Small Plates

November 27, 2024

Imagine a Thanksgiving dinner where you arrive, eager to stuff yourself with turkey AND ham AND deviled eggs AND sweet potato AND corn casserole AND green beans AND–only to discover you have been given a tiny plate that can barely hold a sliver of white meat? The host takes your coat and directs you to the sparse buffet line, telling you to hurry up and make your own plate. 

You have to pick and choose as you go, afraid to pass up on the sweet potatoes lest you miss out on them entirely, skipping some dishes you aren’t as familiar with in favor of filling your plate with things you recognize. You might pass on a dish, thinking it might be too much for the paper plate you’ve got. You sit down to eat, thinking you got a meal, but you’re still left hungry.

Some people estate plan like they are holding a saucer at a buffet line. They recognize that they need a will, so they grab one of those. They don’t have room for a power of attorney and they don’t know what a living will is, they skip over the trust because they think it’s not necessary for their size of estate. Unfortunately, you can end up unsatisfied, because the plan you made is not enough to cover your needs. In some cases, the DIY plan can end up costing more money because it ends up in expensive probate or subject to litigation. Consulting with a good attorney can help make sure your estate plan is sufficient to fulfill your needs and avoid some pitfalls you may not see coming.

Tree Ring Legal offers our plans as a package deal–we make the plate for you, and we know what size it should be to make sure you’re satisfied. We are happy to explain the documents so you can understand what they do and why they are there, all for a reasonable cost. Don’t fall victim to a “small plate” DIY estate plan. Contact Tree Ring Legal to set up a free consultation and we can help you get a full-plate plan put together.