The Estate Plan They Wanted — But Ran Out of Time to Sign

There are days in this work that stay with you.

Not long ago, I got a call about a man named Greg — a father, grandfather, small business owner — who had gone into the hospital a few days earlier. What started as a trip to the ER for shortness of breath turned into a diagnosis of severe heart failure. He was in the ICU, and things were moving fast. His daughter called. He didn’t have a will. No power of attorney. No health care directive. Nothing in place. They wanted to know if there was still time to get it done.

I told them I’d come to the hospital first thing the next morning. I brought my laptop, my notary kit, and draft documents. I met with Greg, sat at his bedside, and we talked through what he wanted. He was clear: he wanted to make sure his wife could manage things without needing court involvement, and he wanted to avoid family disputes. We reviewed the plan together. The family was relieved to know it could be done.

I told them I would finalize the documents and return that afternoon to sign — and because I’m also a notary, I could handle everything on the spot.

Not long after I left, the daughter called again. His condition had worsened. He was starting to slip in and out. They weren’t sure if he’d be able to sign later. I dropped everything, printed the documents, and went straight back.

But by the time I arrived, it was too late. He was no longer responsive.

At that point, there was nothing I could do legally. I sat with the family and explained what would happen now — probate court, delays, the lack of clear authority for anyone to act in the meantime. And then I told them: today isn’t the day to worry about all of that. Just be with each other. We’ll handle the legal side later.

And this is the part I want to say clearly: asking your loved ones to get an estate plan done isn’t annoying. It’s one of the most caring, protective things you can do for them. Because when a crisis hits, time disappears. And once someone can’t sign, it’s too late.

If you’ve been meaning to get your plan done — or to help a family member get theirs done — reach out. You can contact me at 402-259-0059 or email zach@zandersonlaw.com. The best time to do this is before you need it. And when you’re ready, I’m here to help.