I have experienced the loss of loved ones since I was very young, and as I’ve gotten older, I’ve seen the tension and aftermath that comes with not having an estate plan or not having an adequate estate plan. To this day, I have family members who still hold grudges against each other even years after someone’s death. At the same time, I’ve seen the value that a thorough estate plan has and the solace it provides to all involved.

I’ve also learned in life that things don’t always go as planned. While talking about death can be uncomfortable and easy to avoid, talking about death means planning for death. Further, planning for death means taking the time to create a plan for what will happen after you pass — creating time and space for your loved ones to grieve.

I think the reason many are so shy to discuss topics concerning death is because we are simply scared and don’t want to think about it. But we can’t deny the inevitable, so let’s talk about it! As an estate planning attorney at Schromen Law, LLC, I pride myself on simplifying the process and minimizing my clients’ stress levels during what can be difficult conversations. While sometimes challenging, these are important decisions that we have to make and there is always a sense of relief when documents are finalized.