In over 35 years of working in estate planning, I’ve seen just about everything. The heartfelt stories, the graceful exits, the peaceful transitions — those happen, and they’re beautiful.

But I’ve also seen the ugly side: the family breakups, the court battles, the “this is NOT what Mom would have wanted” arguments… all because someone didn’t get their planning done right.

So today, I want to share a few of the real-life disasters I’ve witnessed firsthand — not to scare you, but to show you just how easy it is for good people, with good intentions, to leave behind a legal and emotional mess.

These are the stories that keep me passionate about what I do — and why I won’t let clients sleepwalk into the same traps.

So today, I’m doing you a favor: I’m bringing you the highlights (or lowlights?) — so you don’t make the same mistakes.

The Daughter Who Lost Everything — Because Her Name Wasn’t on Paper

She was 61. Her mother had just passed. They’d lived together for years, shared a joint bank account, and Mom had said everything would go to her when the time came.

But when the Will was pulled out? Her brother — who lived three states away and hadn’t visited in over a decade — got it all. The house. The bank accounts. Even the car she drove.

Turns out, Mom never updated her Will. It was 18 years old. And in the eyes of the court, the paperwork spoke louder than Mom’s intentions.

She lost everything. No house. No money. No recourse. Just heartbreak.

The Widow Who Got Sued by Her Stepkids

I worked with a gentleman — very successful, thoughtful, loving husband and father — who passed away unexpectedly. He had children from a prior marriage and had remarried later in life. Everyone got along… until he died.

Because he never created an Estate Plan or specified how assets were to be divided, his wife was dragged through a painful probate process — by her late husband’s kids.

The same kids she had vacationed with. Bought birthday gifts for. Shared Christmas dinners with. What started as a blended family turned into a bitter legal battle. And the only winner was the court system.

The Family That Tore Itself Apart Over a Grandfather Clock

This one still hurts. The estate wasn’t massive. A modest home, a few retirement accounts, and a handful of personal belongings. But there was this one item: a grandfather clock that had sat in the entryway of their parents’ home for 40 years.

Both daughters wanted it.

One claimed she had always been promised the clock. The other said she had cared for their parents in their final years and “deserved” it.

No one budged. Emotions ran high. They stopped speaking after the funeral.

What These Stories All Have in Common

Every single one of them could have been prevented with a simple conversation and some thoughtful legal planning.

But that’s not what most people do. Most people wait. They assume their family will “do the right thing.” They think a basic Will is enough. They don’t want to talk about death, money, or “what-ifs.” And that’s how good families fall apart.

You Don’t Need a Million Dollars to Leave a Legacy

Some of the worst conflicts I’ve seen weren’t about money — they were about meaning. A wedding ring. A piece of land. A family heirloom. A promise made — and broken — because it was never written down.

Estate planning isn’t about being rich. It’s about preventing confusion, conflict, and courtrooms.

At Bascom Law, we help families:

  • Avoid probate entirely by setting up Estate Plans that keep things private and out of court
  • Ensure your assets go exactly where you want them to — no second-guessing or legal loopholes
  • Protect blended families, special needs children, aging parents, and everyone in between
  • Create a clear, enforceable roadmap that prevents the most common disasters I’ve seen

The Best Time to Plan Was Yesterday. The Second Best Time Is Now.

If you’ve been putting this off — I get it. It’s not easy to think about. But the pain of leaving your family unprepared is far worse than the discomfort of having the conversation.

You don’t need to do this alone. That’s what I’m here for. Call my office today, and let’s make sure your story doesn’t become someone else’s cautionary tale.

Sincerely and Thanks,
Mike
Mike Bascom
Bascom Law, PC
770-285-5493