As a father, your number one goal is likely to provide for your family in the best way you possibly can. But have you taken steps to ensure the people you love will be cared for if something happens to you? And, if you have, are those steps the right steps or are they false security that will leave your family with a mess you wouldn’t wish on anyone?

This Father's Day offers the perfect opportunity to explore how estate planning done the right way becomes the ultimate expression of fatherly love and provision.

THE WEIGHT OF FATHERLY RESPONSIBILITY

Being a father means carrying an invisible weight that never truly lifts from your shoulders. From the moment your first child arrives, you become acutely aware that others depend on you, not just for today's needs but for tomorrow's security. This awareness often intensifies as your children grow and your responsibilities multiply.

THE EVOLVING LEGAL LANDSCAPE FOR LGBTQIA+ FAMILIES
While significant legal advancements have been made for LGBTQIA+ individuals and families, the legal landscape remains complex and varies by state. Marriage equality was a tremendous step forward, but it didn't solve all the legal challenges faced by the community.

For example, in some states, legal recognition of non-biological parents in same-sex relationships can be tenuous without proper documentation. Healthcare directives might be questioned if estranged biological family members challenge a partner's right to make decisions. Assets without proper beneficiary designations could end up with distant relatives instead of long-term partners.

Many LGBTQIA+ adults in the U.S. are in committed relationships or raising children. They are also often less likely to have estate plans in place compared to their heterosexual counterparts, leaving them particularly vulnerable to legal complications.

Relying solely on marriage equality for protection is insufficient. Without comprehensive planning, you risk leaving crucial decisions about your health, assets, and loved ones to a system that may not align with your wishes. But with proper Life & Legacy Planning, you can create legal safeguards that respect your unique family structure and ensure your voice is heard.

Then, unexpectedly, you pass away—and nearly five years later, a will you may have created suddenly appears.

Meanwhile, your family has been battling creditors, former associates, and mounting legal fees in a probate nightmare that has cost millions and years to manage.

This isn't the plot of a legal thriller—it's the real-life saga of Tony Hsieh, the former Zappos CEO who died in November 2020 at age 46. After years of his estate being managed under the assumption he died without a will, a document dated March 2015 mysteriously surfaced in February 2025.

This surprising twist could completely upend the years of legal proceedings that have already occurred. The story serves as a powerful reminder of why proper estate planning, with regular reviews and updates, is critical no matter your age or wealth status. Let's explore what went wrong and how a Life & Legacy Plan could have prevented such chaos.

This is where thoughtful estate planning enters the picture—not as a cold legal process, but as one of the most profound expressions of motherly love possible. How, you may ask? Let’s dive in and find out.

A MOTHER'S CARE EXPRESSED THROUGH LEGAL PLANNING

Think about how a mother typically plans her day—ensuring lunches are packed, coordinating activities, helping with homework, and keeping track of appointments. This intricate daily choreography stems from a deep well of love and the desire to see the family thrive. Estate planning follows that same pattern of thoughtful care, just on a longer timeline.

When mom creates an estate plan, she's essentially saying, "I want to continue caring for you, even when I'm no longer physically present." It's the ultimate expression of maternal care. In my experience, I've seen many mothers recognize that planning for their children's future isn't optional—it's as essential as putting food on the table today.

Here’s what happened. In 2013, Howells mistakenly discarded a hard drive during an office cleanup. What he didn't realize until too late was that this particular drive contained the only copy of his private key to access 8,000 Bitcoin (BTC)  he had mined years earlier. When he realized his error months later, the cryptocurrency had already skyrocketed in value.

Today, those 8,000 BTC would be worth approximately $700 million, and as much as $848,000 at the BTC all-time high thus far. It’s very likely that Howells’ lost BTC will be worth over $1 billion at some point.

For over a decade, Howells has tried everything to recover his lost fortune – begging local officials for permission to search the landfill, offering to share the recovered BTC with the city, taking his case to court, and even proposing to buy the entire landfill.

