Sophisticated Estate Planning with a Personal touch in Pasadena, California

These real excuses have been compiled by Sharon McRee, Attorney at Law.

Do you recognize YOUR excuses?

• I hate lawyers. (And I don't care if my attitude costs my heirs thousands in taxes and probate fees!)
• I don't "get it." I feel uneducated, uninformed, confused by the minutiae or legalese of estate planning, and I'm embarrassed because I don't understand the purpose or benefits of estate planning for me.
• I have a fear of losing control that makes it difficult for me to trust or even select a lawyer to help me.
• I don't want to by psycho-analyzed, but I sometimes have a fear of making decisions, when I have to base them on someone else's advice.
• I'm a "can do" person, but I think in terms of immediate gratification and immediate loss, and I can't see the value of paying fees for expert help and advice that may not provide any measurable benefit for years.
• I'm sure my estate is "too small" or has the "wrong" kind of assets, and that I'd be making a fool of myself or wasting my time if I consulted a lawyer.
• Why bother? The government always screws the taxpayer, no matter what you do.
• I'm really uncomfortable discussing financial or personal matters. I don't know if it's because of my upbringing or because I fear being taken advantage of.
• My family or business situation is so complicated / complex / messy, that I really just don't want to think about it now. I just don't believe that talking about it and coming up with some strategies would give me any peace of mind.
• I witnessed the problems of executing someone else's estate plan. It was just awful, and I'm not really convinced there can be any good way to resolve all of the thorny issues.
• I want to put together an estate plan, but my spouse is unwilling to participate.
• I am superstitious. I know it's silly, but I'm afraid once I've completed an estate plan, I will die.
• I'm just a procrastinator, plain and simple. I "mean to" get around to doing my estate planning, but it hasn't happened yet.

© 2003 Sharon McRee, Attorney at Law