Why “Simple” Estate Plans Often Create Complex Problems

Many families want estate planning to be simple—and that’s understandable.

Simple feels manageable. It feels efficient. It feels like progress.

But estate plans that are built solely around simplicity often struggle when life becomes complicated—which is exactly when planning matters most.

Why “Simple” Plans Are So Appealing

Simple estate plans usually promise:

For families who have not yet experienced a legal or medical crisis, this approach feels reasonable.

The challenge is that estate planning must account for events that are rarely simple.

Sudden illness or injury can require immediate decisions. Without clear authority, families may be unable to act—even when everyone agrees.

Blended families, adult children, and differing expectations introduce complexity that simple plans are not designed to manage.

Assets change over time. Accounts are opened, closed, retitled, or given beneficiaries. Simple plans often fail to keep pace with these changes.

We often see families discover gaps in their plans only after:

At that point, the simplicity of the plan offers little help.

The purpose of estate planning is not to minimize effort—it is to minimize risk.

A plan should:

Sometimes that requires more structure, not less.

Instead of asking whether a plan is simple, families should ask:

“Will this work when life is unpredictable?”

That question leads to better decisions.

Simple estate plans are attractive—but they are not always resilient.

The most effective plans are those designed for real life, not best-case scenarios.