A book by Elaine Andrews
Fifty Excuses (Not) To Do Bulletproof Estate Planning
A practical invitation to stop postponing the decisions that protect your independence, your family and your future.
Behind the book
Why Elaine wrote the book.
A client’s experience with an improper conservatorship inspired Elaine to explain why estate planning reaches beyond inheritance. The book explores delay, professional guidance, family pressure and the limits of relying on informal or online documents.
The title borrows the reasons people give for waiting. The chapters look past those reasons to what a plan protects: independence during life, decisions during incapacity and the people who inherit afterwards.
Read it three ways.
- Understand the stakes
- Consider the decisions a plan should address during your life.
- Recognize common pitfalls
- Explore shortcuts, delay and assumptions that deserve a closer look.
- Take a first step
- Use the book to prepare better questions for a planning conversation.
Inside the book
A few places to begin.
- Making room in your budget for a planp. 41
- Considering the limits of online document servicesp. 49
- Making the planning process manageablep. 55
- Why informal written wishes need scrutinyp. 92
- Avoiding assumptions about what a spouse can handlep. 107
- Responding to pressure from familyp. 126
- Finding useful legal resourcesp. 137
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the book.
Who is the book written for?
It is for readers who have delayed planning, are concerned about a loved one, or want to understand the decisions behind an estate plan.
Does reading the book create an estate plan?
No. Reading helps you prepare questions; your circumstances still need individual attention, appropriate documents and decisions about your property.
Can I use it if I already have a trust?
Yes. Note the chapters that raise questions about your current plan and bring those questions, along with your documents, to a review.
Where can I find the book?
Use the Amazon link on this page for the current listing. Available formats and prices are determined by the retailer.
How can I discuss something I read?
Make a short note of the passage and the concern it raises for your family. Contact the firm to arrange a conversation about your situation.
Your next step
You don’t need every answer before you begin.
Start with a free initial consultation. Bring what you have — a draft list of assets, an old trust, a letter from a court — and leave knowing what comes next.
You’ll meet with Elaine Andrews Certified Specialist, Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law