Some people just don’t ever want to confront the fact of their own mortality. They may joke about it, but do not want to take actions that would validate that fact. For some, taking pen in hand to authorize the set up a trust or creation of a will is the same as ‘signing their own death warrant.’ I have many people on one side of my family who are just this way.
That was the family culture they grew up with, where certain issues are not casually discussed until absolutely necessary. Once I asked my Dad if he already had a will; his eyes narrowed and his brow creased as he said “Why do YOU want to know THAT?” I could see there was no right answer, only resistance, cynicism and resentment.
So I apologized for upsetting him and changed the topic. We never again discussed it. In my mind, my eyes were rolling in exasperation. Whew! Never mind, never mind!. Forget I ever bought it up!”
My parents were the exact opposite, always trying to tell us about trusts and insurance and all that, which I found uncomfortable and never focused on whatever they were saying.