Sarah and Mark, a couple residing in the vibrant community of San Diego, California, recently faced a jarring reality check. They had diligently built a comfortable life, owning a modest home, maintaining stable retirement accounts, and raising two wonderful children. However, they had consistently postponed estate planning, believing it was a concern for “later,” when they were older or had accumulated more substantial assets. This inaction proved to be a costly oversight when Mark suffered a sudden, debilitating stroke, leaving him unable to manage his finances or articulate his healthcare wishes. Consequently, Sarah found herself navigating a complex legal labyrinth, struggling to access funds to cover medical expenses and facing agonizing decisions without clear direction from Mark’s previously unexpressed preferences.