Still Think You’re Too Young for a Will or Power of Attorney? Let’s Revisit That.

I recently wrote about why estate planning isn’t just for retirees, parents, or people with six-figure investment portfolios. And if you’re between 20 and 40, chances are good that you read that and thought, ‘‘Ok, I get it… but I’m still not sure it’s urgent.’’

Let’s go a little deeper.

The truth is, most people in this age range aren’t necessarily wrong when they say “I’m not planning on dying anytime soon.” None of us are. But the problem with that logic is that planning for the unexpected isn’t about anticipating death, it’s about avoiding chaos while you’re still very much alive.

Here’s what I mean.

Power of attorney documents (both financial and healthcare) don’t wait until the end of life to become relevant. They’re about what happens if you’re in the hospital for a week, or under anesthesia, or dealing with a mental health crisis, or unable to sign something important because you’re in another state. This could be a car accident. It could be an unexpected surgery. It could be burnout, postpartum, or a temporary disability. Who handles your rent, your job, your dog, your savings account, or your medical decisions?

Without these documents, even your partner or parents may have no legal right to act on your behalf.

That’s not a scare tactic. It’s the legal reality.

And when it comes to wills, if you have a child, this is not optional. You need a written, legally binding plan for who would raise that child if something happened to you. Period. That is not a decision you want left in the hands of the court or based on who shows up with the best story. You get one chance to name that person. A will is where that happens.

Beyond that, more and more people in their 20s and 30s are building real assets. Maybe not in the traditional “white picket fence and trust fund” sense, but still: we have retirement accounts, digital assets, crypto wallets, small businesses, life insurance policies, art collections, pets who feel like family, or just a deep desire to leave something behind in a way that means something.

Even if you don’t think you “have enough” yet, that’s never actually been the point. The point is having a say. And making that say legally binding while you’re still here to make it.

Here’s something we didn’t talk about last time: estate planning isn’t just about emergencies. It’s also about autonomy. That includes reproductive autonomy, relationship recognition (especially for LGBTQ+ folks), and the ability to set boundaries in writing that reflect your values. Not your family’s, not your ex’s, and definitely not the court’s.

Naming who shouldn’t be making decisions for you can be just as important as naming who should. That nuance often gets overlooked, until it’s too late.

So if you read the last post and thought, “I get it, I’ll do it eventually,” I hope this is the nudge to make it real. Because eventually doesn’t schedule the meeting. Eventually doesn’t create clarity for your people. Eventually doesn’t protect your kid, your assets, or your voice.

You do.

Not sure what’s right for you? I’m happy to walk you through it. Whether you’ve got questions or just want a better understanding of how these documents work, feel free to give me a call at 402-259-0059.