The Biggest Estate Planning Mistakes Families Make

Estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy — and it’s never too early to start. Whether you’re a young parent, a recent divorcee, or simply someone who hasn’t gotten around to it yet, a solid estate plan protects your loved ones, honors your wishes, and brings stability to the people you care about most during life’s hardest moments.

In this episode of I Now Pronounce You Divorced, Melone Hatley’s Managing Litigation Attorney Erik McCauley, Esq. is joined by financial advisor Kate Philleo, AAMS of the Waterfront Advisory Group of Raymond James, and Melone Hatley’s estate planning attorney Jeff Sodoma, Esq., to break down everything you need to know about building — or updating — a plan that actually works.

What this episode covers:
🔹 Common estate planning misconceptions — why many people delay planning and what those delays can actually cost a family
🔹 The risks of dying without a plan — what intestate succession means in practice, and how the state may make decisions you’d have made very differently
🔹 Wills, trusts & how they work together — when a will is enough, when a trust is the better tool, and why beneficiary designations can override both
🔹 Powers of attorney — the documents that protect you during your lifetime, not just at death, and why they’re often the most urgent piece of any estate plan
🔹 Naming guardians for minor children — one of the most important decisions a parent can make, and what happens when it’s left undone
🔹 Using trusts for younger beneficiaries — how trusts provide long-term structure and protection for children or grandchildren who aren’t ready to manage an inheritance
🔹 When to update your plan — the life events that should trigger a review of every document in your estate plan

Whether you’re building your first estate plan or updating one that no longer reflects your life, this conversation brings together the legal and financial perspectives you need to move forward with clarity and confidence.

At Melone Hatley, P.C., our estate planning attorneys and family law attorneys help individuals and families across Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, and Texas create plans designed to protect what matters most.

📍 Serving Virginia Beach, Richmond VA, Newport News, Reston VA, Tampa FL, Columbia SC, San Antonio TX, Fort Worth TX, and Laredo TX.

📞 Schedule a consultation today: https://www.melonelawpc.com/schedule-a-consultation/