June 25th has always been a special day for my family
It was my grandmother’s birthday. It was also my mother’s birthday.
My grandmother was just 20 years old when she gave birth to my mother—on her own birthday. For the rest of their lives, they shared that special day together. This year, June 25th feels different because both are gone. My grandmother passed away on December 19, 2003. My mother passed away on December 18, 2025, missing the same date by only one day.
As I reflect on their birthdays, I find myself thinking about the tremendous influence they had on my life and career. My mother and grandmother believed in me long before I believed in myself. When law school was difficult, they encouraged me to keep going. When I doubted myself, they reminded me that I could do hard things. Their faith in me helped carry me through some of the most challenging years of my life.
One of my favorite memories happened on the day I graduated from law school. After the ceremony, my grandmother hugged me and proudly said, “Great, now I have someone who can handle my probate.”
At the time, I was working for a litigation firm. My days were spent helping clients resolve disputes and preparing for trials. But after my grandmother made that comment, something clicked. I realized I knew very little about probate, so I asked my boss if I could learn more about probate and estate planning. Fortunately, he said yes.
That simple conversation changed the course of my life. Three years later, I opened my own law practice. In the beginning, my work included litigation along with probate and estate planning. Then my grandmother passed away. Going through her death and probate process taught me lessons no law school class ever could. I saw firsthand the challenges families face during times of grief. I witnessed the questions, frustrations, and uncertainties that can arise when important decisions haven’t been fully addressed in advance.
Those experiences led me to make an important decision. I chose to focus my practice exclusively on estate planning. My goal was simple: help families avoid unnecessary problems and make difficult times a little easier. I hoped that what I learned from my grandmother’s passing would make me a better attorney for the families I serve.
More than two decades later, both my mother and grandmother continue to influence my work every day. Every estate plan I create is about more than legal documents. It is about honoring your loved ones’ wishes. It is about protecting the people you love. It is about preserving family harmony. It is about making things easier for those who will someday have to carry on without you.
This June 25th, I celebrate two remarkable women whose love, encouragement, wisdom, and sense of humor helped shape my life and career. I am grateful for every lesson they taught me and every moment we shared. And I am especially grateful for one simple comment from my grandmother that helped lead me to the work I was meant to do.
