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.

2026 ABLE Act Updates

ABLE Act accounts are a great tool to assist people with disabilities. Unfortunately, many individuals with disabilities became disabled after reaching the age of 26. This meant that this tool was largely inaccessible to individuals who suffered injuries from work, automotive or other accidents in their late twenties or early thirties.

Good news! Effective January 1, 2026, ABLE Act accounts can be established for individuals who became disabled before the age of forty-six. In this podcast we discuss this update and how these 2026 ABLE Act updates will affect a variety of age groups going forward.

The benefits of a donor advised fund.

With tax season on the horizon, many charitably minded people will want to make the most of their charitable deductions. Most tax filers do not itemize their deductions which makes it difficult to get more than the standard deduction. While it is important to confirm any tax strategy with a CPA, a donor advised fund can be a great tool. This is especially true if someone expects to have greater income tax considerations in a specific year.

In this podcast, we discuss the benefits of a donor advised fund and how these funds work.

Supporting a Grandchild with a Disability

Many families will have the experience of raising a child or grandchild with a disability. Fortunately, for grandparents there are a variety of options they can use to support disabled grandchildren.

Several options include third party special needs trusts, ABLE act accounts, UTMA accounts and possibly 529 accounts. There are several factors to consider when deciding which of these tools to use. Does the grandparent want to gift during their lifetime, or after their death? How much does the grandparent want to leave? Does the family want a mechanism that multiple members can use to support the grandchild? In this podcast we discuss the positive and negative aspects of each of these tools.

Supporting a grandchild with a disability can be complicated but careful planning can help mitigate this.

The Pros of Title Insurance.

Have you ever inherited property with an issue in the title? This is a fairly common problem as property changes hands through generations.

Title insurance can be a boring topic but it could be the solution to this issue. In this podcast we discuss the benefits of cleaning up the title on deeds and why it may be necessary to do so. It may be especially relevant in Arizona, where we practice.