Linda was 61, healthy, still working, and living comfortably in the home she had owned for years. She wasn’t wealthy and wasn’t expecting any major changes in her life. Like many people, she thought estate planning was something she would get around to “someday.”
Then a close friend suffered a sudden stroke.
As Linda watched her friend’s family navigate an unexpected medical crisis, she began thinking about questions she had never considered urgent. Who would make my healthcare decisions if I couldn’t speak for myself? Who could manage my finances? Where would they find my important documents? Who would know what I wanted? What would happen to my dog?
And then there were the less obvious questions. What about the family photographs on her computer? Her online accounts and digital assets? What kind of funeral or memorial service would she want? And if something happened to her while she was responsible for her mother, who would step in?
Linda realized that estate planning wasn’t really about being old or wealthy. It was about being prepared for the possibility that life might suddenly look very different. So she made a plan.
She created a will and considered whether a trust was appropriate for her circumstances. She completed a healthcare directive and designated someone she trusted to make medical decisions if she could not. She established a financial Power of Attorney so someone could handle her finances if necessary. She documented how she wanted her digital assets handled and put her wishes for her funeral or memorial service in writing.
She also made arrangements for the care of her beloved dog.
But Linda didn’t stop with the question, “How can I protect the people I love?” She asked another: “How can I make a difference beyond my lifetime?”
That question led her to include International Children’s Care in her will. Linda knew that her gift could help provide care, education, opportunity, and hope to orphaned and abandoned children—children she might never meet, but whose lives could be changed by her generosity.
Linda’s estate plan wasn’t about leaving behind a fortune. It was about leaving behind clarity, care, and purpose.
National Estate Planning Awareness Week, October 18–24, is an opportunity to ask yourself the same questions. You don’t have to be old or wealthy to have an estate. If you own a home, have a bank account, take family photos, care for a pet, or have people who depend on you, you have a plan worth making.
Don’t make your family guess. Give them the gift of knowing what you want. And consider making your legacy one that continues to bless others long after you’re gone.
Oct 18–24, 2026
National Estate Planning Awareness Week
It’s a great time to review your estate plan documents to ensure they meet your goals.
Use the FREE estate planning tools provided by our partner FreeWill to make your updates.
Haven’t completed your estate plan yet? Get started today: frwill.link
Questions?
Email Wendy at:
Wendy@forhiskids.org
or call — (360) 573–0429.
