The Legal Documents Aren’t the Problem. The Hand-Off Is.

Most estate plans don’t fail because of bad intentions or poor drafting.

They fail in the spaces between people.

Between advisors and clients.
Between documents and real-life implementation.
Between assumptions and actual authority.

Where Things Quietly Break Down

Clients often believe they are “covered” because documents exist. Advisors may assume roles and responsibilities are understood.

But in practice, problems arise when:

• No one knows who is supposed to act first
  
• Authority exists on paper but isn’t operational
  
• Key players haven’t been aligned or informed
  

The issue isn’t the plan itself—it’s the hand-off.

Coordination Is the Missing Layer

A plan only works if the right people know:

• What their role is
  
• When they’re expected to step in
  
• How decisions are meant to be made
  

Without coordination, even strong documents can create hesitation or delay.

Advisors Are in a Unique Position

Advisors who recognize hand-off risk early can help clients avoid future friction.

Asking thoughtful questions and encouraging alignment across professionals can make the difference between a plan that exists and a plan that actually works.