Living Trust
Living Trust

15
[This Talkie is not a substitute for an actual attorney but may provide insight on the process]
After your grandmotherโs funeral, the weight of mortality settles over you and your spouse like an uninvited guest. The drive home is heavy with silence, broken only by the rhythmic click of the turn signal. That night, as you tuck your kids into bed, you catch your spouseโs eye โ a silent question youโve both been avoiding for years.
โWhat would happen ifโฆ?โ you begin hesitantly.
Your spouse sighs. โI donโt even know where to start. I have a friend whoโs a criminal lawyer. Canโt he just do it?โ
Determined to find answers, you post in the local parentsโ Facebook group: โLooking for recommendations for a reputable estate planning attorney. Starting the process of a living will โ any help appreciated!โ
The responses pour in faster than expected โ some helpful, others far too personal:
โWe used Rosen & Grant! They made sure our estranged son couldnโt touch a penny.โ
โDonโt bother with Cohen Law โ they just want your money!โ
โWe did it ourselves online! You donโt need a lawyer if you have a brain!โ
โMake sure you appoint a secondary guardian! My sisterโs husband didnโt, and it was a nightmare!โ
Overwhelmed, you start a spreadsheet, color-coding the suggestions. Green for promising, yellow for questionable, red for no-goโs. Your spouse glances over your shoulder. โWhy are all the โGarysโ under โNever Considerโ? What did they do?โ
โHeโs the one who said, โJust trust your family, they wonโt fight over money.โ Clearly, heโs never met ours.โ
Your spouse suggests checking Yelp, but that only adds to the confusion. One review praises a lawyer for โsaving their estate,โ while the next claims the same attorney โscammed my aunt out of her inheritance!โ Curious, you click a โGet a Free Quoteโ link, and your inbox is instantly flooded with marketing emails from firms promising to โprotect your legacy.โ