Family is considered “very important” in the lives of 91% of Americans. Despite our disagreements at times, a 2024 study concluded that family is what’s truly important to most of us.1
Family is critical for so many reasons, including providing a foundation of love, support and security. Family also plays a role in shaping our identity, values, and sense of belonging.
“We leave the nest with different attitudes, expectations, and motivations, “ writes Mick Owens, author of the popular book Diamond of Life: The Five P’s of Success and Significance. “Since we haven’t walked the same path in the same shoes, don’t judge.”
Estate Management
As a family, one of the best gifts you can give each other is taking proactive steps with your future. Preparing documents that will guide other family members in the event something should happen to you is one of those gifts.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
August is “Make a Will” month. It’s a good reminder that the first estate management document you should consider creating is a will. It’s a relatively simple process yet a surprising number of people haven’t taken any action. In its 2025 survey, Caring.com found that only 24% of people have a will, down from 33% in 2022.2
The good news is that events like “Make a Will” month can prompt people to consider creating or updating a will. The other top events that can prompt people to get started include the death of a loved one, a medical diagnosis or a health concern.
Will and Won’t3
Here’s a quick overview of what a will can help with, and what a will won’t provide guidance for.
A Will will | A Will won’t |
|---|---|
Outline how to distribute your assets to your beneficiaries | Avoid probate. It can help manage the probate process but doesn’t eliminate it |
Appoint an executor to manage your estate | Outline what happens to your pets |
Name a guardian for your minor children | Sidestep estate taxes, which are applied if your estate is valued over a certain amount. |
Help express your final wishes |
As we work with people on their estate strategy, we encourage them to start with a will and then consider other documents, including the following:
Healthcare power of attorney: This document will designate someone as your spokesperson for health care decisions if you are unable to communicate your wishes.
Durable power of attorney: This involves a legal agreement that enables you to designate who will make your legal and financial decisions if you become incapacitated. The agent can have broad legal authority or more limited decisions.
Once those documents are in place, you can explore other more advanced tools. But getting the base-level documents together is a critical first step.
Several years ago, we introduced Everplans to our clients to help manage estate issues, as well as other types of financial preparations.
One of the features of Everplans is permission-based viewing, which allows the owner to tailor access to only certain individuals. This lets you determine “who can view what” regarding your personal finances.
We would be happy to send you an invite to Everplans. If you’re not ready to start with Everplans, we have other tools that you can use.
- OurWorldData.org, June 18, 2024
- Caring.com, March 31, 2025
- LegalZoom.com, 2025
