Your 4-Minute Family Check Result

A few gaps would create real problems
for your family.

You have several gaps that, if something happened today, would likely create real problems for the people you love. The good news is that none of these are emergencies. They’re all addressable. The diagnostic flagged the items below in order of how much they would impact your family if you didn’t address them.

What the Diagnostic Flagged

Here's what to look at first.

Below is each flagged item from your diagnostic, with a short explanation of what it means for your situation. Bring this list to your first conversation with Amanda and she will work through it with you.

1

A written will

Without a written will, Connecticut intestate law decides who inherits and how, and the probate court appoints a guardian for your minor children. A simple will lets you make those decisions yourself. This is the foundational document for every estate plan.

2

Beneficiary designation review

Beneficiary designations override your will. If they're outdated (an ex-spouse listed, no contingent beneficiary, a deceased relative still named), your assets go where the designation says, not where you would want. A 30-minute review usually catches the worst issues.

3

Guardian named for minor children

If both parents are unavailable and no guardian is named in your will, the probate court appoints one. Naming guardians in your will lets you make the decision yourself, including primary and backup choices. This is one of the most important reasons parents create wills.

4

A plan for inherited money for minors

Without a trust structure, money inherited by minors gets held in a court-supervised account until they turn 18, at which point they receive it outright. A trust lets you delay access (commonly to age 25 or 30), restrict use, and name someone to manage it.

5

Conversation with the named guardian

Naming someone as guardian without telling them is the most common mistake parents make. The guardian needs to know they have been named and needs the practical information (schools, medical providers, important family relationships) to step in if needed.

6

Profession with realistic lawsuit risk

Higher-risk professions (first responder, doctor, business owner, etc.) face creditor claims most families don't. Certain trust structures may help create an additional layer of protection from creditor claims, depending on the specific situation. This is a conversation worth having if it applies to you.

What’s Next

Ready when you are.

The 4-Minute Family Check is a snapshot. The real value comes from a 30-minute conversation with Amanda where she walks through what each of these means for your specific situation. The first conversation is no-cost.

Book a no-cost first conversation

30 minutes with Amanda. She walks through your flagged items, answers your questions, and gives you a clear sense of what to address first. No pressure, no sales script.

Call the office

If a phone call works better than scheduling online, the office can usually find a window within a few days. Sara answers, and she can set up the first conversation directly.
Amanda 2_white bg
Thank you for taking the diagnostic. I built it because most families I work with did not know which questions to ask until somebody walked them through it. You took 4 minutes that most people never take, and that’s already a meaningful step.

— Amanda

Amanda Gilbert-Largent · Managing Partner