Myth vs. Reality: My Family Will Automatically Know What to Do

So this myth is also a version of like, I hear, well, this person who I have, my son, my daughter, my friend as my trustee, and they’re very smart, and they’re good with money. They may even be an attorney, a CPA, or some kind of professional that we assume will know how to administer a trust when the time comes. But in fact, it’s been our experience that that’s not actually true.

Once you create a plan and you put all the ideas, wishes, and intentions you want for your family to protect them, to support you, into a plan, the execution of it at incapacity or death is gonna need some professional help. Just because you put the plan into place doesn’t mean it actually deploys right away when something happens. Most times, trustees are gonna need some help. They’re going to need to ask someone questions to make sure that they’re executing that plan correctly.

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Bridget Mackay

Bridget has been practicing law for over 25 years. After graduating from Santa Clara Law, she spent 10 years as a Deputy District attorney in both Solano and Sonoma Counties. After the birth of her daughter, her priorities changed, and she began a practice in estate planning and Medi-Cal benefits planning. This transition was a natural fit and all her skills of listening, compassion and fearless pursuit on behalf of her clients translated well to this area of law. She lives in Petaluma with her daughter and Australian Shepherd, Joey. Read More!

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