When you hear “estate planning,” do you picture a wealthy older couple sitting across from a suited attorney, signing documents for a mansion and a yacht.
Yes, estate planning is for that wealthy older couple, but it is also for you. The 32-year-old starting her first real job. The young couple who just bought their first home. The single mom making sure her kids are taken care of. The sandwich generation daughter helping aging parents while raising her own children.
Estate planning is for anyone who has people they love and things — big or small — that matter to them.
What exactly is an estate plan?
An estate plan is a set of legal documents that spell out your wishes for three things:
- What happens to your belongings when you’re gone.
- Who makes decisions for you if you can’t make them yourself.
- Who takes care of your children if something happens to you.
It typically includes a will, a financial power of attorney, a healthcare power of attorney (sometimes called an advance directive), and depending on your situation, a trust.
That’s it. No yacht required.
“But I don’t have much to leave anyone.”
This is the most common reason people put off estate planning — and one of the most misunderstood.
Your estate isn’t just your bank account. It’s your car. Your jewelry. Your retirement account. Your life insurance policy. The sentimental things that can’t be replaced. And most importantly — for parents of minor children — it’s the legal designation of who raises your kids if you’re not here.
Without a plan, a court decides all of that. A judge who has never met you or your family will make decisions that could have been entirely in your control.
“I’m too young to think about this.”
Here’s the truth: the moment you turn 18, your parents no longer have the legal right to make medical or financial decisions for you — even in an emergency. If something were to happen to you tomorrow, your family could be locked out of your accounts, unable to speak with your doctors, and left guessing what you would have wanted.
A basic estate plan at 25 takes a few hours and gives your family an enormous amount of peace of mind.
Why this matters especially for our communities
Generational wealth doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built intentionally — through homeownership, through saving, and yes, through estate planning. Research consistently shows that Black and Latino families are significantly less likely to have wills and estate plans, often because of cost barriers, distrust of legal systems, or simply not knowing where to start.
But the cost of not having a plan is almost always greater than the cost of getting one. When someone dies without a will, the probate process can be lengthy, expensive, and emotionally draining for the family left behind. Assets can be lost. Family relationships can fracture.
You’ve worked hard for what you have. A plan protects it.
Where do you start?
Start with a conversation. A good estate planning attorney will meet you where you are — whether you need a simple will and power of attorney, or a comprehensive plan with a trust. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and there’s no judgment about where you are in life right now.
What matters is that you take the first step.
Ready to get started? I’d love to help you put a plan in place that reflects your life, your values, and the people you love.
~ Kendra
