An international tragedy – and mystery – still very much in the news is the still-unsolved disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines plane, and the search for answers continues in the Indian Ocean near Australia.  Many families have had to face the possibility that their loved ones are gone, since to date no survivors have been found.  Whether the plane disappeared as the result of an accident or intentional acts may never be known. Events such as this make us all count our blessings.  Some people already avoid air travel, and this kind of occurrence might make their fears worse.  Everyday life is full of decisions, and risks, as well as things like accidents and other events that can’t be predicted or, unfortunately, avoided.  As the saying goes, sometimes bad things happen to good people.  That’s why I believe you should count your blessings.  But update your estate plan too. One way to be prepared for the unexpected is to have in place an up-to-date estate plan, complete with advance directives to head off a slew of those “what ifs.”  What if I become incapacitated?  Who will make decisions for my medical care?  Who will pay my bills?  Who will take care of my children and pets?  Estate planning is not a morbid kind of duty – it’s a thoughtful responsibility.  Planning for the future includes confronting the possibility of things none of us likes to think about, including accidents, illness, and death. Still, there is a great deal of peace of mind to be had from knowing that you have done everything possible to assure the future, not only for your own well-being, but for those you care most about. If you’d like to talk about a will, trust, advance medical directives, guardianship designation, or have questions about any aspect of estate planning, I’m here to help. Contact me at your convenience, at 818.956.9200818.956.9200. Glendale Location 616 E. Glenoaks Boulevard, Suite 203 Glendale, CA 91207 Sherman Oaks Location 15303 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 900 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403