Probate Reads™ by ProbateCourtBond.com
Reviewed by ProbateCourtBond.com
Category: Estate Planning / Death Preparation / Digital Legacy
Overview
Death planning does not have to feel morbid. Jonathan S. Braddock’s Click Here When I Die: Making Things Easier for Those You Love reframes end-of-life preparation as an act of care rather than a chore. Written with humor, honesty, and practical insight, this book tackles the modern complexity of dying in a digital age. It walks readers through the messy reality families face when someone passes without clear instructions, then offers a straightforward path to avoid that chaos. Whether you are twenty-five or seventy-five, this book makes a compelling case for getting your affairs in order now, not later.
Braddock draws from personal experience, including the disorganized aftermath of his father-in-law’s death, to illustrate why thoughtful preparation matters. The result is a guide that feels less like a legal manual and more like a conversation with someone who has been there and wants to spare you the same struggle.
What Makes It Worth Reading
This book stands out because it addresses the real-world mess that most estate planning guides ignore. Braddock does not just tell you to write a will. He walks you through the scavenger hunt your loved ones will face if you do not leave clear instructions, the online accounts that will keep charging your credit card, the passwords no one knows, and the safe deposit box key that leads nowhere.
The tone is refreshingly direct. Braddock uses humor to soften difficult topics without trivializing them. He introduces the concept of the New Death Etiquette, a modern approach to dying responsibly that accounts for digital accounts, social media profiles, autopay subscriptions, and the million other tentacles of modern life. The book also includes real stories from attorneys, families, and friends who learned these lessons the hard way, making the advice feel urgent and grounded.
Best For
• Anyone who has not yet created a will or organized their affairs
• Families dealing with aging parents who have no estate plan
• Young professionals who assume death planning is only for the elderly
• Executors and administrators who need to understand what families go through
• Estate planning attorneys looking for a client-friendly resource that explains why planning matters
Key Takeaways
• Dying without a plan forces loved ones into a prolonged, stressful scavenger hunt
• Digital accounts, passwords, and online subscriptions require the same attention as financial assets
• Talking about death and writing down your wishes can prevent family conflict and legal battles
• Even young, healthy people need basic estate planning, especially if they have children
• A little preparation now saves your family months or years of frustration later
ProbateCourtBond.com Perspective
At ProbateCourtBond.com, we see the consequences of poor planning every day. Families arrive in probate court unprepared, unsure where to start, and overwhelmed by the volume of decisions they must make while grieving. Braddock’s book addresses the exact problems we encounter most often. It explains why naming beneficiaries matters, why a will is not enough if no one knows where to find it, and why digital access is now as important as physical documents.
The book also reinforces the value of clear communication. Many disputes arise not from bad intentions but from confusion and assumptions. When families do not know what the deceased wanted, they fill in the blanks themselves, and those answers do not always align. This book offers a simple solution: write it down, tell someone where to find it, and update it when things change.
Recognition
Featured in Probate Reads™ by ProbateCourtBond.com
A Practical Guide to Modern Death Planning “A refreshingly honest look at what happens when you do not plan, and how to fix it before it is too late.”
Where to Find It
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, ProbateCourtBond.com may earn from qualifying purchases. Opinions are our own.
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About the Author
Jonathan S. Braddock is an entrepreneur, speaker, and author with over thirty years of experience in employee benefits and retirement planning. After witnessing the chaos left behind by his father-in-law’s death, he created the My Life and Wishes Organizer and later launched an online platform to help people organize their digital and physical affairs. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with his wife Michelle and their children.
Series Note
This review is part of Probate Reads™ by ProbateCourtBond.com, an ongoing series by ProbateCourtBond.com featuring books that simplify probate, guardianship, and estate planning for families and professionals.
