“It’s Been a Damn Good Life” And Your People Deserve to Know That
When Anna Harp lost her father, Rudolph Clausing, she didn’t get the chance to say goodbye. It was January 2021, right in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. He’d been battling lung disease when he caught the virus, and because of strict hospital protocols, his family couldn’t be there in his final days. Anna was only 27. Her dad was 66. And just like that he was gone.
But as her mother gathered his belongings from the hospital, she found something Anna never saw coming a notebook. Inside it, scrawled in her father’s handwriting, were seven quiet words:
“It has been such a good life.”
Seven words. That’s all. But for Anna, they meant everything.
This moment holds a powerful truth: when we lose someone, what we need most isn’t a spreadsheet or a stack of paperwork. It’s connection. It’s presence. It’s a glimpse of who they were and what mattered most to them. So yes, the legal and financial stuff is important but don’t forget to leave this kind of legacy, too.
Because one day, the people you love most might need your words more than your wealth. Are you ready to give them both?
What Really Matters to Your Family When You’re No Longer Here
Right after losing someone they love, your family isn’t thinking about money they’re craving connection, clarity, and something that still feels like you. They’re searching for your voice, your guidance, and any sign of what you would’ve wanted them to do next.
When you leave this world without sharing your real thoughts, your values, or your love in a meaningful way, you leave behind more than grief you leave unanswered questions. They’ll wonder if you were proud of them, what you might have done differently, or how you’d want them to carry on. And that kind of silence? It lingers.
It’s not always the money issues that break people after a loss it’s the emotional drift. The pain of not knowing. The weight of feeling unanchored in a time when they need something to hold onto. And that’s the part of your legacy only you can leave behind while you’re still here.
What Love Really Leaves Behind: Clarity, Connection & Guidance
The best way to help your family find peace after you’re gone? It’s not just with documents, it’s with love. And love, in this case, looks like preparation and honest conversation. When you take the time to share your thoughts, values, and wishes, you’re giving your family a roadmap they can follow long after you're gone. This isn’t just about funeral preferences or who gets what it’s about offering emotional grounding and practical wisdom for the long haul.
This kind of communication becomes a true legacy, one your kids will turn to when they’re making big decisions or just need to hear your voice in their head. When they’re wondering what you would’ve done, your guidance will already be there. When they want to feel close to you, they’ll have your words and wishes to hold onto. They won’t have to guess how to honor you, they’ll know.
Clear communication also keeps the drama to a minimum. Family tension can erupt fast after a loss, especially when no one’s quite sure what you wanted. But when you’ve taken the time to explain not just your choices, but the why behind them? It’s a whole different outcome. Your voice becomes the glue, keeping your people grounded, connected, and united when they need it most.
The truth? Traditional estate planning misses the mark here. It treats death like a transaction. Fill out some forms, split the stuff, call it a day. But what about the emotional side? The life lessons, the stories, the soul of who you are? Most estate plans skip that part entirely. But not here.
Leave More Than Stuff: Create a Legacy They’ll Actually Feel
Let’s get one thing straight, Estate Planning isn’t your average “check-the-box” estate plan. It’s not just paperwork. It’s not just a will. It’s about preparing your loved ones for life without you emotionally, financially, and practically. It’s planning that actually works when your family needs it most. Here’s how:
You Create Clarity Not Just Documents
Anyone can crank out a will or trust, but that’s not what I do here. At 20West Legal, Estate Planning means creating a roadmap your family can actually follow. They’ll know where everything is, what accounts exist, how to pay the bills, and how to handle your business or real estate. No frantic searches. No second-guessing. Just clarity.
But the real magic? They won’t just know what to do, they’ll know what mattered to you.
What do you want your kids to remember? What family traditions should carry on? What would you want your sister to tell your daughter about you? These are the things that get lost when we focus only on the money.
You Prepare Them for the Financial Realities
Let’s be honest, death can get expensive. And not just emotionally. Your plan will help your family understand the actual financial landscape.
How will your partner manage the mortgage?
What’s the plan for college costs?
Can your family maintain their lifestyle without scrambling?A life insurance policy alone doesn’t answer those questions. A thoughtful Estate Plan does.
You Leave a Piece of Yourself
One of the most powerful parts of my planning process and the thing clients rave about most is the Planning Recording. This isn’t just a letter or a note scribbled on the back of a hospital menu (like Rudolph’s beautiful, accidental gift to his daughter).
This is intentional.
You get to speak directly to your family on camera. You’ll share your stories, your values, your dreams for their future, and the love you may not have had time to express.
It’s a message they can return to again and again, long after you're gone. And it’s something your grandchildren and their kids will have forever.
You Give Them a Guide (Not Just a Stack of Paper)
And here’s where we really stand apart: I don’t disappear once your documents are signed.
We’ll review and update your plan regularly, so it grows with you. I’ll be your family’s trusted legal partner not just for you, but for the people you love. When the time comes, your loved ones will know exactly what to do, and they’ll have me (or someone I trust through the Personal Family LawyerⓇ network) to help them every step of the way.
No confusion. No guessing. No chaos.
Because here’s the truth: most estate plans fall apart when families are left to figure it out alone. Probate. Legal to-dos. Financial logistics. All while grieving. That’s when people get overwhelmed, resentments fester, and things fall apart.
But when you’ve got an Estate Plan in place, one that’s built for real life, your family is supported, protected, and empowered.
Let’s Create a Plan That Speaks for You Loud and Clear
If you want to leave a real legacy, don’t wait for life to throw you a curveball. Life’s unpredictable but your love doesn’t have to be.
At 20West Legal, we do Estate Planning in Sudbury, Massachusetts and throughout Metrowest Boston, including Maynard, Framingham, Natick, and beyond with heart, strategy, and zero legal fluff.
As your Personal Family Lawyer®, I’ll help you create an Estate Legacy Plan that protects your people legally, prepares them emotionally, and gives them the greatest gift of all: the comfort of knowing it’s all taken care of.
So when the time comes, your plan doesn’t just say who gets what—it says: “It has been such a good life.”
👉 Schedule your complimentary 15-minute discovery call today: https://go.20westlegal.com/meeting-scheduler
This article is a service of 20WestLegal LLC. We don't just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Planning Session, during which you will get more financially organized than you've ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office in Sudbury, Massachusetts today to schedule an Estate Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.
The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.