Great work. But here's something you may not realize: an estate plan, a will, or a trust isn't a "set it and forget it" type of thing. Your estate plan is a living set of documents and tools that need regular attention to ensure they work when your loved ones need them and that they don’t fail at the worst possible moment.

Think about it this way: Would you still wear the same clothes you bought ten years ago without checking if they still fit? Probably not. Similarly, your estate plan, including your trust, needs to be reviewed regularly to ensure it still "fits" your current life situation, assets, the law, and your wishes. Let's explore why regular estate plan reviews are so crucial and how often you should be checking in on your plan.

LIFE CHANGES, AND YOUR TRUST SHOULD TOO

Life rarely stays the same for long. Since you created your trust, you've likely experienced changes in your personal and financial life. Each of these changes can impact how effective your trust will be in protecting your assets and providing for your loved ones.

Before you stop reading, hear me out.

Whether it’s a breakup, divorce, or the death of a loved one after a lifetime together, every relationship eventually will come to an end. The most important thing is how you have planned for that ending, or whether you haven’t at all, as your planning (or lack of it) will have a real impact on you, your partner, your children, and your assets. 

The silver lining? While we can't prevent the end, we can prepare for it with a blend of compassion and strategic planning that makes the end the best possible foundation for a new beginning.

Understanding the Intersection of Love and Law

Love is wonderful—joyful moments, shared dreams for the future, and yes, some legal considerations too. For married couples, the law has default provisions in place for what happens to your assets if one of you dies, but those default plans may not align with your personal preferences or the life you’ve built with your partner.

While no one wants to think about emergencies during vacation, having proper protection in place lets you truly relax and enjoy making memories together.

Let's explore why having a Kids Protection Plan® (“KPP”) in place before traveling is essential and what steps you can take to protect your children. Please note: most lawyers, even at the top estate planning firms, often make at least one of 6 common mistakes that the KPP is designed to address, when naming legal guardians for children in an estate plan. 

THE HIDDEN RISKS OF TRAVELING WITHOUT PROTECTION

When you're caught up in vacation planning excitement, it's easy to focus only on the fun ahead. However, traveling presents unique risks and scenarios you need to consider. If you become incapacitated in a car accident or experience any other emergency while away from home, what would happen to your children in those critical first hours or days? Without proper legal documentation, your children could be temporarily taken into the care of strangers or social services until the proper authorities can determine who has the legal authority to care for them.

While no one can predict exactly what will happen, proper estate planning gives you security, regardless of political changes.

UNDERSTANDING CURRENT PROTECTIONS AND POTENTIAL CHANGES

Same-sex marriage is currently recognized in all 50 states under federal law, protected by the Supreme Court's Obergefell decision and the Respect for Marriage Act. If you were married in states like Massachusetts or New York—early adopters of marriage equality—your marriage remains valid under those state laws regardless of federal changes.

But state-level protections vary significantly. Some states have explicit constitutional protections for same-sex marriage, while others maintain laws that could restrict marriage rights if federal protections change. Understanding your state's specific laws is crucial. For example, Massachusetts not only recognizes same-sex marriage but also provides strong protections for non-biological parents and inheritance rights.

Her story shows why proper timing and planning are crucial when navigating divorce - one of life's most challenging transitions.

THE POWER OF TIMING

According to reports, just one day before her death, Doherty filed for an uncontested divorce from her husband Kurt Iswarienko, who signed the agreement the following day. This eleventh-hour timing proved crucial for her estate. By finalizing the divorce, Doherty ensured her assets - including a $6 million Malibu home and future residuals from her acting career - would be distributed according to her wishes rather than being subject to community property laws.

Had the divorce not been finalized, the outcome could have been drastically different. In some states, if a person dies during an active divorce proceeding, the process either halts or is significantly altered. Without a finalized divorce agreement in a community property state like California, Iswarienko could have had a legitimate claim to significant portions of Doherty's estate, potentially leading to years of costly legal battles and family conflict.