Estate planning when there’s no obvious person to call

At eight on a Tuesday morning, Nora is on her way to the hospital. Her phone is still charging on the kitchen counter. And Pickle is waiting for breakfast.

Who would notice? Who would know what to do?

The Last One in the Room is a practical estate planning guide for people who have no spouse, no children, or no obvious executor. Through Nora’s story, David Walter shows how to start with one ordinary question and work toward a plan that fits the people, pets, and causes you care about.

What you’ll work through

• Who could speak for you if you couldn’t speak for yourself?

• Who could handle your bills, care for your pet, or settle your estate?

• What could you do if nobody comes to mind for one of those jobs?

• Where would someone find your instructions, and how could you test them now?

Short exercises help you tackle one decision at a time. The Your Tuesday Plan worksheet pulls those decisions together on one page you can bring to an estate planning attorney.

By David Walter, co-founder of Claim My Legacy and co-author of the How to Avoid Probate series.