Dear Friend,

There’s a phrase I hear more often than I care to admit: “We’ll take care of it when the time comes.”

It sounds harmless. Even responsible. Like you’re being practical—waiting for the right moment, the right time, when things feel a little more settled.

But here’s the problem…

When the time comes, it’s already too late.

I’ve seen it more times than I can count—good people, smart families, full of love and good intentions… left scrambling because “later” showed up without warning.

When “Later” Kicks Down the Door

No one expects the emergency room at 2:14 a.m. No one plans to sit across from a doctor who says, “We need a decision—now.” No one thinks today is the day they’ll be asked to speak for someone who can’t speak for themselves.

But it happens.

A husband collapses in the kitchen. A parent slips and doesn’t wake up. A loved one fades faster than the doctors predicted. And suddenly, the person who always had the answers… is gone.

And you’re the one everyone’s looking at.

What did they want?
Who’s in charge?
Where’s the paperwork?
What do we do now?

Delay Feels Safe. But It Isn’t.

Let’s be honest—nobody wakes up excited to plan for worst-case scenarios. Life gets busy. Emotions get complicated. And “someday” feels like a safe place to leave something you’d rather not think about.

But someday isn’t a date on the calendar. It’s a blindfold.

And every day you delay, you’re choosing—whether you mean to or not—to leave your family in the dark.

Because delay is a decision.

A decision to hope nothing bad happens. A decision to believe there will always be time. A decision that, when things go wrong, someone else will have to figure it out.

And the person left figuring it out? It’s always someone you love.

The Real Cost of Waiting

When you delay planning, you don’t just leave behind confusion—you leave behind a burden. You leave behind phone calls to attorneys and financial institutions that won’t release information. You leave behind court filings, emergency guardianships, and probate hearings that eat up time and money. You leave behind questions your family isn’t equipped to answer—and guilt they’ll carry for years if they get it wrong. You leave behind tension, confusion, and unnecessary pain.

I’ve seen siblings who no longer speak because of what wasn’t written down.
I’ve seen spouses forced into courtrooms instead of being allowed to grieve.
I’ve seen children break down in my office because they just didn’t know what their parents wanted.

All because “we’ll take care of it later” felt like enough. It never is.

The Sooner You Plan, The Softer the Landing

There’s a different kind of family that walks into my office, too. The ones who came in early. The ones who didn’t wait for a crisis. The ones who had the hard conversations and made the thoughtful decisions while they still had time.

And the difference? It’s night and day.

They’re calm. They’re united. They’re heartbroken, yes—but not lost. They know what to do. They know who’s in charge. They have the peace of mind that only comes from one place: clarity. Because clarity is a gift. And planning ahead is how you wrap it.

“Later” Isn’t a Plan. It’s a Gamble.

And when it comes to your family, your legacy, and the people who depend on you, gambling isn’t just risky. It’s reckless.

You don’t need to have every detail figured out right now. You just need to start. With the right guidance. With someone who will walk you through it—step by step, question by question—until it all makes sense and feels right.

Call Bascom Law today. We’ll help you stop guessing and start planning—so that when life throws the unexpected your way, your family won’t be left holding a mess.

They’ll be holding your plan. Your wishes. Your love. Because the best time to prepare for the future was yesterday. The second-best time… is now.

Sincerely and Thanks,

Mike

Mike Bascom
Bascom Law, PC
770-285-5493