Why It Matters to Your Loved Ones That You Work With the Right Lawyer
When someone you love passes away, grief already feels heavy enough. But for too many Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati families, that grief is only the beginning. They’re left sorting through confusing paperwork, frozen accounts, and a legal process that can feel like another loss in itself.
We see it all the time — families who thought they “had things handled,” only to find out that documents alone weren’t enough. Without the right lawyer — one who knows you, your people, and your wishes — what’s left behind can turn into legal chaos. And when that happens, the people you love most are the ones who pay the price.
Let’s look at what really happens when families try to navigate things alone, and what a difference it makes to have the right kind of lawyer by your side — before anything ever happens.
When “Simple” Turns Complicated: Real Stories From Real Families
These aren’t hypotheticals. They’re true-to-life stories that happen every week in probate courts across Kentucky and Ohio.
Molly’s Seven Handwritten Wills
Molly thought she could save time and money by writing her own will. After she died, her family discovered seven different handwritten versions tucked away in drawers and folders. Fourteen heirs came forward. Twelve long-lost relatives reappeared. One intended beneficiary nearly gave up the fight just to avoid more conflict.
Molly’s family spent years — and thousands of dollars — trying to make sense of her “simple” plan. And that’s the hard truth: what feels simple today can become incredibly complicated for the people you leave behind.
The Blended Family Betrayal
Nancy and Jack had what’s called “mirror wills” — everything to each other, then divided equally among their five children from prior marriages. When Nancy died unexpectedly, all her assets transferred to Jack. Within months, Jack rewrote his will to include only his biological kids.
Nancy’s two children were left out completely — forced to move from their mother’s home with nothing to show for it.
If you’re in a second (or third) marriage and have children from prior relationships, this can happen faster than you’d believe. Without the right planning — and the right lawyer to anticipate how the law treats blended families — your kids can be written out of your story entirely.
Frank’s 21 Heirs
Frank built a small construction business alongside two nephews he treated like sons. They were by his side until the end. But Frank never got around to making a will.
Kentucky’s intestacy laws required that his estate be divided evenly among 21 nieces and nephews — including 19 relatives he hadn’t seen in decades. The two who helped him build his business received the same small fraction as everyone else.
That’s how the law works when there’s no plan in place: it doesn’t see relationships, loyalty, or love — just names on a family tree.
What Happens When Families Don’t Have the Right Guidance
After someone passes, their family is already heartbroken. Add in legal red tape, and the stress multiplies quickly. Here’s what I see most often when there’s no clear plan or no lawyer who really knows the family:
1. Nobody Knows What to Do
Even if you have a will, your family may still need to go through probate — a public, court-supervised process that can drag on for months (sometimes years). Without a trusted lawyer already in your corner, your loved ones have to start from scratch — finding legal help, gathering documents, and learning the system during one of the hardest times of their lives.
2. It Costs More Than You Think
Probate isn’t just emotionally draining — it’s expensive. Legal fees, court costs, appraisals, and delays all add up. In Kentucky, probate attorney fees are based on the time and complexity of the case — but for larger estates, those costs can still climb into the tens of thousands.
It’s almost always far less expensive — and far less painful — to plan ahead with a lawyer who builds an ongoing relationship with you and your family. Taking the time now to create a clear plan can save your loved ones both money and heartache later.
3. Accounts Are Frozen, and Life Grinds to a Halt
Until the court process is complete, your family may not be able to access your accounts or pay your bills. I’ve seen families covering a deceased loved one’s mortgage from their own savings just to keep the house from foreclosure. All while grieving.
That’s what “no plan” looks like in real life.
4. Conflict Erupts
Grief magnifies emotions. When there’s confusion, even small disagreements — like whether to sell the family home — can explode into permanent rifts. Families who used to spend holidays together end up on opposite sides of a courtroom. And once that happens, there are no winners.
5. Assets Get Lost
Would your family know where every account, policy, or password is? Most people think so — until we start making the list. Without a full inventory and an organized plan, assets often slip through the cracks and end up in the Kentucky Unclaimed Property Fund, sitting in limbo.
6. Scammers Move In
Probate files are public record, and predators know it. They read obituaries, pull court filings, and target grieving heirs with fake bills, “investment opportunities,” or false debts. Without a trusted advisor looking out for your family, these scams can drain what’s left of an estate.
The Freedom Law Services Difference: Planning With a Heart and a Process
At Freedom Law Services, we don’t believe estate planning is just about documents — it’s about people. That’s why our approach is different.
When you work with us, you’re not a file that gets closed once the ink dries. We take time to understand your values, your family dynamics, and what really matters to you — not just the numbers on paper. That relationship continues over time, so when laws or life circumstances change, your plan stays up to date and ready to work.
That’s what we call Life & Legacy Planning — a process that combines legal precision with real-world care.
What That Means for Your Family
When you pass away, your loved ones won’t have to scramble to find a lawyer who doesn’t know you. They’ll already have someone they trust — someone who can step in immediately and say, “Here’s what John wanted. Here’s what happens next.”
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
Clear, enforceable instructions so no one’s left guessing.
Step-by-step guidance through the process, from someone who’s walked it before.
Conflict prevention by making sure everyone understands your plan ahead of time.
Ongoing support — not just now, but when your family needs it most.
It’s the difference between showing up to an emergency room where no one knows your history versus being treated by a doctor who’s been with you for years. One is stressful and uncertain; the other is calm, confident, and personal. That’s what having a Personal Family Lawyer® feels like.
A Plan That Works When It Matters Most
Our Life & Legacy Planning™ process ensures your estate plan actually works when the time comes. It includes:
A complete inventory of your assets, so nothing is lost or overlooked.
Regular reviews to keep your plan current with Kentucky and federal law.
Detailed instructions for your loved ones about what to do — and who to call — first.
A trusted legal relationship that stands ready to guide your family through every step.
Documents can’t comfort your family or interpret your values. But a relationship with the right lawyer can. That’s why we do what we do.
Which Future Do You Want for Your Family?
When the day comes — and it will — your loved ones will either:
Spend months (or years) tangled in court, confusion, and conflict, or
Have a trusted guide ready to walk them through everything with clarity and care.
The greatest gift you can leave behind isn’t money. It’s peace of mind.
Take Your Next Step Today
If you’ve been putting off your estate planning because it feels complicated or uncomfortable, now’s the time to make it simple — with help from someone who’s walked this path with hundreds of Northern Kentucky families.
Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call with Freedom Law Services today in our Crestview Hills, KY office. Together, we’ll create a Life & Legacy Plan that protects your time, your money, and — most importantly — your family.
📞 Call (859) 344-6742 or visit www.FreedomLawServices.com/call-today to book your discovery call.
This article is a service of Freedom Law Services.
We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed, empowered decisions about life and death for yourself and the people you love. That’s why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session™. During this session, you’ll get more financially organized than ever before and make the best choices for the people you love.
You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Family Wealth Planning Session — and mention this article to find out how to get this valuable session at no charge.
This material is created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you seek legal advice specific to your needs, such advice must be obtained independently, separate from this educational material.
