Your family is not perfect. And I do not mean that to be rude because, if we are being honest here, no one’s family is perfect. Whether it is two siblings who cannot get along, a grumpy uncle with wadded up money buried in his backyard, or a nephew who is bad with money, there is always that one person or situation you would like to pretend does not exist. 

But they do exist, and those factors need to be addressed when it comes to your estate planning needs.

One‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌things‌ I‌ ‌do‌ ‌in‌ ‌every‌ ‌seminar‌ ‌is‌ ‌say point-blank that ‌most‌ ‌families‌ ‌are‌ ‌dysfunctional — because‌ ‌I‌ ‌want‌ ‌to‌ ‌make‌ ‌sure‌ ‌that‌ ‌when‌ ‌people‌ ‌come to see us, they are ‌not‌ ‌embarrassed‌ ‌by their family situation. I want people to feel comfortable talking about their family dynamic because if they are not, we cannot ‌address‌ ‌those‌ ‌problems‌ when the estate plan is put together.‌ ‌

A perfect example … 

I‌ ‌had‌ ‌a‌ ‌lady‌ ‌come‌ ‌to‌ ‌me‌ years‌ ‌ago‌ ‌who‌ ‌told‌ ‌me‌ ‌about‌ ‌her‌ ‌fairytale‌ ‌son‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌wonderful‌ ‌relationship‌ they‌ ‌had.‌ But as‌ ‌she‌ ‌got‌ ‌older and was diagnosed with ‌dementia‌, ‌I‌ ‌got‌ ‌to‌ ‌meet‌ ‌her‌ ‌real‌ ‌son. And‌ ‌honestly,‌ ‌he‌ ‌was‌ ‌kind‌ ‌of‌ ‌a‌ ‌jerk.‌ ‌In her attempts to hide their dysfunction, she ‌had‌ ‌not‌ ‌told‌ ‌me‌ ‌the‌ ‌truth‌ ‌‌that‌ they‌ ‌had not‌ ‌spoken‌ ‌in‌ ‌over‌ ‌15‌ ‌years. And yet, she put him‌ ‌in‌ ‌charge‌ ‌of‌ ‌her‌ ‌financially‌ ‌and‌ ‌medically.‌ ‌Suddenly‌, ‌she begins to‌ ‌lose‌ ‌her‌ ‌ability‌ ‌to‌ ‌do‌ ‌things. 

She was paranoid because the realization has hit her that she ‌does not have‌ ‌a‌ ‌good‌ ‌relationship‌ ‌with‌ the person ‌making key ‌decisions‌ ‌for‌ ‌her.‌ ‌It was a very sad situation and something I wish she had been comfortable enough to be honest when we did the planning, so we could protect for her actual situation. 

So‌ ‌the‌ ‌most‌ ‌important‌ ‌thing‌ ‌to do when‌ ‌‌working‌ ‌with‌ ‌an‌ estate planning attorney ‌is‌ ‌to‌ ‌be comfortable‌ ‌enough‌ ‌to‌ ‌explain what is‌ ‌‌going‌ ‌on‌ ‌with‌ ‌your‌ ‌family.‌ ‌‌In fact, the‌ ‌more‌ ‌information you provide is better.‌ ‌

That‌ ‌way,‌ ‌your attorney has ‌all‌ ‌the‌ ‌tools‌ ‌or‌ ‌information‌ ‌‌to‌ ‌make‌ ‌the‌ ‌best‌ ‌possible‌ decisions.‌ ‌

Call Leigh Hilton PLLC today!!

At Leigh Hilton PLLC, we try our very best to make the estate planning process as seamless and personable as possible. And the first step is always to meet with you. The purpose of the initial meeting is actually to get to know you, your family, and your situation so that we can customize a plan based on your unique family situation. 

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!

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Leigh Hilton P.L.L.C
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