“I’m sorry, but I’m not going to tell you what you want to hear. I cannot draft these documents for your mom because she is not able to meet with me and tell me who she wants to inherit her assets when she dies.”
I was finishing up a phone call with a family member whose mom had recently had a stroke and was likely going to pass away within the next couple of days.
The family wanted me to draft a deed which would be signed by the family member as his mom’s power of attorney agent to retitle mom’s home to her children so they could avoid a probate when their mom passes away.
Although the mom’s power of attorney purportedly grants her son the authority to sign the deed on mom’s behalf, without talking to the mom, I have no idea who she wants to give her home to. I don’t prepare documents for clients whom I do not meet with nor do I prepare documents for clients at the behest of another person, even a well-meaning family member.
My policy does not always make me very popular.
Unfortunately, this situation is not uncommon and I receive similar requests weekly for me to help family members who are too far gone to make coherent planning decisions.
I get it. Procrastination is a common human trait. And no one wants to think about their future demise.
But, if you are able to read and understand this email, then NOW is the time to start getting your legal and financial affairs in order. You are doing your family a grave disservice in my humble opinion by postponing or refusing to plan your estate.
After all, it is your loved ones who will have to live with the decisions you chose to make, or not make, on their behalf when you had the opportunity to do so.
Kristen “Plan Today and Your Family Will Thank You Tomorrow” Marks
P.S. You can start planning today by taking the simple step of scheduling either a live or virtual meeting with me. Just call my office and my trusty assistant, Adriena, will coordinate our schedules for a chat. 850-439-1191
P.P.S. Or call our office to request some free information to get you started. 850-439-1191
