Do I need an estate plan if I don’t have much?
Yes. A plan isn’t only about money. It decides who can make medical and financial decisions for you if you can’t, and who handles things afterward.
Do You Have a Plan?A book by Tiffany A. O’Connell
Estate Planning,
Understood.
A direct, plain-English guide to getting a plan in place for yourself or to help someone you love, from an attorney and Accredited Estate Planner.
Get Your Copy — $22.95
Shipping included · Paperback
How to Avoid Leaving a Mess
Sound familiar?
- “I have no idea where to start.”
- “Do I need a will, a trust, or both?”
- “Everyone says ‘get a trust,’ but nobody explains why.”
- “My parents need a plan, and I don’t know how to help.”
- “I’m not sure I have enough to need any of this.”
If any of these sound like you, you’re in good company. Most people don’t avoid estate planning because they don’t care. They avoid it because nobody has explained it plainly.
Do You Have a Plan? explains it directly and concisely: what a complete plan includes, why each piece matters, and how to choose the people who will step in if you can’t.
Read it in one sitting, for yourself or someone you love, and walk into any lawyer’s office knowing what to ask.
What you’ll understand after reading
The essential documents everyone needs, and why each one matters
Will or trust: which do I need?
How to choose the people who will step in if you can’t, and after you’re gone
Paying for long-term care and protecting your home
Protecting your other assets
How to talk with your family about your plan
Different kinds of assets and how they pass
Taxes, in plain EnglishAnd more
About the author
Over the years, many clients have asked me to recommend a book on estate planning. Most of what I found was dry, long and full of legalese. So I wrote the one I wanted to hand them: short enough to enjoy, thanks in part to its warm illustrations, and organized so you can come back later and quickly find any topic.
I hope you enjoy reading my book as much as I did writing it!
Tiffany A. O’Connell, Esq., LLM, CELA, AEP®
Certified Elder Law Attorney · Accredited Estate Planner · LLM in Taxation Licensed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont 20+ years helping families with estate planning, elder law, and estate administration.Questions people ask
Do I need a will, a trust, or both?
It depends on your family, your assets and your state. The book explains what each one does, so you can tell which questions apply to you.
Does this replace a lawyer?
No. It helps you understand your options, so you can walk into a lawyer’s office knowing what to ask.
I’m not in Massachusetts. Is it still useful?
Yes. It’s written for readers anywhere in the United States. Some rules vary by state, and the book helps you know which questions to bring to a local attorney.
I’m trying to help a parent. Is this for me?
Yes. It explains the documents that let someone step in, like a power of attorney, which your parent has to sign while they’re still able to.
What about online services or AI?
Some people start there. But a form or a chatbot can only work with the answers you give it, and it can’t spot what you didn’t know to mention. This book helps you understand what a complete plan should cover, so you know what to ask and when it’s time to talk with an attorney.
A plan only helps if it’s in place before it’s needed.
Get Your Copy — $22.95, Shipping IncludedYou’ll order securely through our printer, Mixam. Written for readers in any U.S. state.