The main reason people want a will or a trust is to make sure that the assets they have worked hard to accumulate make it to the next generation. They want the peace of mind that comes with knowing they have done their best to protect their family.

The top motivating factor for discussing a will or a trust is illness. Families often tell me that this is something they have been putting off for a while. These plans are more difficult to make when a loved one is facing an illness, especially if they don’t have long to live. Planning when everyone is healthy and we are only planning “just in case” something bad happens is much less stressful.

Even if you’ve had a will or trust for a while, it is important to make sure older wills and trusts are up to date so that they work properly when they are needed.