What are ILITs and Crummy Trusts? You may have heard of these terms for various trusts before. They can be a bit of a pain to administer for beneficiaries and successor trustees, but they are powerful tools that can help ease tax pains later.

In this podcast we explore how ILITs and Crummy Trusts differ from standard revocable trusts and when they might be useful when crafting an estate plan.

Long Term Care Advice

Everyone hopes to never need long term care, and as a result many do not plan for it until it becomes necessary. Fortunately, options exist for both private and government assisted care. In this podcast we discuss some of the benefits and qualifications for government assistance like Medicaid, as well as the positives for sticking with private care.

Veterans benefits can make a large difference for veterans; however, did you know that surviving spouses of veterans may also qualify for benefits? Some people may may not realize that they also qualify for additional benefits, such as aid and attendance. We discuss these benefits and some of the qualifications that a veteran or their spouse will need to meet.

In this podcast we are joined by our friend Marsha Goodman, a certified Elder Law Attorney located in Phoenix, Arizona.

Estate planning with minor children can have challenges that many people do not realize. At least in Arizona, minors cannot collect inheritances or open bank accounts… they cannot even direct their parents to do so on their behalf. As a result, leaving an inheritance to minor children outright can be a very costly mistake. In addition, minors cannot serve as your agent in powers of attorney.

This is why various mechanisms exist to provide for minor children after death. In this podcast we discuss some of these mechanisms so you can avoid the challenges of estate planning with minor children.

The death of a loved one is already a very uncomfortable situation, and the last thing anyone wants to do is deal with a Social Security office right after.

Fortunately, you do not have to go to their office. In this podcast we discuss who handles reporting of deaths to Social Security. We also discuss the Social Security benefits that should be expected after a loved one’s death.

Declining to Serve as Trustee (and other roles)

It is very easy for people to feel obligated to serve in a fiduciary role if they have been nominated. Roles such as trustee, agent or personal representative require a great deal of responsibility and work. Fulfilling these roles can be confusing, tiring and frustrating.

Fortunately, if you have been nominated you do not have to serve. Fiduciary roles are not obligatory, and, in this podcast, we discuss the option of declining to serve as trustee. We also touch on resigning as trustee if you decided to serve but then became overwhelmed.

Thinking about updating your estate plan in 2026?

Happy New Year! 2025 brought with it many questions regarding the future of laws pertaining to estate planning. Now that 2026 has rolled around, you and your loved ones may be wondering if it is time to update your estate plans.

In this podcast, we discuss updates to laws that will affect estate plans from 2026 onward. We also share some personal anecdotes regarding our own estate planning updates and how often we believe someone should consider updating their own estate plan. After listening, you may consider updating your estate plan in 2026 as well.

Clients often wonder about the process of executing their estate planning documents. In this modern era, it seems to many like they ought to be able to sign their documents electronically without an office visit. It is usually not that simple. Different documents have different requirements for what is legally considered a valid signature.

A witnessed signature is often a requirement, and some clients ask if their family members can act as witnesses. In this podcast we discuss the importance of a witnessed signature, who is best suited to serving as a witness and why legal counsel is important in this process.