The Estate Planning Misstep That Almost Cost Sarah’s Family Their Home

Estate planning isn’t just about deciding who gets what when you’re gone—it’s about protecting your family and ensuring your wishes are honored. Today, I want to share a story about Sarah, a real client whose experience highlights the importance of getting your estate plan right.

Sarah’s Story: A Wake-Up Call About Home Ownership

Sarah’s mom, Helen, was a planner. She had a will, a modest home, and a clear desire to make things as easy as possible for Sarah after her passing. What Helen didn’t realize, however, was that her estate plan had a critical gap—one that almost cost Sarah the family home.

Helen’s will stated that the house would go to Sarah, but it hadn’t been retitled or placed in a trust. When Helen passed away, Sarah thought the process would be simple—after all, everything was spelled out in the will, right? Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

Because Helen’s home wasn’t part of a living trust, it had to go through probate. During the probate process, Sarah discovered that a small lien was placed on the home years ago after a contractor’s dispute. This lien needed to be paid before the property could be transferred to Sarah.

To make matters worse, Sarah’s financial situation wasn’t ideal—she had just left her job to care for Helen during her final months. Paying off the lien, covering legal fees, and navigating the probate process left Sarah feeling overwhelmed.

How Proper Planning Could Have Helped

If Helen’s home had been placed in a living trust, Sarah could have avoided probate entirely. The home would have transferred directly to her, saving time, money, and unnecessary stress. At The Dellutri Law Group, we’ve seen this situation play out more often than you might think, which is why we always stress the importance of reviewing your estate plan with an experienced attorney.

Don’t Leave Your Family in a Bind

Sarah’s story has a happy ending. With our help, she was able to navigate probate and resolve the lien, but the experience opened her eyes to the importance of comprehensive estate planning. She now has her own living trust to protect her family and ensure her legacy is secure.

At The Dellutri Law Group, we’ve been helping families like Sarah’s navigate the estate planning process for over 30 years. With over 1,200 ★★★★★ reviews from our amazing clients, you can trust that your estate planning needs are in good hands.

Whether you need a new plan or just want to make sure your current one is airtight, we’re here to help. Call The Dellutri Law Group at 239-939-0900 today to schedule a consultation. Let’s work together to protect what matters most.