Estate Planning Demystified

In Episode 8 of 8, the finale of this podcasts series Estate Planning Demystified, I talk about putting it all together, working with the pieces of of the puzzle and give my best recommendation ever.  Items covered in this episode include:

1. Review and summary of the previous episodes;

2. The Trust, Last Will and Testament, the Durable Power of Attorney; and

3.     The most important recommendation and piece of information in this series.

As always, if you want to contact me check out my website at www.shawnjroberts.com or email me directly at [email protected]

In this episode 7 of the 8 episode series Estate Planning Demystified, I talk about the final major piece of the estate planning puzzle:  the Durable Power of Attorney.

Items covered in this episode include:

1.     What is a Durable Power of Attorney?

2.     What makes its “durable”

3.     Why would someone want a durable power of attorney?

4.     How does a durable power of attorney to a guardianship proceeding through a court?

As always, if you want to contact me check out my website at www.shawnjroberts.com or email me directly at

[email protected].

This is episode 6 of Estate Planning Demystified - The Living Will.  This week's discussion about the document that is the best example of why estate planning is as much for your family as it is for you.   In this episode, I discuss:

1. What the Living Will is;

2.How the Terri Schaivo tradedy shows that a Living Will is critical;

3.The choices you make in a Living Will and several other items.

As always, if you want to contact me check out my website at www.shawnjroberts.com or email me directly at [email protected]

In this week's "post-rapture" edition of Estate Planning Demystified, I discuss one of the oldest and most well-know estate planning documents:

The Last Will and Testament

I cover some topics including:

1.  Some history of the Will;

2.  What a person can accomplish in a Will; 

3.  The things that you need to do to make the Will legal; and

4.  A story about person making Will that they thought had them covered only for the surivors to find out that it did not work!

If you have any questions or comments you can email at [email protected] or visit my website www.shawnjroberts.com

This is Episode 4 of Estate Planning Demystified.  In this episode, I discuss the Revocable Living Trust in more detail including:

There are any different terms used to describe the same thing: revocable trust, living trust, revocable living trust, family trust, A-B Trust.  All terms essentially describe the same instrument:

A.  The creation by a person of a legal vehicle, while alive;

B.  that has a separate legal existence from the people who created it;

C.  to hold property for the benefit of the people that created and other people who are called “beneficiaries”

D.  where the people who create it generally maintain full control over it while they are alive

If you want to leave me feedback or ask a question (both of which would be awesome to have), please send me an email at [email protected].

This is Episode 3 of Estate Planning Demystified.  In this episode, I discuss how do you know if need a Last Will and Testament or a Living Trust including:

1.  The things you will consider before making a decision

2.  Who are the people I want to transfer my estate to?

3.  What do I have in terms of assets?

4.  Who do I want to care for me when I can no longer care for myself

5.  Who will you choose to help make life-ending or

6.  life-sustaining discussions?

7. What are the ages and the capacity of the people I give my estate?

8. W ho do I want to take care of my minor children?

You can contact the show through my website www.shawnjroberts.com or email me directly at [email protected].

This is episode 2 of Estate Planning Demystified.  In this episode, I go over and explain the terms that are commonly used in estate planning including:

*Probate

*Last Will and Testament

*Power of Attorney

*Living Trust

*Guardian

The phrase "estate planning" is thrown around a lot, often without a solid understand of what it means.  I am attorney who helps people plan their estates and in this podcasts I am going to provide a plain language explanation of estate planning, what it means and how it impacts you.