Why are people not consistent in creating them? And is there a certain age or responsibility to your wealth that you should start creating them?

So those are great questions.

So, you know, the studies show that probably two thirds of Americans do not have a will.

So two thirds of people don't have a will.

And so to your question, why do they not have a will? I think probably they're worried about the cost.

I see a lot of people who come in and they have not wanted to talk about these issues because they don't really want to talk about dying.

What happens if we die? I've had clients that come in and they're like, we have four kids and our four kids are all grown, but we never got a will done while we had small age children.

Walk me through the steps of recommendation and why.

Why are people not consistent in creating them? And is there a certain age or responsibility to your wealth that you should start creating them? So

those are great questions.

So, you know, the studies show that probably two thirds of Americans do not have a will.

So two thirds of people don't have a will.

And so to your question, why do they not have a will? I think probably they're worried about the cost.

I see a lot of people who come in.

And they have not wanted to talk about these issues because they don't really want to talk about dying.

Walk me through the steps of recommendation and why.

Why are people not consistent in creating them? And is there a certain age or responsibility to your wealth that you should start creating

them? So those are great questions.

So, you know, the studies show that probably two thirds of Americans do not have a will.

So two thirds of people don't have a will.

And so to your question, why do they not have a will? I think probably they're worried about the cost.

I see a lot of people who come in and they have not wanted to talk about these issues because they don't really want to talk about dying.

What happens if we die? I've had clients that come in and they're like, we have four kids and our four kids are all grown, but we never got a will done while we had small age children.

Walk me through the steps of recommendation and why.

Why are people not consistent in creating them? And is there a certain age or responsibility to your wealth that you should start creating them?

So those are great questions.

So, you know, the studies show that probably two thirds of Americans do not have a will.

So two thirds of people don't have a will.

And so to your question, why do they not have a will? I think probably they're worried about the cost.

I see a lot of people who come in and they have not wanted to talk about these issues because they don't really want to talk about dying.

What happens if we die? I've had clients that come in and they're like, we have four kids and our four kids are all grown, but we never got a will done while we had small age children.

Walk me through the steps of recommendation and

Why are people not consistent in creating them? And is there a certain age or responsibility to your wealth that you should start creating them?

So those are great questions.

So, you know, the studies show that probably two thirds of Americans do not have a will.

So two thirds of people don't have a will.

And so to your question, why do they not have a will? I think probably they're worried about the cost.

I see a lot of people who come in and they have not wanted to talk about these issues because they don't really want to talk about dying.

What happens if we die? I've had clients that come in and they're like, we have four kids and our four kids are all grown, but we never got a will done while we had small age children.

When families lose a loved one, what are the most common ways estate mismanagement begins, Attorney Ford?

Why are people not consistent in creating them? And is there a certain age or responsibility to your wealth that you should start creating

them? So those are great questions.

So, you know, the studies show that probably two thirds of Americans do not have a will.

So two thirds of people don't have a will.

And so to your question, why do they not have a will? I think probably they're worried about the cost.

I see a lot of people who come in.

And they have not wanted to talk about these issues because they don't really want to talk about dying.

So look,

Mm-hmm

... and it drew me in like so many do, right? And it was this doc- it was this, uh, psychiatrist talking about, um, uh, the, the different ways that children grieve the loss of a parent.

And so he drew the distinction about the child who lived down the street from mom and dad and was there to help take care of them until their very last day and, and, you know, really shouldered the burden, versus the child who lived three states away and only got to see mom and dad one time a year or something, and the different ways that they grieve.

W- that different way of grieving, right, the one who's lived down the street, they're gonna take the loss much heavier than the one who's been more distant for all these years, located more distantly.

Um, a- a- and that plays out the same way in dealing with the post-death wrap-up, if you will.

So the one child from out of town, for instance, might come in and say, "Well, let's just start cleaning out the house before we even get mom and dad buried."

Right.

We need powers of attorney, right? A medical power of attorney to designate your kids to be able to make medical decisions for you if you can't make those decisions for yourself.

Mm-hmm

... and it drew me in like so many do, right? And it was this doc- it was this, uh, psychiatrist talking about, um, uh, the, the different ways that children grieve the loss of a parent.

And so he drew the distinction about the child who lived down the street from mom and dad and was there to help take care of them until their very last day and, and, you know, really shouldered the burden, versus the child who lived three states away and only got to see mom and dad one time a year or something, and the different ways that they grieve.

W- that different way of grieving, right, the one who's lived down the street, they're gonna take the loss much heavier than the one who's been more distant for all these years, located more distantly.

Um, a- a- and that plays out the same way in dealing with the post-death wrap-up, if you will.

So the one child from out of town, for instance, might come in and say, "Well, let's just start cleaning out the house before-

Right.

We need powers of attorney, right? A medical power of attorney to designate your kids to be able to make medical decisions for you if you can't make those decisions for yourself.

Mm-hmm

... and it drew me in like so many do, right? And it was this doc- it was this, uh, psychiatrist talking about, um, uh, the, the different ways that children grieve the loss of a parent.

And so he drew the distinction about the child who lived down the street from mom and dad and was there to help take care of them until their very last day and, and, you know, really shouldered the burden, versus the child who lived three states away and only got to see mom and dad one time a year or something.

And the different ways that they grieve.

W- that different way of grieving, right, the one who lived down the street, they're gonna take the loss much heavier than the one who's been more distant for all these years, located more distantly.

Um, a- a- and that plays out the same way in dealing with the post-death wrap-up, if you will.

So the one child from out of town, for instance, might come in and say, "Well, let's just start cleaning out the house before-

Right.

this kind of a thing, say, removing you from a position within the company and replacing you with somebody else, as you might expect, you might be surprised that it doesn't do that.

That's right.

And, you know, so in Texas, I mean, we're a community property state.

So, so let's say, you know, husband creates a business while he's married to his wife.

They've got three kids, for instance.

And, and so husband's on everything.

He's the president, he's the CEO, he's the the treasurer, he's all of it, right? And he's the only one with a bank account because he's the only one that ever really goes to work.

What do you usually do to protect against those issues? And you mentioned some other things like kind of the succession of ownership, estate taxes, what kinds of tools you're looking at?