…and why it’s important to provide clarity, security and peace of mind for you and your loved ones

Story by Ellen Katz | Photo by Matt Odom

If you’ve procrastinated in creating an estate plan, you’re not alone. Recent surveys show that most Americans don’t have a will. Thinking about what happens after you’re gone isn’t easy, and many people worry about how their decisions might affect family relationships.

Still, planning ahead is essential — both medically and financially. We asked Macon estate planning attorneys why people hesitate and why tackling this important task is worth the effort. Here are four common rationalizations.

1. “I don’t know where to start.”

People think they need to have everything worked out before contacting an attorney, says Veronica McClendon of McClendon Law and Consulting in Macon. “They think ‘I’ll get around to it later.’ Between now and later, medical issues can happen. There’s never a perfect time to do it,” she explains.

2. “I don’t want to face my mortality.”

Nobody wants to think about dying. Some assume estate planning is only for the elderly, says Haley Stafford, an estate attorney at the Macon firm of Anderson, Walker & Reichert, LLP. Also, “Thinking about their impending death never seems to make it to the top of the to-do list,” she adds.

3. “It costs too much money.”

Stafford notes that “many people do not want to deal with the current expense of creating a will although doing so almost always saves money when the estate is administered.”

Without a will, you’ll be considered a term of art known as “intestate,” and Georgia law — not your personal wishes — will determine who receives your property. There can be delays, added costs, and disputes that proper planning could have prevented.

4. “Discussing financial issues is uncomfortable and leads to family tensions.”

Conversations about money can be awkward but avoiding them often makes things worse. Attorneys report that disagreements are common when someone dies without a will because a court’s distribution may not match expectations or reflect family dynamics.