Privette Legacy Planning

10/19/2026

Linda had her debit card number stolen. Twice.

After the second time, she was fed up with waiting for a replacement card and updating all the auto payments tied to it. So she changed things to have most bills paid directly from her checking account, but she went back to mailing a check for her health insurance premiums. That's the one bill she couldn't risk any hiccups on!

Then Linda had surgery.

While Linda recovered at home, her daughter, Sarah, stepped in to help. Thankfully, Linda had signed a durable power of attorney a few years earlier, naming Sarah to help manage the finances when needed.

Sarah headed to the bank on behalf of her mom. That's when she heard:

“I'm sorry. We can't accept this power of attorney.”

Now what?

That insurance payment is coming due. Linda is recovering from surgery. Sarah is trying to help, and the bank won't let her move forward.

What can Sarah do?

1. Ask the bank why it won't accept the document.

Is something missing? Does the bank need additional paperwork? Ask for a specific explanation rather than accepting a vague no.

2. Ask what the bank needs to move forward.

North Carolina law generally requires banks to accept a proper power of attorney unless there's a legally permitted reason to refuse it or the bank requests additional documentation within a specified timeframe.

3. Escalate if necessary.

If the branch can't resolve the issue, ask for the bank's legal department. Often, redirection to a more informed source is all that's needed to resolve the issue.

4. Don't forget the insurance payment!

Don't assume the dispute with the bank puts the due date on bills on hold.

Here's the takeaway:
A power of attorney can be an incredibly useful tool when a parent needs help. But having the paperwork and being able to use it when you need it aren't always the same thing.

Planning isn't just having the right documents. It's knowing what to do when something doesn't go as expected.

Would you know what to do if your bank refused to accept your parent's power of attorney?

10/17/2026

You've been meaning to create a will... but it somehow never makes it to the top of your list.

You're building your career, paying off debt, buying a home, raising kids, planning vacations, and trying to remember what's for dinner.

Estate planning feels like something you'll get to "later."

But here's the thing...

Estate planning isn't about expecting the worst.
It's about making life easier for the people you love if the unexpected happens.

It means your wishes are clear.
Your family isn't left guessing.
The people you trust can step in when it matters most.

You don't need to have millions of dollars.
You don't need to be retired.
You just need a plan.

Future you—and the people you care about most—will be grateful you stopped putting it off.

What's one task you've been telling yourself you'll do "someday"?

💙 Save this post as your reminder that someday can start today.

10/16/2026

And with that, we wrap up this round of "Questions You Didn't Know You Needed to Ask."

Over the course of the last two weeks, you've probably thought of a few questions of your own. Maybe it's:

“What happens if...?”
“Do I need...?”
“What if my situation is different?”
“Does this work the same when?”

Those are exactly the questions you should be asking. Estate planning isn't one-size-fits-all. If there's something you've been wondering about, ask us.

Drop your estate planning question in the comments or send us a message. We may answer it in a future post. Because there are plenty of estate planning questions you don't know you need to ask...until someone asks them.

Have a question about your own estate plan but don't want to do it publicly? Reach out to us. We're here to help in any way we can.

You ask. We answer.

10/15/2026

🤔 Questions You Didn't Know You Needed to Ask

If you weren't here tomorrow, would your family know:

📄 Where your important documents are?

🏦 Where your accounts are?

🏠 What happens to your house?

🐾 Who takes care of your pets?

❤️ What your wishes are?

👤 Who you've chosen to make decisions?

📱 What to do with your digital accounts?

Estate planning isn't about predicting everything that will happen. It's about making the important things a little less uncertain.

The question you didn't know you needed to ask:

“What would my family have to figure out without me?”

Then ask the follow-up:

“What can I make easier for them now?”

That's the point of estate planning.

Not perfect documents.

Not complicated strategies.

Intention.
Instruction.
Direction.

Leave a legacy, not a mess.

10/14/2026

🤔 QUESTIONS YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU NEEDED TO ASK

Before we talk about the question you didn't know you needed to ask, let me ask you a question --- When was the last time you looked at your estate plan?

5 years ago?

Ten?

After your first child was born?

Before your divorce?

Before you remarried?

Before you bought the new house?

Before Mom died?

Before you started the business?

Life changes. Your estate plan should have the opportunity to change with it.

Major life events can be a good reason to revisit your plan:

💍 Marriage
💔 Divorce
👶 Birth or adoption
⚰️ Death of a beneficiary
🏠 Major property purchase
💼 Starting or selling a business
💰 Significant change in finances

The question you didn't know you needed to ask:

“Does my estate plan still reflect my life today?”

Your plan may still be exactly right. But don't assume it is. Check.

And if your estate plan was signed in any decade other than the one we're currently in, reach out to schedule a Plan Audit!

10/14/2026

Estate planning isn’t just about what happens after you’re gone—it’s about protecting the people you love today.

On this episode of the Legacy Leaders Podcast, guest host Diane Goldman sits down with estate planning attorney Amy Privette to discuss blended families, dementia and incapacity planning, protecting your legacy, and why estate planning matters at every stage of life.

🎙️ Tune in for a practical conversation about planning ahead and making informed decisions for your family’s future.

Link is to YouTube, but the podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

10/13/2026

🤔 Questions You Didn't Know You Needed to Ask

Here's a question that surprises people:
Who actually has the authority to sell your house?

It's easy to think:
“My kids get the house, so they'll be able to sell it.”

But that’s not necessarily how it works.

The answer to who can actually sell the house after you die depends on how the property deed is structured, the extent of your creditors at your death, the structure and details of your estate plan, and applicable state law.

And if you're alive but have become incapacitated, the answer to the question can be completely different.

The question you didn't know you needed to ask:
“Who has the legal authority to sell my house other than me?”

The answer shouldn't be "no one." But determining who does have the power may be more complicated than you think.

10/12/2026

We are still collecting questions about estate planning topics you want to know more about. Comment or send us a DM with your question and your question could become the topic of a future post.

If you're wondering about something, chances are someone else is too. Go ahead and ask the question so we can learn from each other!

10/09/2026

🤔 Questions You Didn't Know You Needed to Ask

We spend a lot of time asking: “Who should inherit?”

Maybe we should also ask: “When should they inherit?”

A 10-year-old can't manage an inheritance the same way a 30-year-old can.

But even with adult children, circumstances can vary.

One child may be financially responsible.

Another may be struggling with debt.

Another may have special needs.

Another may be going through a difficult divorce.

And sometimes giving someone an inheritance outright and immediately isn't the only—or best—way to accomplish your wishes.

The question you didn't know you needed to ask:

“If my child inherited everything tomorrow, would I be comfortable with what happens next?”

Estate planning isn't just about who gets it.

Sometimes it's about how, when, and under what circumstances they receive it.

Have a question about your own estate plan? Ask us. We're here to help you find the answer.

10/08/2026

🤔 Questions You Didn't Know You Needed to Ask

This question isn't about giving someone your passwords. We already talked about digital assets in an earlier post.

This is about making sure someone knows what exists.

Imagine your family trying to figure out your finances without a roadmap.

Maybe they find the checking account because they see the debit card in your wallet. But what about:

🏦 Savings accounts?

📈 Investment accounts?

💼 Retirement accounts?

🛡️ Life insurance?

🏠 Real estate?

💰 Business interests?

📦 Safe deposit boxes?

And what about the account nobody knows about because it was opened 15 years ago?

The question you didn't know you needed to ask:

“If I weren't here to explain my finances, would anyone know where to look?”

You don't have to make your entire financial life an open book.

But your estate plan can be a great way to give the people who need to step in a place to start.