In our increasingly digitized world, planning for the management and distribution of digital assets and the management of online accounts is an often-overlooked part of planning for potential incapacity or death. It’s easy to understand why when you consider the ease with which we are typically able to access digital assets when we are alive and well—all it takes is glance at a device or entering a passcode and then perhaps the assistance of a password manager.

If you have been following the news, you may be aware that physicians at Emory University Hospital in Georgia kept Adrianna Smith alive for nearly four months after she was determined to be brain dead because she was 9 weeks pregnant. If you live in Washington and are pregnant, or may become pregnant, you may be wondering what, if any, options you have to protect yourself and your family.

When my grandparents passed away within months of one another it should have been a time for my family to come together, to mourn and to celebrate their lives. Instead, in the months and years since they passed, my family has been fighting. Why? Because the lawyer my uncle suggested they hire wasn't an estate planning attorney. He threw together a "will" that raised more questions than it answered and left out important details.

Traditional estate planning lawyers typically focus on document creation without truly understanding clients' values or family dynamics. This approach often leads to inadequate or outdated documents, which can result in confusion, legal conflicts, and stress for families. A comprehensive process for planning is necessary to ensure informed decisions and protect legacies effectively.