Saw something on Facebook that worried me

Why your estate planning needs to consider social media

Hey, Jerry here.

I was scrolling through Facebook yesterday and saw something that made me think about estate planning in a whole new way.

A woman had posted about her father's estate being "tied up in court for over a year" and asked her friends for recommendations for attorneys.

Within hours, the post had dozens of comments with people sharing details about probate costs, family disputes,

And even speculation about how much money was involved.

What struck me wasn't that she was asking for help - that's what friends are for.

What worried me was how quickly private family matters became public conversation.

This got me thinking about something most people don't consider when they're doing estate planning…

In today's world, your family's business or even your assets no longer remain private the way they used to.

Here's what I mean.

When your estate goes through probate court, those records become public.

Anyone can access them.

But in the past, you'd have to physically go to the courthouse and look through files to find that information.

Now, court records are searchable online.

And when families are stressed about probate delays or legal costs, they often turn to social media for support and advice.

I don't blame them - dealing with probate while grieving is overwhelming, and people need help.

But this creates a new reality:

Your estate planning decisions today could determine whether your family's private financial affairs become social media content tomorrow.

Think about what goes through probate court and becomes public record:

The value of your home, your bank account balances, who inherits what, any family conflicts about the will, and how much your family pays in legal fees.

In previous generations, that information might have stayed within the immediate family.

Today, it can end up in Facebook posts, neighborhood social media groups, or family group chats.

Your children might find themselves defending your decisions in comment threads, or explaining to friends why the estate is taking so long to settle.

This isn't about being paranoid or suspicious of social media.

It's about recognizing that privacy works differently now than it did when most estate planning strategies were designed.

Now on the other hand…

A properly funded trust keeps your family's affairs completely private.

No court involvement means no public records.

No public records means your family can grieve and handle your affairs without their private business becoming anyone else's conversation topic.

Your children can focus on healing and remembering you, instead of managing public curiosity about your estate.

I'm not saying people are malicious - most are just trying to help or understand. (but of course there will always be people who try to make money off you by having access to this information)

That’s why your family deserves the choice to keep their private matters private, especially during one of the most difficult times of their lives.

Your estate planning should protect more than just your assets. It should protect your family's dignity and privacy too.

If privacy for your family matters to you, and you're in Alabama, Florida, or Mississippi,

I've created a free video showing how to keep your family's affairs completely private during the most vulnerable time of their lives.

[WATCH THE FREE VIDEO HERE - PROTECT YOUR FAMILY→]

Jerry Taylor