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I had a Bible college professor that was very entertaining and could make an entire class laugh with his facial expressions alone. One phrase he would commonly use, while his eyes bulged out huge and round, was, “That’s a lie from the pit of hell!”

While it would always make us laugh, lies are really serious business. Lies are always designed to hold us back from something that is good for us or lead us away from that which is right. Today I want to address three lies that do just that. 

These are lies about estate planning. What is estate planning, you may ask? Basically, it is arranging for the smoothest and least painful transition when you die. And it refers more to the business side of life, not the physical or spiritual side. 

We all know that the best estate planning is having a relationship with Jesus. But what about things like the titling of your car or bank accounts or who is going to take over responsibility for your kids? That’s the kind of estate planning we’re discussing today. Lots of paperwork. 

Lie #1: Estate Planning Is Too Expensive

Many people don’t have wills or other estate planning documents because they think it’s too expensive. The reasoning goes like this: A will is a legal document, so you need a lawyer to do it. Lawyers are expensive. I’m not rich, so I can’t afford it.

If you believe this lie, let me ask you: have you ever priced out wills in your area? I mean, have you contacted any law firms to find out the real cost? Prices vary based on the complexity of your needs and the area where you live and can range from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. You never know until you ask, and a good estate planning attorney may be able to set things up so that you’ll save more in taxes and fees when you pass away than the estate planning even costs. Usually, they are more than worth the expense.

If you cannot afford that, that’s still not a good enough excuse to do nothing. There are cheaper ways to do it. My first will cost $20. You can get basic estate planning documents online through companies like Legal Zoom, US Legal Forms, Legacy Writer, etc. Just Google it.

Companies like this offer basic, state-specific documents that, while not as good as those drawn up by a competent attorney, are better than nothing. Because if you have nothing, then the state decides where your money goes and, more importantly, who raises your children. And you leave open the possibility of legal battles regarding whether or not to pull the plug, a la Terri Schiavo. 

Lie #2: Estate Planning Is Only For Rich People

Many people believe that estate planning is only for rich people. This is based on truth because estate planning is really important for rich people if they want their wealth to actually go to their heirs. When Elvis Presley died, only 27% of his estate went to his heirs. The rest went to taxes, legal fees, and other costs. So, yeah, estate planning is really important for rich people.

It’s also important for people without any money, too, though. You see, estate planning isn’t just about money. Especially if you have minor children. To me, the most important part of my estate plan is where I designate who will raise my children if my husband and I pass away. My money isn’t really all that important, buy my children have eternal souls that will be shaped and formed by whoever raises them. That matters a lot to me.

Also, estate planning documents should include a living will or advanced directive. This states what kind of life-sustaining measures you want to be employed on your behalf. Do you want your body kept alive for decades on a ventilator if you’re brain dead? You only get to make that decision if you take the time to write it down as a part of your estate planning. 

Lie #3: I Can Do It Later

I am writing this article on September 12, 2019. Yesterday was the 18th anniversary of the most brutal terrorist attack in our nation’s history. That morning, thousands of people went to work thinking it was just another day and never came home. It serves as a good reminder that we never know when our time will come. I have known too many people who have died young and unexpectedly to take tomorrow for granted. 

Many people think that they are invincible when they are young and don’t need to worry about estate planning until retirement. That’s simply not the case. We will all die and none of us know when. So, you might as well prepare for it so as not to leave your family with a big mess on their hands.

Death is a hard topic for many people to discuss. Facing mortality is difficult, even for those that know they will go somewhere infinitely better when they die. But, if you care about those that you will leave behind, you should do some estate planning and get all of your documents in order. Take a look at this estate planning checklist for pastors to make sure your family is set up for the smoothest possible transition during their most difficult time. You won’t regret it.