Giving, Legacy, and the Law: A Personal Reflection
Why The Giving Tree Is My Favorite Book — and What It Taught Me About Estate Planning
When people ask why I focus my practice on estate planning, probate, and trust administration, I could point to my legal background or years of experience. But the real answer is more personal—and, in a way, it starts with a children’s book.
The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein, has always moved me. It’s a simple story about a tree that gives everything it has—shade, apples, branches, and eventually its trunk—to a boy it loves. Some read it as tale of unconditional love. Others see it as a cautionary story about imbalance. I see it as a meditation on legacy: what we leave behind, how we care for others, and what it means to give meaningfully over a lifetime.
In my work, I meet clients at pivotal moments—when they’re thinking about how to protect their loved ones, when they’ve lost someone dear, or when they’re navigating the responsibility of managing someone else’s legacy. These moments aren’t just legal matters—they’re human ones. They require more than technical skill; they require listening, empathy, and a deep respect for what each person values most.
Like the tree, many of my clients want to give. They want to ensure their children are provided for, that their spouses are protected, that their wishes are honored. Some want to support causes close to their hearts. Others want to pass along something less tangible: a sense of family, tradition, or hard-earned wisdom. Helping people shape that legacy is one of the most meaningful parts of my work.
Of course, estate planning isn’t just about giving things away. It’s about balance—protecting the giver during their lifetime, easing the burden on loved ones, and creating clarity rather than conflict. That’s where my experience comes in: to help clients find solutions that are legally sound, personally meaningful, and deeply thoughtful.
I believe that when done well, estate planning is an act of love. It’s a way of saying: I see you, I’ve thought about you, and I’ve done what I can to take care of you—even when I’m not here.
Maybe that’s why The Giving Tree continues to speak to me. It reminds me why this work matters. And it’s why I consider it a privilege to do what I do.