EDIT: 08/03/26
Small update: after the last, formative video conference between my father and his attorney's, we were expecting (and told) that final/re drafts would be submitted by this past weekend for review and then to be followed by his execution meeting.
FWIW: The claim on the part of the attorney's was that the review documents would be provided by 07/31/26 which was last Friday. This is not a big deal but I'm citing it here for historic reference and as a general breadcrumb to show his ongoing progress.
I'll be contacting my Dad's attorney directly this morning to discuss the provision of the final signatory review documents; the importance of this is emphasized by the fact that I sat with my father for a good while over the weekend, specifically to recount the decisions he had made in his previous joint conference call with his attorneys.
He was all clear on everything, so part of my discussion this morning will be to highlight the need to keep the subject at the forefront of our calendar's. We have all decided on a final execution date, but as my Dad's attorney has already suggested/commented, if we can meet earlier than the relatively conservative date that we've set, then we will. Again, this points back to the positive aspects of keeping the topic current after my father and I discussed key points once more over the weekend.
It's for another blog post but my Dad is going through some really tough times outside of getting his Trust/Will finalized, much of it being the naturally tough, biological aspects of simply being 83 but there are also very stressful interpersonal dynamics that have been disrupted of late which have, quite naturally, caused him a good deal of ongoing stress in the way of change and certain person's suddenly missing from his life who have been there for a long time. Another blog, as mentioned.
Point is, I'm very much wanting my father to get these legal matters sorted and "living," so that he can then address the other difficult work he's doing simultaeneously.
Further updates on the way.
EDIT: 07/24/26
Organized and facilitated joint video conference call with my father between himself and his legal team. The conference call was highly productive and my father's attorney's took expressed, specific time to isolate portions of the meeting and directly ask consequential questions of my father while I offered no input. This was appreciated and productive, as mentioned.
It should also be said here that I recorded the entire meeting with permission from all parties. These recordings are archived across several redundant media/locations for future reference should the minutes of the meeting be desired by any of my immediate family.
We finished the meeting with my discussing matters of payment and final time line for the execution of my father's Trust/Will process but lingering concerns remain:
- We did not EXACTLY discuss a final payment amount. The attorney just loosely said things may go "slightly over budget." I'll need to author a proper follow up do nail down a near exact final payment and a near exact final timeline. The attorney's comments are understood by myself in light of the specific changes my father decided to implement but I still need to provide an accurate estimate of any overages to my father.
- We did not PRECISELY define a timeline towards execution. I am going to let the process proceed sans input on my part for a few days and am currently authoring a follow up message to ensure the attorney's know we need both a final payment amount and a presentable timeline for execution of the draft/in-review documents.
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This page will serve as a living overview of the work my father and I are presently doing with respect to his Trust and Last Will. My purpose in putting this together is simple: to keep my siblings informed, in a clear and organized way, as the process continues to move forward. Because this matter is still in progress, I am presenting this as a working summary rather than a final statement of completed facts.
At this stage, the Trust and Will remain in the final stages of review and discussion. Accordingly, anything written here should be understood in that context — as part of an ongoing process that is still being refined before final signature and execution.
Trust and Will formation process
I. How the legal team was retained
The legal team representing my father was retained through a professional referral. From the outset, the goal has been to work through the estate plan carefully and deliberately, with an emphasis on ensuring that my father’s intentions are clearly understood and accurately reflected in the final documents.
II. Key planning priorities
A central issue in the process has been how to structure the estate in a way that aligns with my father’s wishes while remaining practical and orderly. One major part of that discussion has involved the treatment of his real property, which is intended to serve as the primary funding asset for the Trust.
Another important topic has been the relationship between the Trust, the Will, and the existing beneficiary designations already in place at my father’s financial institutions. My father’s preference, as we have discussed it, is for his liquid assets to remain governed by those existing designations rather than being folded unnecessarily into the Trust structure.
III. Ongoing communication and documentation
Because this process has involved a number of important decisions, I have made a point of keeping track of the major discussions as they occur. My aim is not to create unnecessary complication, but rather to preserve a clear record of the process for the benefit of the family and for my father’s own peace of mind.
It has also been important to me that my father remain directly involved in the final stages of review and execution. Since this is ultimately his estate plan, I believe it is essential that he be given every opportunity to confirm the final form of the documents in his own voice and on his own terms.
IV. Matters still being resolved
There are still a few open points that need to be fully addressed before final execution. These include:
Final confirmation of how the real property will be handled within the Trust structure.
Final clarification of how the Trust and Will will interact with existing beneficiary designations.
Final review of the language to ensure it accurately reflects my father’s intentions and avoids unnecessary ambiguity.
These are ordinary but important parts of the estate-planning process, and they deserve to be handled with care.
Why I am sharing this
I am posting this update because I believe it is better for my siblings to remain informed than to be left guessing about what is happening. Estate planning is often a sensitive subject, and I do not want anyone in the family to feel excluded from the general progress of the work. My hope is that this page will offer a steady, transparent, and respectful account of where things stand as we move toward completion.
This is not intended to be argumentative, alarmist, or adversarial. It is simply my effort to keep the family aware of the process while making sure my father’s wishes are treated with the seriousness they deserve.
Closing note
This page will continue to be updated as the work progresses. Once the documents are finalized and signed, I will be able to present a more complete and accurate account of the finished estate plan.
[end]
