02 Dec Closing Out 2025: Lessons from the Practice of Planning

As 2025 winds down, I’ve been thinking a lot about how this year unfolded for clients, for families, for businesses, and for those of us who spend our days helping people prepare for both the expected and the unexpected.

There’s something about the rhythm of estate planning and probate work that keeps you mindful of time. Every meeting, every signature, every “just in case” plan is really about the future, which can be uncertain, but that we try to make a little steadier through preparation.

 

The Year of Small Decisions That Matter

 

This year, I noticed a pattern: the small decisions made early, quietly, and thoughtfully are the ones that saved clients the most stress later. A business owner who finally put their succession plan in writing avoided a serious dispute when a partner decided to retire unexpectedly. A family who updated an old Will found that a few minor changes spared their loved ones from unnecessary probate confusion.

Legal planning doesn’t often make headlines, but it’s where stability begins. This year reaffirmed that doing the little things such as keeping documents current, communicating intentions clearly, and documenting business relationships is what keeps both families and companies grounded when life changes course.

 

Probate Reminds Us What Planning Is Really For

 

Probate work often brings me into people’s lives during their hardest seasons. It’s humbling, every single time. This year reminded me that estate planning isn’t really about paperwork; it’s about kindness to your future self, to your family, to the people you leave in charge.

When plans are clear, the process is smoother. When they aren’t, emotions fill the gaps. That’s something no statute or form can fix, only foresight can.

 

The Human Side of Business Law

 

Working with business clients this year reinforced another truth: running a business isn’t just about contracts and compliance; it’s about relationships. I saw long-time partners part ways amicably because they’d built in structures that respected both their friendship and their finances. I also saw new entrepreneurs step out bravely, often with little more than an idea and a belief that preparation could turn it into something real.

In that way, business planning and estate planning aren’t so different. Both are acts of optimism, saying, “I believe this will grow, and I want to protect it.”

 

A Note of Gratitude

 

More than anything, this year has been a lesson in gratitude. Gratitude for clients who trust me with deeply personal matters. Gratitude for colleagues who share insights, referrals, and friendship. And gratitude for the reminder that good legal work is quiet work, the kind that keeps other people’s lives running smoothly, often without them realizing how much went into it.

 

Here’s to 2026: to clarity, preparation, and the quiet satisfaction of knowing that the work we do today will matter tomorrow.

 

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