Why Waiting Can Cost Your Family
By Robert L. Myers
Estate & Legacy Planning Attorney
Steve sits by his elderly mother’s hospital bed, his head in his hands. He already buried his father last year, and now his mother has suffered a stroke. Today, she is unconscious and unable to speak. The due date for her utility bill has passed, and Steve has no way to access her bank account. But that is the least of his worries. He knows that soon he will face the larger problem of settling her estate—and his parents never made a will.
This situation is all too common. Families often lack essential documents, such as a will or powers of attorney, assuming there will be time “later.” Yet, sudden illness or death leaves loved ones unprepared, stuck in legal and financial gridlock. For Christians, the consequences go even deeper: delaying an estate plan can compromise our call to biblical stewardship.
ESTATE PLANNING AS STEWARDSHIP
The Bible reminds us that everything we have ultimately belongs to God. “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1 ESV). We are stewards of His resources, responsible for managing them wisely in life—and planning for how they will be handled after we’re gone.
THE COST OF WAITING
Without a durable financial power of attorney, Steve cannot pay his mother’s bills or access her accounts. Banks, utilities, and insurance companies will refuse to work with him. His only option may be to petition for guardianship, a slow and costly court process.
If his mother passes without a will, matters become even more complicated. State law will determine who administers the estate and how assets are divided. Selling a car or family home could require court approval, adding stress, expense, and family conflict at the worst possible time.
This is not what faithful stewardship looks like. Proverbs 13:22a (ESV) tells us that a good person “leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” That inheritance is more than money—it is order, peace, the absence of avoidable burdens, and setting an example. The way we prepare our affairs teaches future generations how to handle theirs.
THE PEACE OF PREPARATION
A proper estate plan changes everything. A financial power of attorney allows a trusted person to manage accounts and pay bills during incapacity. A health care power of attorney enables loved ones to make medical decisions consistent with your values. These documents prevent confusion and costly legal battles.
A well-drafted Last Will & Testament ensures that, upon death, your wishes are honored and assets are distributed in ways that reflect your values, including charitable giving. Additional tools, such as payable-on- death accounts or transfer-on-death deeds, can help transfer property quickly and sometimes avoid probate entirely.
These are practical measures. They are also acts of stewardship, generosity, and care for family. As an estate planning attorney, I can tell you the most common reason people delay creating these documents is not cost—it is procrastination. Sadly, I have seen the heavy price families pay when “later” comes too soon.
A CALL TO FAITHFUL ACTION
One of the greatest gifts you can leave your loved ones is clarity and preparation. Difficult conversations about death or incapacity become much more difficult when left until a crisis. Planning now means protecting what God has entrusted to you and providing for the people He has placed in your life.
The apostle Paul urges us: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time” (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV).
Don’t let procrastination or discomfort stand in the way of faithful stewardship. Begin your estate plan today—and leave a legacy of wisdom, peace, and care for generations to come.