Most of what I write here is about the how of estate planning: wills and trusts, powers of attorney, who to name and why. This month I want to start somewhere different, because people sometimes ask me why I do this work, and the real answer isn't on my résumé.
I’ve done some brave things
I've taught school in Tanzania. I've climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. I've traveled the world on my own, and I've hiked and camped my way across the Southwest by myself, coming home with a camera full of scenery and almost no pictures of me, which is exactly how I like it.
None of that was the thing that actually scared me.
The thing that scared me
I raised my daughter as a single mom, with all of my family on the other side of the country. When you're the only parent, and the people who love you most are thousands of miles away, there's a question that sits quietly underneath everything: if something happened to me, what would happen to her?
Making my own plan meant answering that question out loud. Who would raise her? Who would manage money for her, and until what age? Who could actually get to her quickly? Who would make medical decisions for me if I couldn't? Would anyone even know where to find anything?
Those aren't paperwork questions. They're the questions that keep you up at night, and writing the answers down makes them real. I understand completely why so many smart, capable people put it off, because I felt it too.
What changed
What finally made the difference wasn't a burst of courage. It was clarity. Once the decisions were made and written down, the weight of not knowing lifted. The fear never came from the plan. It came from not having one.
Why this is my work now
I've been practicing law for more than 15 years, across criminal defense, immigration and asylum, and nonprofit and NGO work, including in Africa. Through all of it, I've sat with people at some of the hardest moments of their lives. Estate planning lets me meet families before the hard moment, while there's still time to make decisions calmly and on their own terms.
That's why I founded Laurel Law & Planning, and why I work with individuals and families in Marin County and throughout the Bay Area the way I do. When you sit down with me, I won't hand you a stack of forms or try to scare you into anything. I know what it feels like to be on your side of the table, wondering whether you're getting it right.
I’m you
Maybe you're a single parent. Maybe your family is spread across the country, or you're the one everyone else counts on. Maybe you've done hard things your whole life, and this is the one you keep putting off.
I get it. I’ve been there. I’m you.
When you’re ready, I’m here. You can learn more about how I work at laurellegacy.com.
Alisha Wood, Esq.
Founder, Laurel Law & Planning, APC
This post is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your specific situation, please consult a qualified attorney.
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