The aroma of saltwater and jasmine hung heavy in the air as Sarah traced the chipped paint of her La Jolla home, a familiar ache settling in her chest. Her husband, David, had passed away unexpectedly six months prior, leaving her navigating a labyrinth of grief and legal complexities she never anticipated. They hadn’t bothered with a formal estate plan; a common oversight, particularly among those who believe they don’t possess substantial assets or that ‘something will just work out’. Now, Sarah faced probate court, a costly and time-consuming process threatening to deplete the modest savings she and David had carefully accumulated over thirty years.