The midday sun beat down on the patio of a small cafe in La Jolla, California, as Michael nervously stirred his iced tea. He’d just received a call from his sister, Sarah, relaying devastating news: their mother, Evelyn, had suffered a stroke and was unable to communicate her wishes regarding her estate. Evelyn, a fiercely independent woman who’d built a successful art gallery, had always put off “those legal things,” believing she had plenty of time. Now, Michael and Sarah were facing a complex probate process, fraught with uncertainty and potential family discord, all because a simple estate plan was never created. Michael realized, with a sinking feeling, that procrastination had opened a Pandora’s Box of legal challenges and emotional distress.