They thought they had everything covered. They printed the Will and Power of Attorney from an online website. They filled in the blanks, signed it in front of two witnesses, tucked it in a drawer—and felt relieved.

“I’m glad we got that taken care of,” they said. Then life happened. A stroke. A death. A transition no one was ready for. And when their daughter showed up at the bank—Will or Power of Attorney in hand, heart still heavy—she was told one word that changed everything:

“No.”

It Looked Right… Until It Mattered

This story isn’t rare. In fact, we hear versions of it all the time. A DIY Estate Plan may look legitimate. It may even be technically legal. But that’s not the same as being enforceable—or effective.

The daughter in this case? She wasn’t listed as a Power of Attorney. The Will didn’t name an executor with enough clarity. The bank, following protocol, refused access to the accounts. The hospital wouldn’t allow her to make decisions. And eventually, the family was forced into probate court just to gain authority to manage basic affairs.

Months of delays. Thousands in legal fees. Untold emotional stress. All because they relied on a $99 template to protect a lifetime of assets.

Here’s the Real Problem with DIY Planning

When people use an online form, they assume they’re saving money. But what they’re really doing is creating risk—risk that shows up not while you’re alive and healthy, but when you’re gone or incapacitated… and your family needs things to work.

A DIY Will doesn’t walk your family through the court process. It doesn’t resolve disputes. A DIY Power of Attorney doesn’t hold up to scrutiny in a crisis. And it certainly doesn’t answer the phone at 2:00 a.m. when your spouse is trying to get your bank account unfrozen.

You see, estate planning isn’t about filling out paperwork. It’s about protecting what matters most.

  • Making sure your spouse has access to what they need.
  • Ensuring your children receive what you intended.
  • Avoiding court involvement that delays and drains your estate.
  • Preserving relationships, rather than igniting conflict.

Those are the outcomes that matter. And you don’t get them from a one-size-fits-all download.

The Legal System Doesn’t Reward Good Intentions

Here’s something most people don’t realize: The court doesn’t care that you meant to leave your house to your daughter. It doesn’t care that you intended to give your son access to your accounts. It doesn’t care that you thought the form you filled out would be enough.

The law only recognizes what is properly documented, witnessed, executed, and aligned with current statutes. If your plan doesn’t meet those standards, it’s not a plan—it’s a liability. And the people who suffer? Your loved ones.

What a Real Plan Looks Like—and What It Delivers

At Bascom Law, we don’t just create documents. We engineer outcomes. Our Estate Plans are built around what your family will actually face in a crisis:

  • What the hospital will ask for.
  • What the bank will require.
  • What the court will expect.
  • What your loved ones will need to avoid confusion, delay, or conflict.

We don’t leave gaps. We don’t rely on guesswork. And we never assume a signature alone is enough.

Most importantly?

You walk away with confidence that your family will be protected when the time comes.

Why It’s Worth Doing Right—Right Now

You don’t need to have a million-dollar estate to make a good plan worthwhile. In fact, the families who suffer the most from DIY disasters are often the ones who thought their situations were simple.

But no family is simple in a crisis. If you’ve created a DIY Estate Plan, now is the time to have it reviewed. And if you’ve been putting it off entirely—don’t wait until your family is standing in front of a locked door with no key.

Call Bascom Law today. Let’s build something better.

Not just a stack of documents, but a real plan, with real results, for the people who matter most. Because when the stakes are high, “We thought it was enough” won’t cut it.

Sincerely and Thanks,

Mike

Mike Bascom
Bascom Law, PC
770-285-5493