The Biggest Estate Planning Mistake You Can Make? Not Having a Plan at All

July 1, 2026 by Maura Curran

Part 1 of 2: Why Single Adults 50+ Can’t Afford to Keep Putting This Off

There’s a particular kind of procrastination that affects smart, capable people when it comes to estate planning. It’s not that they don’t care. It’s that the decisions feel complicated, the options feel overwhelming, and there’s no obvious moment that forces them to sit down and do it.

So they don’t. And the years pass.

For single adults — especially those who are divorced, widowed, or have no nearby family — this delay carries real risk. Without a plan, Florida law decides what happens to everything you’ve built. Courts get involved. Strangers make decisions about your care. Assets go to people you may not have chosen, or get tied up in probate for months while your loved ones wait.

None of that reflects what you actually want. And all of it is avoidable.

Mistake #1: Failing to Plan Because the Decisions Feel Hard

One of the most common reasons people delay estate planning isn’t laziness — it’sparalysis. There are real decisions to make: Who should inherit what? Who do I trust to manage my affairs? What if I choose the wrong person? What if my situation changes?

These are legitimate questions. But the answer to uncertainty isn’t inaction — it’sworking with someone who can help you think through your options clearly and build a plan that actually reflects your wishes.

For single clients in particular, the stakes of not deciding are high. If you become incapacitated without a plan, a court will appoint someone to manage your affairs — and that person may not be who you would have chosen. If you pass away without a will or trust, Florida’s intestacy laws determine who receives your assets. Those laws weren’twritten with your specific relationships, your values, or your life in mind.

Mistake #2: Assuming Joint Ownership Is a Simple Solution

A common workaround people use to avoid probate is adding someone — an adult child, a sibling, a trusted friend — as a joint owner on their accounts or property. The logic makes sense on the surface: if we own it together, they won’t need to go through court when I’m gone.

But joint ownership creates problems that most people don’t anticipate until it’s too late.

When you add someone as a joint owner, you give up unilateral control of that asset immediately. They can make decisions about it now — not just after your death. A joint owner on a bank account can withdraw funds without your knowledge. A joint owner on real estate can block a sale you want to make. And if your co-owner has creditors, those creditors may be able to reach jointly held assets.

Beyond the control issues, undoing joint ownership is rarely simple. It can trigger gift tax implications, capital gains consequences, or other costs that wouldn’t have existed if the asset had been handled differently from the start.

A revocable living trust accomplishes what joint ownership is meant to accomplish —avoiding probate, ensuring a smooth transfer — without surrendering control during your lifetime. It’s a far cleaner solution, and it leaves your plan entirely in your hands.

Estate Planning Is a Process, Not a One-Time Event

One thing I tell every client: the goal isn’t a perfect plan on day one. The goal is a solid plan that reflects where you are today, built with the flexibility to grow and change as your life does.

For single adults who don’t have a spouse or adult child automatically filling key roles, it’s especially important to be intentional about who you name for each function — your trustee, your health care surrogate, your financial agent. These aren’t just legal formalities. They’re the people who will step in when you need help most.

In Part 2, we’ll talk about the third common mistake — and the one that often catches people most off guard: failing to plan for liquidity and the practical costs of incapacity or death.

If you’re ready to start the conversation now, I’d welcome it. Call my office at 561.935.9763 or visit www.TheCurranLawFirm.com to schedule a consultation.

— Maura S. Curran, Esq. | Maura S. Curran Law | Jupiter, FL Estate Planning & Administration | 561.935.9763 | www.TheCurranLawFirm.com