thing the client wants is for their child to lose everything in a divorce.
6. Beneficiaries will squander their inheritance — Many people are convinced their children and other beneficiaries will squander all their inheritance on the wrong things because they are too young to recognize the value or simply not responsible enough.

How We Help You Overcome These Estate Planning Fears

At Leigh Hilton PLLC, we make the estate planning process as seamless and personable as possible. We genuinely care about our client’s best interests, and the first step in that approach is to meet with you one-on-one. We want to know everything about you, your family, your immediate needs, what keeps you up at night, and your unique situation as a whole so that we can craft an estate plan that makes the most sense for you.

More often than not, this pivotal first step alleviates many of the estate planning fears clients walk in with. 

• They feel comfortable and are OK letting their guard down.
• They can tell they are being treated with respect.
• They know how much our services cost upfront and are confident that there are no hidden fees.
• They feel validated and encouraged to ask as many questions as needed.
• They leave with documents to protect their loved ones from divorce, creditors, and lawsuits.

It can be difficult to think of every possible scenario, and the mere idea of all of those unknowns can be overwhelming and lead to a few irrational fears. Having the right estate planning attorney in your corner alleviates those concerns. Our job is to get to know you, ask the right questions, think of things you might not think of, and create a plan that matches your needs and goals. We can design a Heritage Trust that protects even the least capable and irresponsible children as well as the wisest and most mature. If the child is mature enough and responsible, they can be named their own trustee and have access to the money yet still be protected from the outside world.

Call Leigh Hilton PLLC Today!!

Call Leigh Hilton, PLLC, in Denton, and we will help walk you through your estate planning needs. We have ample experience with Wills and Trusts and will take into consideration your particular situation. Proper planning of an estate, whether through a Will, Trust, or both, helps ensure your wishes are carried out. 

Leigh Hilton PLLC wants to be your first call every time for any estate planning need. We look forward to serving you.

Thanks for reading!