A couple of years ago, MH began including a new section in our estate planning portfolio entitled, “My Legacy.” The section is divided into categories in which our clients can write about all the various stages of their lives – their childhood, their newlywed years, their empty-nester years, etc. They also can write about their family members and the impact that each of them had on our clients’ lives. It’s just a nice, organized way to record your thoughts about what truly is important in life – your family.

One thing I’ve noticed as an estate planning attorney is that many of my clients believe they are invincible. Here’s their line of thinking – nothing has happened to me so far, so why will anything happen to me tomorrow? Does this sound familiar to anyone reading this? I’m sure we can all think of someone who has this outlook on life. I think it is human nature to think that we will always have another chance, another opportunity, to share something with someone or talk to someone again. But what happens if that moment never comes?

My grandmother was an excellent historian. She kept notes about every grandchild and produced several compilations of thoughts, quotes, stories, pictures, and biographies of my entire family tree. I am so grateful that she took the time to do that. Now that she is not here anymore, I can still feel a connection with her and be able to remember all the times I was able to be with her.

Whether you’re a client of our firm or not, I’d encourage you to take a moment and write down your thoughts about your life and your family. These thoughts can be as short or as long as you want, but you’d be surprised at how many family members have told me that the intangible things, such as writings, artwork, and stories, mean more to them than any amount of money you pass on to them. Don’t be fooled by your invincibility. Let your family know how important they are to you and do it today.

About Morris Hall:

At Morris Hall, we have focused our legal practice on estate planning for over 40 years.  Along with estate planning, our attorneys help clients and their families with matters of probate, trust administration, wills, power of attorneys, business planning, succession planning, legacy planning, charitable gifting and other important legal aspects.  We also have divisions in financial, real estate and accounting to help you incorporate all of your planning together, ensuring that everything works perfectly for your needs and situation. Our Arizona offices are located in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tucson, Prescott, Flagstaff and Arrowhead.  Our New Mexico offices are located in Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Santa Fe.  Contact us today at 888.222.1328 to schedule an appointment!

This blog should be used for informational purposes only.  It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice.  If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney in your community who can assess the specifics of your situation.