Why Single Moms Need an Estate Plan Like Yesterday
If you caught Ms. Eboni K. Williams’ recent breakdown, you already know she does not have time for the chaos we’ve all seen unfolding in celebrity court battles. She made a clear, empowered choice when she selected a donor, no messy entanglements, no courtroom drama, no unexpected “surprise” claims popping up years later.
But here’s the twist:
You don’t need to be married, famous, or in a headline-making situation for that same kind of legal mess to land on your doorstep.
Let’s paint a real-life picture:
You’re a single mom.
You’re grinding, building your career, maybe even stacking assets and creating generational wealth. You’re raising your child or children with intention and doing it your way and all by yourself. But what happens if something unexpected happens to you while your child is still a minor?
Suddenly, the person who hasn’t been present (or hasn’t contributed ) may show up trying to claim two things:
Your child,
And everything you’ve worked for.
Yes, even if you’re not together.
Yes, even if they’ve been MIA.
Yes, even if they weren’t supposed to have a role.
This is the part most single parents aren’t told:
Without an estate plan, the law makes decisions for you — not based on your wishes, not based on your reality, not based who was present or not.
This is where Ebony’s advice about thinking things through becomes a blueprint.
By putting an estate plan in place, you’re doing more than listing assets and signing papers. You’re creating legal guardrails that protect:
Who raises your child
Who manages your child’s inheritance
Who does not get access to your money
How your legacy is handled long after you’re gone
It’s about control.
It’s about safeguarding your child’s future.
It’s about making sure the life you’re building stays aligned with your values, even if you’re no longer here to enforce them.
So what should single moms be putting in place?
Here are the essentials:
A Will – to name a guardian for your minor child
A Trust – to protect your child’s financial future and prevent the wrong person from managing their inheritance
Powers of Attorney – to ensure someone you trust handles your affairs if you’re incapacitated
Beneficiary designations – updated and coordinated so no one can swoop in unexpectedly
Guardianship Appointment – while the other biological parent has certain statutory rights, you get to appoint who you would want if they don’t step up. Let’s be real, are they going to really step up for the work of parenting if they don’t also control the money?
Bottom line:
You don’t have to be in a relationship for someone to make a claim over your child or your assets. And you certainly don’t have to wait for drama to happen to protect yourself.
Take a page from Ebony’s playbook. Make the decision now (while everything is calm) to get your estate plan locked down.
Contact Trusted Legal Warrior, PLLC, today to get started.
Your child deserves that security.
And you deserve that peace of mind.