When Life Changes in a Moment: Why Families Can’t Wait to Protect What Matters

Every time I refresh my inbox lately, another breaking news alert appears. Another crash. Another emergency. Another family’s life changed in an instant.

This morning, Patch reported that a man was severely injured when his Jeep overturned in Manahawkin. And just days ago, another heartbreaking report detailed a teen charged in a fatal Thanksgiving stabbing — the same teen who, weeks earlier, allegedly assaulted a woman who was simply out pushing a stroller with her child.

These incidents are unrelated, but together they highlight a sobering truth: unpredictable, life-altering events are happening right here in our Ocean County community.

And as unsettling as these stories are, they underscore something that is impossible to ignore:

Life is unpredictable. And families who don’t plan are often the ones left unprotected.

This is not about fear — it’s about facing reality with wisdom.

As an attorney living right here in the community, I hear the same thing from families again and again:

“We’ve been meaning to get our estate planning done.”
“We know we should… we just haven’t gotten around to it.”
“We thought we had more time.”

But the one thing none of us are promised is more time.

And what I’ve seen firsthand — in courtrooms, during emergencies, and through families navigating crisis — is this:

When something happens unexpectedly, families without a plan face some of the hardest days of their lives.

• Children may be left without a legally named guardian.
• Bank accounts needed to care for a child can be inaccessible.
• No one has clear authority to speak to doctors.
• Assets can be frozen.
• Courts become involved automatically.
• Stress compounds grief at the worst possible moment.

Not because parents didn’t love their family —
but because love without legal structure leaves gaps no one intended.

As a local attorney and neighbor, my mission is simple: help families stay protected.

I live here.
I shop here.
I drive these same roads every day.

So when I see these incidents — accidents, violence, emergencies — unfold right in our backyard, I feel a responsibility not only as an attorney but as a fellow neighbor to help families prepare.

If recent events have made you pause and think, “We really need to get our planning done,” you’re not alone. Many local families have reached out saying the same.

And truly — there is no better time than now to put the right protections in place.

If you feel the nudge to get your planning done… that’s your sign.

Your family deserves clarity.
Your children deserve protection.
And you deserve peace of mind.

If you want guidance, education, or support in getting your planning done, I’m here to help.

You don’t have to navigate this alone.
You just have to take the first step.

— Eldonie S. Mason, Esq., Barnegat Resident & Local Attorney Helping Families Protect What Matters Most

Attorney Advertising. For Educational Purposes Only. Not Legal Advice.