Preserving legacies for future generations Family legacy preservation and transition planning Timing is crucial when it comes to legacy preservation and transition planning. Many are essential yet o昀琀en overlooked aspects of life. The emotional, legal, and logistical challenges users expressed regret over not starting the associated with these tasks can be overwhelming, process early enough, resulting in missed opportunities to capture important memories especially during times of grief. Insights from various Reddit threads reveal common challenges, or 昀椀nalize legal documents missed opportunities, and practical strategies that individuals have encountered when dealing with A signi昀椀cant challenge faced by genealogists is determining what to do a昀琀er building a the legacies of their ancestors and loved ones. This paper synthesizes these insights to provide a substantial family tree. Once users have gathered names, dates, and basic facts about comprehensive understanding of the needs and their ancestors, many feel uncertain about gaps in the market for tools like the Guarden app. the next steps. This sense of directionlessness is particularly evident among beginners One of the most striking themes in the Reddit who, a昀琀er compiling extensive family trees, threads is the emotional burden placed on family members when a loved one passes away without 昀椀nd themselves asking, “What next?”. The issue is compounded by the prevalence a clear or organized legacy plan. Many users of con昀氀icting or inaccurate information on expressed frustration and sorrow over being le昀琀 to sort through chaotic or incomplete documentation, popular genealogy platforms, which can dilute the value of well-researched trees. which exacerbates their grief. These experiences highlight the critical need for tools that not only In one Reddit discussion, a user who had help families organize important documents but spent 15 years meticulously researching their also facilitate di昀케cult conversations about end-of- family history expressed frustration over the life wishes. inaccuracies found in other family trees on Ancestry. Despite creating a comprehensive Family dynamics o昀琀en complicate the process of narrative history, complete with sources, the legacy planning and asset distribution. Several user struggled to 昀椀nd a platform that allowed users shared stories of con昀氀ict arising from unclear them to share their work in a meaningful wills or disputed inheritance. These con昀氀icts and accessible way. This highlights a critical can strain or even destroy family relationships, gap in the genealogy space: the need for underscoring the need for clear, legally sound platforms that enable users to present their documentation and communication. Reddit threads also underscore the importance research as coherent narratives, rather than just static lists of names and dates. of preserving family history, stories, and values. Many users regret not having recorded their loved ones’ voices or documented their family traditions before it was too late. This sentiment reveals a deep desire to maintain a connection with past generations and to pass down that heritage to future ones.