My parents have always raised us with their traditional values and beliefs.  I have been blessed with healthy parents whom are still with me and able to enjoy my daughter and pass along the same traditions to her.

Typically when people think about estate planning they think about the basics: who gets what and how much.  When clients leave my office they know differently.  It is about more than money and “things”.  It is about making certain that your children are continued to be raised with values, traditions and beliefs that, as parents, you want to see they are continued to be exposed to. It is about encouraging your children to succeed and continue to be exposed to religious education and family values.

We are not your typical estate planning law firm.  We work with our clients to determine how to pass along values and traditions by discussing options; what will work best for their family.  We explore guardian options and what specific concerns they may have.

As part of the plan, our clients are provided with a Guardian Letter.  This is a letter from the natural parents to the guardian where the natural parent can express their feelings on how they would like their child raised.  They can express their desire that they attend a certain church because maybe it has been a big part of their lives.  In addition they can express their values regarding volunteering or learning to save or education.  Leaving the guardian with guidance in their own words is invaluable not only to the guardian, but to the children.  It is  leaving a little piece of the past for the future.

The most important thing that I try to point out at each and every meeting I have with a potential client is that we never know when we are going to die.  The best way to estate plan is to plan on passing away tomorrow. I explained to her that if they both were to pass away at the same time, that not only would there not be a person already in place to care for their children (Guardian) but the children would not have access to the Life Insurance proceeds because they are not 18 yet.

She was not thinking that her children would need the money tomorrow because she was not thinking she would die tomorrow.  Both her and her husband commute every day for work; anything can happen. She also did not know that there needs to be a guardian in place in order for the proceeds to be able to be used towards the care of her children during the time her children needed it the most.

Needless to say, after she heard my explanation as to the importance of planning as soon as possible when you have minor children especially, she scheduled an appointment immediately.

Sometimes the fear of the unknown is all it takes to put it all into perspective and to see the value of having an Estate Plan today.