Drafting Your Future: What the NFL Combine Teaches Us About California Estate Planning
California Legal Implications: Preparation and Evaluation
As reported by ESPN, the 2026 NFL Combine is currently underway in Indianapolis, where over 300 prospects are undergoing rigorous medical evaluations, interviews, and physical testing. Teams are scrutinizing every metric—from 40-yard dash times to medical histories—to determine who is best suited for their roster., the 2026 NFL Combine is currently underway in Indianapolis, where over 300 prospects are undergoing rigorous medical evaluations, interviews, and physical testing. Teams are scrutinizing every metric—from 40-yard dash times to medical histories—to determine who is best suited for their roster.
While few Californians will ever face the scrutiny of an NFL scout, the principles of the Combine—preparation, medical evaluation, and strategic selection—are directly applicable to estate planning. Just as athletes prepare to secure their professional futures, families must prepare legal frameworks to secure their assets and healthcare wishes.
Medical Evaluations and Advance Directives
One of the most critical aspects of the NFL Combine mentioned in the report is the medical evaluation. Teams need to know if a player is healthy enough to perform. In estate planning, addressing medical scenarios is equally vital. A comprehensive Advance Health Care Directive allows you to appoint an agent to make medical decisions on your behalf should you become incapacitated. allows you to appoint an agent to make medical decisions on your behalf should you become incapacitated.
Without this document, if you suffer a medical emergency (similar to a career-altering injury in sports), your family may be forced to seek a Conservatorship through the court system to make decisions for you. This process is public, expensive, and time-consuming. through the court system to make decisions for you. This process is public, expensive, and time-consuming.
Measurements and Asset Inventory
Scouts at the Combine measure height, weight, and arm length to understand exactly what physical assets a player brings to the team. similarly, an effective estate plan begins with a clear understanding of your financial “stats.” This involves creating a comprehensive inventory of your assets, including:
– Real estate holdings
– Bank and investment accounts
– Business interests
– Digital assets
For a Revocable Living Trust to function correctly, it must be properly funded. This means changing the title of these assets from your individual name to the name of your Trust. Just as a scout needs accurate data to draft a player, your attorney needs accurate asset data to draft a plan that avoids California Probate..
Selecting Your Team: Fiduciaries
NFL teams interview players to test their character and intelligence, looking for leadership qualities. When creating an estate plan, you are effectively acting as the General Manager of your own legacy. You must draft the right people for specific positions:
– Successor Trustee: The person who manages your Trust assets when you pass away or become incapacitated.
– Executor: The person nominated in your Will to wrap up your affairs.
– Power of Attorney Agent: The person authorized to handle financial decisions if you cannot.: The person authorized to handle financial decisions if you cannot.
Selecting these fiduciaries requires the same scrutiny used in the Combine. You need individuals who are organized, trustworthy, and capable of handling complex responsibilities.
The “Draft” Strategy: Will vs. Trust
In the NFL, teams have a strategy for every round of the draft. In California, your strategy depends on your goals. For many homeowners and families, a Living Trust is the first-round pick because it allows assets to pass to beneficiaries without court intervention. A simple Will, while necessary, often acts as a backup plan (a “Pour-Over Will”) to ensure any forgotten assets are transferred into the Trust after death., while necessary, often acts as a backup plan (a “Pour-Over Will”) to ensure any forgotten assets are transferred into the Trust after death.
About This Case
Source: 2026 NFL combine: Top draft prospects, workout predictions
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Legal Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified California estate planning attorney for advice specific to your situation.