Your child becomes a legal adult at 18, but what if something happens, and they can’t speak for themselves? Would you be allowed in the room? Would you know what they’d want?

In this episode, Jill shares the powerful real-life stories of Nancy Cruzan and Terri Schiavo, and explores the legal right to terminate life-sustaining treatment.

Whether your teen is heading to college or still living at home, Jill walks you through the essential documents and conversations that can protect your child’s autonomy and give your family peace of mind.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• Why the law treats your child differently the moment they turn 18
• The story of Nancy Cruzan, and how a lack of documentation led to a prolonged legal battle all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court
• The story of Terri Schiavo, the national debate that followed, and what it revealed about end-of-life decision-making
• What “persistent vegetative state” and “clear and convincing evidence” mean
• The difference between a guardian and a guardian ad litem
• Why advance healthcare directives and healthcare powers of attorney matter, not just for older adults, but for your 18-year-old
• Conversation starters for talking to your child about medical wishes
• Jill’s personal story and why she chose her husband as her agent

Resources + Links:

• State-by-State Advance Directive Forms
• Tuesday Triage Submission

Connect with Jill:

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to receive news and updates.
• Love this episode? Please rate and review in the Apple podcasts app!

This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state. 

What if a prenup could actually strengthen your relationship?

In this episode, family dynamics coach Emily Bouchard joins Jill Mastroianni to challenge the stigma around prenuptial agreements. They explore how prenups, and the conversations that come with them, can deepen connection, build trust, and clarify expectations in relationships. Whether you’re engaged, remarried, or already decades into marriage, this conversation offers tools for more honest, compassionate dialogue around money.

Jill also shares a real-life story from my legal practice about how one couple’s lack of communication led to unintended and heartbreaking consequences, and how it could have been different.

If you've ever felt uncomfortable talking about money with someone you love, this episode is for you.

Listen to learn:

• Why a prenup isn't planning for divorce; it's planning with intention
• What financial infidelity looks like and how it erodes trust
• How childhood money experiences shape adult relationships with money
• The difference between the “context” and “content” of a prenup
• Tips for starting prenup and money conversations with empathy and intention
• What to do if red flags surface before the wedding
• Why these conversations matter, even if you're already married (or never plan to be)

Resources & Links:

• Get a free digital copy of The Beginner’s Guide to Purposeful Prenups by contacting Emily Bouchard
• Seinfeld clip: Ask her to sign a prenup

Connect with Emily:

• Website: www.emilybouchard.com
• Listen to Emily’s podcast, Wealth Coherence
• Connect with Emily on LinkedIn

Connect with Jill:

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to receive news and updates.
• Love this episode? Please rate and review in the Apple podcasts app!

This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state. 

Are you worried that the government might “take the house” if your parent ever needs nursing home care? A listener named Eileen is facing this exact question, and her son-in-law thinks a trust is the answer. But is it?

In this episode, Jill unpacks how Medicaid works, what a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust actually does, and why good estate planning starts with the person at the center, not just the property. 

This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever panicked about Medicaid’s five-year lookback or felt pressure to “act fast” without knowing what you're really signing up for.

Listen to learn:

• What Medicaid is, and how it differs from Medicare
• What it actually means for the government to “take the house”
• What Medicaid Estate Recovery is and how it plays out in real life
• How a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust works (and when it might backfire)
• What the five-year lookback is and how the penalty period is calculated
• Why giving away control could cause more problems than it solves
• The question every family should ask: Does this plan serve the person at the center of it?
• What to consider before putting your parent’s house in a trust

Resources & Links

• Episode 10 of The Death Readiness Podcast: How to Start the Senior Care Conversation
• Episode 19 of The Death Readiness Podcast: Why You Need (or Don’t Need) a Trust
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2019 Research Brief: What Is the Lifetime Risk of Needing and Receiving Long-Term Services and Supports?

Connect with Jill:

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to receive news and updates.
• Love this episode? Please rate and review in the Apple podcasts app!
• Submit a question for Tuesday Triage!

