I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard this sentence from grieving families:

“We thought everything was taken care of.”

They had a Will. They had powers of attorney. They had named beneficiaries. And yet… when Dad died, everything fell apart.

Accounts were frozen. Family members disagreed on next steps. Assets went through probate.
The life insurance payout triggered unexpected taxes. And the adult children who once gathered peacefully around the same table now only communicate through lawyers.

The Plan Looked Fine… But It Wasn’t Built to Work

Here’s the problem:

Most Estate Plans are written to look good on paper — not to work in the real world.

They’re full of legal jargon, boilerplate documents, and just enough structure to lull families into a false sense of security.

But then reality hits.

  • The Will is outdated
  • The Trust was never funded
  • The power of attorney expired or was never accepted
  • The healthcare directive doesn’t name the person who’s actually available
  • One sibling feels left out
  • And no one knows where the documents even are

What started as a plan becomes a puzzle. And that puzzle gets dumped on your family in the middle of the hardest week of their lives.

A Real Plan Doesn’t Just Exist — It Works

At Bascom Law, I don’t just write documents. I build real, working plans.

That means:

  • Reviewing how your assets are titled
  • Making sure your Trust actually holds your property
  • Coordinating your legal, financial, and medical wishes
  • Clarifying who does what when the time comes
  • Preparing your family, not just your paperwork

Because I’ve seen the devastation that happens when someone dies and “the plan” doesn’t function the way it was supposed to. And it breaks my heart every time.

What a Real Working Plan Looks Like

A client of mine — let’s call her Janet — came to me after watching her friend’s family tear each other apart after a parent’s passing. She didn’t want that for her kids.

So we got to work:

  • We created a Trust to keep everything out of court
  • We titled her assets correctly
  • We named backups for every role
  • We walked through what her children would need to do step by step
  • We even wrote a letter to be read after her passing — explaining her choices in her own words

And when the day came, her plan worked. No fighting. No confusion. No surprises.

Just peace. Just clarity. Just love — passed from one generation to the next.

You Only Get One Chance to Get This Right

An Estate Plan that looks good in a binder but falls apart when needed… isn’t a plan. It’s a risk. And your family deserves better. Call my office today. Let’s make sure your plan doesn’t just check the box — it actually works when your family needs it most.

Because the best legacy you can leave isn’t money. It’s peace of mind.

Sincerely and Thanks,

Mike

Mike Bascom
Bascom Law, PC
770-285-5493