A August 2010 article in The New Yorker supports the notion that estate planning is as important for life as it is for death. As I try to emphasize to my clients, estate planning is also crucial when it comes to situations where a person - young or old - becomes mentally and/or physically unable to make medical and financial decisions for themselves. The article gives real-world examples of touching stories that underscore the importance of estate planning as it pertains to sensitive end-of-life issues. The article, “Letting Go” by Atul Gawande can be read here.