Artificial intelligence is no longer something on the horizon. It is here, it is practical, and many of my clients are already using it in their everyday lives. They use it to draft emails, organize ideas, and think through decisions. As your estate planning attorney, I do not see that as something to resist. I see it as something to use thoughtfully.
Estate planning has always evolved alongside technology. AI is simply the newest tool available to families who want to be organized and proactive. When used appropriately, it can strengthen your planning. It does not replace your relationship with your law firm, but it can complement it in meaningful ways.
A Note on Confidentiality First
Before we talk about how AI can be helpful, it is important to start with where caution is necessary.
Your relationship with your attorney is protected by attorney-client privilege. That protection allows you to share openly and receive candid advice. When you input information into an AI platform, that same protection may not apply. For that reason, I generally discourage clients from uploading:
• Draft or signed estate planning documents
• Detailed summaries of legal strategies
• Sensitive family information tied to legal decisions
• Financial account details, tax returns, or similar records
Even well-designed platforms are not a substitute for the legal protections built into your relationship with your attorney. A simple rule of thumb is this: if you would only feel comfortable sharing something directly with your attorney, it is best to keep it there.
Using AI Before Your Planning Meeting
Many people feel overwhelmed before they begin estate planning. They know they need documents, but they are not sure where to start. AI can be a helpful way to get organized. You might use it to:
• Clarify general estate planning terminology
• Generate a list of questions for your attorney
• Create a rough inventory of your assets
• Brainstorm potential trustees, guardians, or backups
• Organize your goals for your family
This kind of preparation allows our meetings to focus on strategy rather than definitions.
Clarifying Your Values and Intentions
Estate planning is not just about documents. It is about your intentions and the people you care about. AI can help you think through those decisions. For example, you might use it to:
• Draft a letter to your children explaining your decisions
• Outline what matters most to you in a trustee
• Think through how and when assets should be distributed
• Prepare for conversations with family members
This kind of reflection is valuable. What AI cannot do is ensure those ideas work within Arizona law or account for the nuances of your specific family. That is where legal guidance comes in.
Implementing Your Plan
An estate plan only works if it is implemented. This is where many people get stuck, and where AI can be especially helpful. It can assist with:
• Creating reminders to review beneficiary designations
• Drafting emails to institutions when retitling assets
• Generating checklists for annual reviews
• Organizing key information for your family
For trustees, it can help explain general responsibilities and create task lists to stay organized.
Where AI Should Not Be Used
There are areas where AI should not be relied upon:
• Making trust distribution decisions
• Interpreting trust language
• Providing tax guidance
• Resolving disputes between beneficiaries
• Determining eligibility for public benefits
These decisions require legal judgment, experience, and an understanding of both the law and your family dynamics.
AI and Disability Planning
For families planning for a loved one with a disability, AI can be a useful organizational tool. It can help with:
• Drafting a letter of intent
• Organizing care routines and preferences
• Listing providers and supports
• Preparing questions for benefit agencies
This type of information can be incredibly helpful to future caregivers. At the same time, programs like ALTCS, AHCCCS, and SSI involve detailed and evolving rules. Special needs trust administration requires careful compliance. These are not areas to rely on generalized information.
The Limits of Technology
AI can sound confident, even when it is incomplete or not specific to Arizona. Estate planning lives in the details. A small difference in language can change the outcome. You are not hiring an attorney simply to produce documents. You are hiring judgment, experience, and accountability.
A Better Way to Think About It
The best approach is not AI or your attorney. It is both. Use AI to:
• Get organized
• Think through your goals
• Prepare better questions
Then bring those questions to your law firm. Let us help you apply the law, avoid pitfalls, and create a plan that actually works when it matters most.
If AI helps you feel more prepared, more thoughtful, and more engaged in your planning, that is a good thing. The key is understanding its role.
It is a tool, not a decision-maker. It is an assistant, not your advisor.
Estate planning is ultimately about clarity, protection, and reducing the burden on the people you love. AI can support that process. Thoughtful legal guidance ensures it is done correctly. Used together, they create something stronger than either could alone.
