Planning for the Unexpected

 Planning for the Unexpected

By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi

November 2020

Earlier this week I was reading my Google News Feed when an article caught my attention.  My heart broke reading every word of a story about a young mother who died due to complications from a pregnancy.  She left behind a large family with very young children who now relied solely on their father for support.  One sentence jumped out for me, causing my head to tilt to one side -- a habit I have when I come across a piece of information that seems "off".  The sentenced went something like this -- "because her death was unexpected there was no life insurance in place."

I believe the true take-away from the story of this mother who died far too young is that we all need to plan for the unexpected.  That belief is the cornerstone of my estate planning practice.  Life happens, it twists, turns, and bucks like a rodeo horse.  Creating an estate plan (a will, powers of attorney, etc.) assumes that one day the unexpected will happen and we have a plan for it when it does arrive.

None of us will escape death.  That is a fact.  We really just do not know when our time will come.  As we enter a season of gift giving, consider creating or updating an estate plan so that your loved ones have a roadmap for the unexpected.  A plan will likely reduce the financial and emotional expense your loved ones will experience.

The day a wind storm knocked down 1/3 of a 70 year old tree, unexpectedly. 

Be well, stay safe, and thanks for reading.  Remember, a blog is not legal advice.  It is meant to be a starting point for thought and reflection.  Please consult with an estate planning and probate attorney in your state of residence for advice specific to your unique life situation.