Legacy planning is one of the most documented and least understood disciplines in the field of continuity. A handful of recurring misconceptions tend to shape decisions in ways that quietly undermine the outcomes their authors hoped for.
The document fallacy
Documents codify intent; they do not create it. Where the underlying intent has not been articulated and shared, a beautifully drafted document is more likely to become a source of dispute than a guide to behavior.
The single-generation fallacy
Plans are commonly designed for one transition. A legacy is, by definition, the result of many transitions. Provisions that work elegantly across one generational boundary often fail when applied across two or three.
The secrecy fallacy
Plans kept entirely secret from those they govern rarely outlive their authors. The next generation discovers the structure and the intent simultaneously, in circumstances that do not favor calm interpretation.