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603-894-4141 | 978-969-0331 | LegacyCareLaw.com February 2026 Your Family Deserves More Than a DIY Will Learn Why Protecting Your Loved Ones Takes More Than a Template
As we step into a new year, many of us feel the familiar pull to get organized, take control of loose ends, and finally tackle the things we’ve been meaning to address. Estate planning often lands on that list, and right alongside it comes the temptation to take the quickest, simplest route, especially with DIY websites and artificial intelligence (AI) tools promising fast, low-cost solutions. I completely understand the appeal. When life is busy, and you just want to feel prepared, a do-it-yourself option can seem like the perfect fix. But in my work, I’ve learned that estate planning is about so much more than filling out forms. It’s about understanding our client’s story, relationships, and hopes for the people they care about. It’s a process that involves state law, tax considerations, and personal nuances that a generic questionnaire simply can’t capture. And when something important is overlooked (as it often is with DIY plans), the consequences usually fall on their loved ones at a time when the family is already under emotional strain. Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how DIY documents, even those that claim to be customized for your state, fall short. Many are governed by the laws of a different state, despite the fine print claiming otherwise. That misalignment may not be obvious now, but it can create significant problems for loved ones later, often at a time when stress and grief are already overwhelming. I’ve seen families forced into complicated and expensive legal processes simply because a DIY document wasn’t legally sound in the person’s state of residence.
I’ve also seen the unintended tax consequences that come from checking the wrong box or using a generic form that doesn’t account for someone’s full financial picture. One family I worked with discovered, after their loved one passed away, that a well- intentioned online plan had created an adverse tax situation that could have been easily detoured with proper direction. But by the time they realized it, it was too late to fix. These are not rare occurrences. They happen because estate planning requires more than answering a few basic questions. It requires someone who takes the time to understand a person’s life, relationships, assets, hopes for their family, and the unique personal factors they may not even realize matter legally. I frequently meet clients who come in believing their situation is simple, only to discover that small details change the entire strategy. And that’s okay. Our clients are never expected to know what they don’t know. That’s why this work exists. When you work with an experienced attorney, you’re building a relationship with someone who understands the weight of the decisions you’re making and who can provide support not only to you, but to the loved ones who will one day rely on that plan. No website or AI program can sit with your family, guide them through next steps, answer their questions, or offer compassion during a profoundly difficult moment. As we welcome the new year and all the possibilities it brings, I encourage you to invest in planning that honors your intentions and protects the people you care about most. DIY tools may promise convenience and savings, but the true cost often appears later when it matters most. A thoughtful, customized estate plan isn’t just a resolution you check off a list. It’s a legacy, and it deserves the care and expertise to match.
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The Price of Planning Ahead
Most of us notice inflation when we check out at the grocery store, not when we think about our estate plan. Prices for everyday items are creeping up, but those same price changes can also impact the value of what we own. When that happens, our estate plan may need a second look. INFLATION’S HIDDEN IMPACT ON YOUR ESTATE Inflation means that money doesn’t stretch as far as it used to. A dollar today buys less than it did a few years ago. Homes, cars, and investments all fluctuate in value due to inflation. In the 1950s, the average home sold for about $7,400. Today, it’s well over $370,000. Wages have also increased, albeit at a slower pace. That gap explains why inflation matters when estate planning.
When the cost of goods and property rises, the total value of our estate rises with it. That sounds positive, but it can also push an estate closer to federal or state tax thresholds. A house valued at $1 million today might be worth $1.5 million in a few years, and that extra half-million could create new tax questions. Families sometimes find themselves paying more in taxes, only to watch those assets drop in value soon after. The best way to handle this issue is to plan early and keep your plans updated. We can start by reviewing our estate annually and comparing it to current tax limits. Giving modest gifts to family or charities can reduce overall value while allowing us to see the results in our lifetimes. Inflation is constantly changing, and our plans should adapt to it accordingly. Reviewing what we’ve built every year helps ensure that our loved ones receive what we intend, without unwelcome surprises when the time comes.
MEET THE BEAR WITH A BIONIC PAW A SECOND CHANCE FOR VASI
On the outskirts of Bengaluru in India, a rescued sloth bear is getting around on all fours again. His name is Vasikaran (Vasi, for short), and after years of moving gingerly on three legs, he’s making history. At the Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Center, Vasi recently became the first animal of his kind in the world to receive a prosthetic paw, and his caregivers say he’s taken to it with ease. Vasi’s story began with tragedy. Years ago, he was caught in a poacher’s wire snare that left his back paw so badly injured it had to be amputated. Wildlife SOS, a nonprofit that rescues and rehabilitates India’s wildlife, brought him to the rescue center over five years ago. Once he recovered, the staff realized he couldn’t survive in the wild with only three working legs, so they built him a permanent home. Vasi, who’s known for his calm personality
and love of peanut butter, quickly became one of the team’s favorite residents.
