themselves or their loved ones." Attorney Berman says that many of his clients put off having a will prepared until the very last minute. "I get a lot of calls just before they have to get on an airplane," he says. "Then they know they can't put it off any longer."

Death and dying are nobody's

If you haven't taken the time to prepare your estate plan, you're not alone. According to a survey conducted by FindLaw.com, a whopping 55% of Americans haven't even taken the time to have a will prepared, and 67% don't have a living will in case they become incapacitated or terminally ill.

But that's not all! The Findlaw.com survey also found that even those who did have a will generally did not keep it updated. In fact, nearly 40% said they had not updated their will within the last five years.

It's not as though people are unaware of the need to plan their estates. Estate planners and many other professionals have preached the need for wills, and other estate planning documents for years. Most recently, the Terri Schiavo case brought the issue of living wills to national prominence. Yet, despite the brief surge in demand for living wills and other estate planning documents during that time, most Americans seem to have lapsed back into complacency about planning for their incapacity or death.

"That, in itself, may be the problem," says Attorney Alan H. Berman of Hartford, Connecticut. People don't like talking about death and dying, especially when they're talking about themselves or their loved ones." Attorney Berman says that many of his clients put off having a will prepared until the very last minute. "I get a lot of calls just before they have to get on an airplane," he says. "Then they know they can't put it off any longer."

Death and dying are nobody's

that's not all! The Findlaw.com survey also found that even those who did have a will generally did not keep it updated. In fact, nearly 40% said they had not updated their will within the last five years.

It's not as though people are unaware of the need to plan their estates. Estate planners and many other professionals have preached the need for wills, and other estate planning documents for years. Most recently, the Terri Schiavo case brought the issue of living wills to national prominence. Yet, despite the brief surge in demand for living wills and other estate planning documents during that time, most Americans seem to have lapsed back into complacency about planning for their incapacity or death.

"That, in itself, may be the problem," says Attorney Alan H. Berman of Hartford, Connecticut. People don't like talking about death and dying, especially when they're talking about themselves or their loved ones." Attorney Berman says that many of his clients put off having a will prepared until the very last minute. "I get a lot of calls just before they have to get on an airplane," he says. "Then they know they can't put it off any longer."

Death and dying are nobody's

nd many other professionals have preached the need for wills, and other estate planning documents for years. Most recently, the Terri Schiavo case brought the issue of living wills to national prominence. Yet, despite the brief surge in demand for living wills and other estate planning documents during that time, most Americans seem to have lapsed back into complacency about planning for their incapacity or death.

"That, in itself, may be the problem," says Attorney Alan H. Berman of Hartford, Connecticut. People don't like talking about death and dying, especially when they're talking about themselves or their loved ones." Attorney Berman says that many of his clients put off having a will prepared until the very last minute. "I get a lot of calls just before they have to get on an airplane," he says. "Then they know they can't put it off any longer."

Death and dying are nobody's

g that time, most Americans seem to have lapsed back into complacency about planning for their incapacity or death.

"That, in itself, may be the problem," says Attorney Alan H. Berman of Hartford, Connecticut. People don't like talking about death and dying, especially when they're talking about themselves or their loved ones." Attorney Berman says that many of his clients put off having a will prepared until the very last minute. "I get a lot of calls just before they have to get on an airplane," he says. "Then they know they can't put it off any longer."

Death and dying are nobody's

themselves or their loved ones." Attorney Berman says that many of his clients put off having a will prepared until the very last minute. "I get a lot of calls just before they have to get on an airplane," he says. "Then they know they can't put it off any longer."

Death and dying are nobody's favorite topics, to be sure. But, there seems to be more to it than that. The Allianz American Legacies Study, which was sponsored by the Allianz Life Insurance Company, surveyed 2,627 people of all age groups "to identify how they define leaving a legacy and how families are communicating about these sensitive issues today."

One of the interesting - and, probably, most revealing - facts to come out of the Allianz American Legacies Study was this - seniors and baby boomers both ranked money last on their list of important estate planning issues. Ranked ahead of money was the idea of leaving a legacy which, according to the study, "captures all facets of an individual's life - including their family traditions and history, sharing stories, values and wishes."

Attorney Berman agrees with the assessment of the Allianz American Legacies Study. "From my experience," he says, "people seem to clam up as soon as you start talking about money. They'd rather talk about their family history or certain mementos - prized personal possessions that might not have a lot of monetary value but certainly have a lot of sentimental value."

Another reason why many people procrastinate when it