Most of us know that creating a will is important, yet it is easy to keep putting it off. Estate planning can feel overwhelming, meeting with an attorney may seem intimidating, and thinking about a time when we will no longer be here is uncomfortable. But making a plan is one of the clearest ways to care for the people you love and make sure your wishes are understood.

Planning your Kirkland Legacy: Why We Put Off Making a Will and How to Finally Begin

Most of us know that creating a will is important. Yet between busy schedules, uncertainty about where to begin, the discomfort of meeting with an attorney and the difficulty of thinking about a time when we will no longer be here, estate planning can easily fall to the bottom of the list.   Jessica Beck, an estate-planning attorney with Krueger Beck Kravitz PLLC in Kirkland, and a long-time leader in the Kirkland Community believes the most important thing is simply taking the first step.

“The thought of seeing a lawyer is a barrier. The thought of contemplating mortality is a barrier,” Beck said. “This is something that is easy to shove down to the bottom of the priority list until it’s not easy.”

Doing nothing still creates an outcome

Joel Petersen of Sound Legacy Wealth Advisors, and Kirkland Community Foundation Board Member,   reminds clients that postponing a decision is still a decision.

 “No decision is a decision,” Petersen said.

When we do not make our own plans, our families are still left to manage our property, accounts, belongings and responsibilities. The difference is that they must do it without the direction we could have provided.

Leaving a Roadmap

Beck describes a will or revocable living trust as a roadmap left behind for your family.

“If there’s no map, they still have to travel the road,” she explained, “but they will encounter so many more twists and turns along the way.”

Without clear instructions, family members may disagree about who should be in charge, what the person who has passed would have wanted or how property should be divided. Planning can reduce uncertainty and help families make difficult decisions during an already emotional time.

Estate planning includes more than a will

A will is an important part of an estate plan, but it may not be the only document you need.
Beck generally begins with several essential documents:

• A will that explains how property should be distributed and who should carry out those instructions
• A financial power of attorney
• A healthcare power of attorney
• A healthcare directive, sometimes called a living will.

These documents help address decisions that may need to be made during your lifetime as well as what should happen after your death.

Your plan should also work together with your financial accounts. Retirement accounts, life insurance policies and certain other assets may pass according to the beneficiary designations attached to those accounts rather than through instructions in a will.

Petersen recommends checking both primary and contingent beneficiaries. A contingent beneficiary is the person or organization that receives an account if the primary beneficiary cannot.

Begin with what you want

You do not need to understand every legal or financial term before meeting with a professional.
Beck suggests starting with a much simpler question:

In a perfect world, what would you want to happen if you were no longer here?

Think about:

• Who would you want to manage your affairs?
• Who should receive your property and belongings?
• Who would care for minor children or others who depend on you?
• Are there particular possessions with personal meaning?
• Are there people, organizations or community causes you would want to remember?

“Just record the first thing that comes to your mind,” Beck advises. An attorney can help turn those wishes into a plan and identify issues you may not have considered.

Gather the basic information

Before an estate-planning meeting, it can help to gather:

• Existing wills, trusts or powers of attorney
• Basic information about your family and intended beneficiaries
• Information about your home and other real estate
• Bank, investment and retirement accounts
• Life insurance policies
• Business interests
• Valuable or personally meaningful collections and belongings

You do not necessarily need exact values for everything before the first conversation. The goal is to give your attorney and financial advisor a clear picture of the people, property and priorities that should be considered.

Your attorney and financial advisor work together

Estate and financial planning are deeply connected.
A financial advisor can help you understand your accounts, assets, savings goals and beneficiary designations. An estate-planning attorney prepares the legal documents that put your intentions into effect.
Beck says she values working with financial advisors because there is considerable overlap involving account ownership, beneficiary designations and the assets included in a person’s overall plan.
Petersen describes the relationship in a different way: thoughtful planning gives you greater ability to decide how your resources will support your life, your family and your community.

Take one step

You do not have to finish everything at once.

Your first step might be:

• Finding your existing will
• Reviewing the beneficiaries on one retirement account
• Writing down the names of the people you would trust to help
• Scheduling a conversation with an attorney
• Talking with your family about your wishes

Estate planning is ultimately an act of care. It gives the people you love clearer direction and allows you to make choices that reflect your own values.

About the Kirkland Community Foundation

The Kirkland Community Foundation connects people, ideas and resources to strengthen Kirkland. We can help you explore charitable giving, legacy gifts, donor-advised funds and ways to support the local causes you care about. Learn more at KirklandCommunity.org or contact us directly. EIN: 46-4931717.

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice. Please consult a qualified attorney, tax professional or financial advisor about your individual circumstances.

Founded in 2014, the Kirkland Community Foundation is a local community foundation supporting nonprofits across Kirkland and the Eastside. We connect donors, nonprofits, and community priorities through grants, partnerships, and local giving that strengthen our parks, people, and shared future. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 46‑4931717), we invest in thriving nonprofits, visible community impact, and trusted local leadership.