Then came the chance to give him something more. Derrick Campana, founder of Bionic Pets and known for fitting prosthetics on everything from raccoons to elephants, took on the challenge of designing one for a wild bear. First, the team helped Vasi adjust by wrapping his leg in soft cloth. Once the bear grew comfortable, Campana created a mold and built a custom paw using plaster for flexibility and crampons to mimic claws. When Vasi tried it on, he stood taller. Soon, he was walking evenly and balancing his weight on all four legs. Caregivers say it improved his confidence, posture, and mood. The device is removed occasionally to keep it from
irritating him, but most days, he strolls through his enclosure without any issue.
Vasi’s now walking around the way he was meant to and thriving because of it. For him and everyone who helped him get there, that’s what a happy ending looks like.
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On Jan. 8, 1989, Soviet audiences saw their first episode of “Fraggle Rock.” The response was overwhelming. Ratings were unprecedented, and later that year, the entire first season began airing, dubbed with a Russian narrator. It arrived months before the Berlin Wall fell. For Henson, who died the following spring, the Fraggles’ appearance on Soviet airwaves was one of his last great accomplishments. After Henson’s passing, his dream lived on. A few years later, Russia produced its own version of “Sesame Street.” For a time, children on both sides of the world grew up watching the same small creatures solve problems with laughter. Maybe that was the peace Henson hoped for all along.
In 1989, a children’s show featuring singing puppets managed something no politician had. It slipped quietly across the Iron Curtain. For the first time, “Fraggle Rock” appeared on television in the USSR, bringing Jim Henson’s underground world of Fraggles, Doozers, and Gorgs into Soviet living rooms. The story began years earlier. By the early 1980s, Henson was already famous for “The Muppet Show” and “Sesame Street,” but he wanted to create something bigger than ratings. He dreamed of a show that carried a message of peace and wasn’t bound by national borders or languages. Puppets, he believed, were the perfect characters for that type of program. The result was “Fraggle Rock,” a hopeful experiment in connection. The Fraggles didn’t reach Russia overnight. During the Cold War, few American programs managed to cross the Iron Curtain. But in 1982, Henson’s fantasy film “The Dark Crystal” became a surprise hit at the Moscow Film Festival. There were sold-out screenings and crowds lined up outside theaters. That success opened a door. As the Soviet Union began to change under Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms, Soviet television grew more open to ideas from outside countries. Fraggle Rock’s Cold War Breakthrough Puppets Behind the Iron Curtain
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9 Red Roof Lane, Salem, NH 03079 603-894-4141 | 978-969-0331 LegacyCareLaw.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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DIY Estate Plans Fail When Families Need Them Most
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Inflation-Proofing Your Estate for the Future
A Gentle Giant’s Return
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Upcoming Estate Planning Seminars
The Day the Fraggles Reached the USSR
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A Hollywood Actor’s Thoughtful Final Act
THE PLAN BEHIND THE LEGEND Estate Lessons From Paul Newman
Paul Newman was more than a movie legend. He built race cars, funded hospitals, and turned salad dressing into one of the most successful charitable brands in the world. But one of his quietest accomplishments happened away from the spotlight. When he planned his estate, he handled it with the same thought and discipline he brought to everything else. When he passed away in 2008, Newman’s estate was worth hundreds of millions of dollars. That alone isn’t what makes his plan remarkable. What stands out is how carefully he put it together. He had a detailed will, a private trust to keep his finances out of the public
foundation that still bears his name. Newman’s image, his company, and the earnings that continue to fund projects across the country also went to the foundation. He also took care of the practical side of things. By setting up the right trusts, he delayed certain taxes, ensuring his wife would be cared for before the government took its share. Newman even included provisions for various asset types, including his race cars and airplanes. He directed the proceeds from those to his residuary estate. Ultimately, his plan was practical, generous, and designed to last.
eye, and two trusted people ready to manage the details. Newman even included a clause discouraging legal disputes because he knew arguments over money can divide even the closest of families. His decisions reflected what mattered in his life. Newman’s wife, Joanne Woodward, kept their home and personal belongings. His Oscars, Golden Globes, and other awards went to the
Most of us don’t have a Hollywood fortune to divide, but we still face the same questions. Whom do we trust to handle things when we’re gone? What should continue to work long after we stop? Newman showed that good planning has less to do with money and more to do with making things clear for the people you care about. And his name still funds good work, which is a legacy worth having.
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