As an estate planning and real estate attorney in Massachusetts, I spend a lot of my day dealing with complex legal topics—things like probate, trusts, purchase and sale agreements, and legal ownership structures. But when I get home, I’m greeted by four curious little faces who want to know, “Dad, what do you do at work?”
Willow, my oldest, turns seven this summer. Then there’s Laney, who’s five, Rose who’s three, and Teddy, who just hit the year-and-a-half mark.
Trying to explain what I do to them has taught me something valuable: If I can’t explain it to my kids, I’m probably not explaining it well enough to my clients either.
The Problem with Legal Jargon
When I tell my kids that I’m an “estate planning attorney,” their eyes glaze over.
When I say I help people “go to probate court,” they picture a big scary courtroom, probably like they’ve seen on TV.
The truth is, even adults sometimes misunderstand what lawyers like me actually do—especially when it comes to estate planning and probate. Many people think estate planning is only for the wealthy or that probate is something they don’t need to worry about. Others assume buying or selling property is just “sign here” paperwork without understanding the risks.
How I Explain Probate to My Kids (and Clients)
When my kids ask me about going to court, here’s how I explain it:
“You know how you and your brothers and sisters sometimes fight over toys or who gets to go first?
Well, sometimes grown-ups in families fight too—about money, property, or what someone wanted after they passed away.
And when they can’t agree, they go to a judge, kind of like how Mom or Dad has to step in when you kids can’t work it out on your own.”
That usually gets a few knowing nods. My kids know what it’s like to fight with each other, so this makes sense to them.
What surprises people is that this isn’t too far off from how I explain probate to my clients. Probate is the legal process of sorting out someone’s estate after they pass away. It’s public, it can be slow, and it often leads to conflict—especially when there’s no clear plan in place.
What About Estate Planning?
After explaining probate, I tell my kids that I also help families write words on paper that prevent those fights from happening in the first place.
In legal terms, those words are things like:
- Wills
- Trusts
- Powers of Attorney
- Healthcare Proxies
But for my kids, I just say:
“I help families make a plan so they don’t have to fight later.”
That’s what estate planning is really all about—making decisions ahead of time, in writing, to protect your family from unnecessary stress, conflict, and expense later on.
The One Thing My Kids Actually Understand
While probate and estate planning take a lot of explaining, there’s one part of my job my kids instantly understand: helping people buy and sell buildings.
When I tell them I help people:
- Buy their first home
- Open a new store or restaurant
- Invest in commercial property
They get it. They can picture families moving into new homes or someone turning an empty storefront into something exciting. They’ve seen it happen in our own town.
Why This Matters to You
Whether you’re thinking about your family’s future, buying your first home, or making a business investment, the legal work behind those decisions matters.
- Without the right estate plan, your family could end up in probate court, spending time and money they shouldn’t have to.
- Without the right legal advice on a real estate deal, you could be signing a contract that puts your investment at risk.
My job is to help you avoid those risks—to make your next step easier, safer, and less stressful.
Let’s Make Your Next Big Move Together
So whether you’re planning your estate, buying a home, or investing in commercial property here in Massachusetts—that’s what I do.
And if my kids can understand it, I promise you will too.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact Cote Law Group today to schedule a consultation.
We’ll help you make your next big move with confidence.