Season 3 Episode 55: Year 3 Kickoff: The Missing Piece in Legal Document Planning
Nov 17, 2025
For years, I thought you absolutely had to hire a lawyer to get your will and advance directives done. Like, that was the only way.
Then I went through end-of-life doula training. And during the planning class, I learned something that completely changed my perspective: many states (including Texas, where we live) provide these legal documents for free.
Wait, what?
You mean I don't have to spend hundreds of dollars just to get the basics in place? You mean there are free templates available right on state websites?
Mind. Blown.
But Here's the Catch
Finding out where the free forms are? That's the easy part.
Actually being prepared to fill them out? That's where some people get stuck.
And that's exactly what we're tackling in Year 3 of Thoughtful Planning.
The Problem Nobody Talks About
Here's what happens to most people:
You find the state website. You download the advance directive form. You sit down with good intentions. You start filling it out.
Then you hit a question like "Who do you designate as your healthcare agent?"
And you freeze.
Wait... should that be my spouse? My adult daughter? My best friend who's a nurse? Do they even want this responsibility? Have I talked to them about it?
So you set the form aside. "I'll come back to this when I figure it out."
Weeks turn into months. Months turn into years. The half-finished form sits in a drawer somewhere.
Sound familiar?
April's Story: The Wake-Up Call
We had April on our podcast, and she shared an eye-opening story about her son.
He was a senior in high school. Still living at home. Still dependent on his parents for basically everything like most seniors in high school.
Then he needed surgery.
And April was completely caught off guard when her son had to sign his own medical documents because he was already 18.
Her son, still in high school, suddenly was legally required to make his own medical decisions. April knew this transition was coming eventually, but she wasn't prepared for it to happen during such a stressful time.
That's the reality of turning 18 that catches most parents by surprise: you lose automatic access to your child's medical records and decision-making rights. If something happens to them, you probably can't just step in anymore without the proper legal documents in place.
What We're Doing Differently
Here's what we realized: pointing people to resources isn't enough.
"Here are the free state forms" doesn't actually help anyone if they don't know:
- What decisions they need to make first
- What information to gather
- What conversations to have
- How to choose the right people for different roles
So we're doing something we've never done before.
Starting with our next episode, we're breaking down each foundational legal document one by one. Not just telling you what they are, but walking you through the preparation work you need to do BEFORE you sit down to fill them out.
A Quick Note About Texas (and Your State)
After some research, we discovered that not all states make the same forms available online. We're based in Texas, so we'll be focusing specifically on the forms that Texas provides.
But here's the good news: even if you're in a different state, the preparation work we'll walk you through applies everywhere.
The questions you need to ask yourself, the conversations you need to have, the decisions you need to make, those are universal, regardless of which state's forms you end up using.
The Documents We'll Cover
We're focusing on the foundational documents that pretty much every adult should have at minimum:
- Advance care directives
- Medical power of attorney
- HIPAA authorization
- Financial power of attorney
- Will
One document per episode. No overwhelm. Just clear, actionable guidance.
The Attorney Question
Let me be crystal clear about something: if you have complex assets, a blended family, own a business, have special needs family members, or can afford to work with an estate planning attorney, please do that.
Estate attorneys are invaluable. They bring expertise and customization that basic state forms simply can't provide.
Santiago and I worked with an estate planning attorney to create a trust. We opted for a trust specifically to help our family avoid the probate process after we're gone, and to maintain privacy. When we looked at the cost of probate versus the cost of the trust, it was significantly lower to do the trust upfront. Plus, the time and emotional energy our family would save made it worth it.
But what if you're not there yet? What if you can't afford those legal fees right now, or your situation is straightforward enough that you don't need customization?
That's who this series is for.
Having basic documents in place, even if they're just the free state forms, is infinitely better than having no documents at all because you're waiting until you can afford the "perfect" solution.
And here's the beautiful thing: you can always upgrade to attorney-drafted documents later as your situation becomes more complex or your financial resources change. Having completed the free forms gives you a solid foundation and makes that attorney conversation much more productive.
Your First Assignment
Before our next episode, here's what we want you to do:
Start a physical or digital notebook, whatever works for you. Title it "My Legal Documents Journey" or something that feels right.
This is going to be your planning companion as we go through this series.
In that notebook, create a section called "People to Consider."
Here's something I learned during my doula training that surprised me: each legal document might require you to choose different people for different roles.
Your medical power of attorney might need to be someone different from your financial power of attorney. And both might be different from the executor of your will.
Why? Because different roles require different skills:
- Who in your life would be good at handling financial matters?
- Who would you trust to make medical decisions for you?
- Who's organized enough to handle estate administration?
- Who lives close enough to actually act quickly if needed?
- Who would you trust to honor your wishes even if they disagree with them?
Start brainstorming names. Include their contact information so you have everything in one place.
Don't worry about making final decisions yet. We're just getting the wheels turning.
What's Coming Next
In our next episode, we're starting with advance care directives.
We'll cover:
- What advance care directives are
- Why every adult needs one
- The questions you need to ask yourself BEFORE filling out the form
- How to have the conversation with your potential healthcare advocate
- Real scenarios to help you think through your preferences
The Bottom Line
Planning isn't about being scared of the future. It's about being prepared for it.
And there's something really empowering about taking control and getting these important pieces in place, especially when you realize you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars to get started.
Whether you're a parent of a soon-to-be 18-year-old, someone who's been putting this off because it felt too expensive or complicated, or just someone who wants to make sure your family is protected, this series is for you.
Join us as we walk through this together, one document at a time.
Listen to the full episode where Santiago and I kick off Year 3 and share our essential question: What's the difference between knowing where to find legal documents and actually being prepared to complete them?
Resources mentioned in this episode:
