Killing and grief are all over the news and social media this summer. From the shootings in Orlando to Dallas police officers gunned down while protecting protesters, and all the other killings we’ve seen, our grief reactions have a pattern. Immediate reactions are shock, numbness, horror, sadness, anger and tears. Then come the candlelight vigils, the public memorials with flowers, flags, candles, teddy bears and hand-drawn cards expressing love and remembrance. Grief reactions can vary … [Read more...] about How Grief and Mourning Reactions Can Vary
loss
End-of-Life Book Recommendations
Estate planning attorneys can find themselves dealing with more than just legal issues when their clients have a death in the family. Here are some books to help you understand and address practical and emotional issues when it’s time to put your estate planning work to the test. On Grief & Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss This book by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler is a classic text which stands the test of time. First published in 2005, … [Read more...] about End-of-Life Book Recommendations
September 11, 2001
Thanks to all of you for sharing your thoughts regarding the tragedies of 9/11. One alerted me to S.J.'s poignant email on the list serve. Some of you may remember that I was in D.C. at that time. My recollections of standing on top of our office building watching the plumes of smoke and fire from the Pentagon are vivid. The twin sister of one of my staff members was caught in Tower I. Tola did not know her sister's fate until late that afternoon. You can imagine the trauma. Her phone rang … [Read more...] about September 11, 2001
Every Grieving Client is Unique
I read the Academy’s March 26 blog post entitled How Do You Deal with Grieving Clients? and immediately wished I had a magic wand that I could wave over every estate planning attorney so that they could be prepared for every grieving client they see in their office. The truth is…. grief takes so many different forms that you can never be prepared. My perspective might be somewhat unique, and in some ways, it’s probably a worst-case scenario perspective. I do a lot of pro bono work with … [Read more...] about Every Grieving Client is Unique
How Do You Deal with Grieving Clients?
As all of you are, I’m on Facebook as well. A friend I grew up with lost her 17 year old daughter in a car accident 6 years ago. She has a “In Memory Of” Facebook page for friends and family to post photos or thoughts to. The past couple of years, only she posts. Recently the post read: “I lost your pen Sunday. It was horrible. I have carried it with me every day since they handed it to me at the police station. I looked and looked. It was like losing a bit of you all over again. The next day, … [Read more...] about How Do You Deal with Grieving Clients?
