Here’s a fun fact to share at brunch: roughly 60% of Americans don’t have a will. Not a trust, not a power of attorney, not even a sticky note with their wishes. Just… nothing. And if your dad is in that majority, he’s probably been meaning to “get around to it” for about a decade now.

Sound familiar?

Father’s Day is June 21st. And while we fully support the grilling accessories and the sentimental cards, we’d like to make the case for a different kind of gift this year — one that actually protects him, protects you, and doesn’t end up in a drawer.

Here’s what most adult kids don’t realize: when a parent passes away without a proper estate plan, the family doesn’t just grieve. They also deal with probate (the court-supervised process of sorting out someone’s assets, which is slow, public, and expensive), family disagreements over who gets what, and that’s assuming there’s any money left at all after a parent needs savings-draining long term care. A paid-off house and a few hundred thousand in savings sounds like a comfortable legacy until it gets chewed up by several hours or more of care, or a nursing home.

A good estate plan, typically built around a protective trust, should sidestep all of that. The trust keeps things out of the hands of care agencies, the dreaded state, and probate entirely. A good power of attorney means someone Dad can rely on (probably you) can make financial decisions on his behalf if he ever can’t. The will catches anything that may have slipped through the cracks (though a good plan shouldn’t have much of that). It’s not a morbid exercise. It’s actually one of the most loving, organized things a person can do for the people they care about. Very on-brand for a dad who still keeps his garage immaculate.

Now, how do you actually bring this up without ruining Father’s Day? It’s easier than you think. Most dads aren’t avoiding it because they don’t care. They’re avoiding it because it feels complicated, expensive, or like something they’ll figure out “eventually.” A gentle nudge from a kid who clearly loves them tends to land differently than a lecture. Try something like: “Dad, I’d love to help get this set up for you. Can we just make one phone call together?” Or better yet, for the dad that likes a nice cold one, “Hey Dad, there’s this local lawyer that’s inviting people to hang at The Wherehouse on Liberty St. in Newburgh. We can just grab a beer and listen, or if we have questions, we can ask then.” That’s it. We’ll take it from there.

The Bottom Line: Your dad worked hard for what he has. The least we can do is make sure it goes exactly where he wants it to go–without a courtroom, without unnecessary fees, and without your siblings having a very awkward Thanksgiving about it. If you want to give him something genuinely useful this Father’s Day, help him take the first step. Questions? You can call or come hang at an event like we mentioned above, or check out our website, a webinar, whatever. Lots of ways to get the info you need to help him do what he knows he has to, and wants to, but maybe isn’t sure how.