This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state. 

Most of us don’t understand what a trust is or what it does. In this bite-sized Tuesday Triage episode, Jill breaks it down in plain language: what a revocable trust is, what it can and can’t do, and how to know whether it’s the right tool for your situation.

What Jill Discusses:

• What a trust is and what a revocable trust means
• Why trusts are tools, not status symbols
• Two key reasons people use revocable trusts: (1) to simplify management of assets during life and after death, and (2) to avoid probate after death.
• Common situations where a revocable trust makes sense: (1) owning real estate in multiple states, (2) maintaining privacy, (3) avoiding court delays, and (4) avoiding percentage-based statutory probate fees (like in California)
• A breakdown of how California calculates probate fees
• What it means to fund a trust (and why it’s crucial!)
• A reminder: trusts aren’t the only way to avoid probate

Resources & Links

• Video: Do you need a Will?
• Got a question for Tuesday Triage? Email Jill at [email protected] or visit www.deathreadiness.com/tuesdaytriage

Connect with Jill:

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to receive news and updates.
• Love this episode? Please rate and review in the Apple podcasts app!
• Submit a question for Tuesday Triage!

This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state. 

What do you actually do when someone dies? Call 911, the coroner, or Google “funeral homes near me”? In this episode, director of pre-planning at Feldman Mortuary in Denver, Colorado, Jamie Sarche, returns to The Death Readiness Podcast to demystify what really happens behind the scenes after a death. We discuss how a lack of planning can leave your family vulnerable to grief, manipulation, and financial strain, why skipping a funeral can backfire, and how pre-planning can be the ultimate act of love.

We discuss:

Whom to call when someone dies at home

• Why calling 911 is often required unless hospice is involved
• The role of hospice, coroners, and funeral homes in body removal and care

What happens to the body

• Where the body goes after death
• Differences in funeral home care practices

Who makes decisions after a death

• How state law determines who has authority
• Why written declarations are often unknown or unused
• Complications with second marriages and family dynamics

Why funeral pre-planning matters

• Avoiding manipulation and overspending during grief
• Ensuring your family knows your wishes and avoids unnecessary financial strain

The costs of funerals

• How pre-paying through a funeral home can lock in prices and protect loved ones

The emotional side of funerals

• The six needs of mourning (Jamie and Jill discuss Dr. Alan Wolfelt’s framework)
• Why skipping funerals can lead to complicated grief
• How funerals create meaning, community, and continued connection

Final expense insurance vs. funeral pre-payment plans

Actionable steps you can take

• Conversations to have with family now
• How even simple communal gatherings can support healthy grieving

Resources & Links

• Jamie’s previous conversation on The Death Readiness Podcast: What You Need to Know about Embalming, Cremation and Eco-friendly Funerals
• Jamie’s speaking engagements:
  • TEDx talk: Breaking down the taboos about death
  • Death Rituals: Creating Jewish Life
• Jamie’s Body Talk article
• Jill’s Obituary Writing Tool– A guided resource for drafting an obituary using ChatGPT
• Jamie’s Six Needs of Mourning Guide

Connect with Jamie:

• Email: [email protected]
• Learn more about Feldman Mortuary

Connect with Jill:

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to receive news and updates.
• Love this episode? Please rate and review in the Apple podcasts app!

Connect with The Death Readiness Podcast

Just launched: Tuesday Triage, short bite-sized episodes answering real listener questions. Have a question about probate, wills, trusts, or estate planning? 

Submit your Tuesday Triage question here. Your question might be featured in an upcoming episode.

This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state. 

Your parent’s health is declining. The bills keep piling up. Are you legally allowed to step in? In this first Tuesday Triage episode, Jill explains how powers of attorney really work, who can use them, and what you can do now to prepare for your parent’s cognitive decline before it’s too late.

What We Discussed

• What a power of attorney is and when to use it
• Who can grant a power of attorney and when mental capacity matters
• Immediate vs. springing powers of attorney
• Why successor agents can’t act until the primary agent can’t
• Practical steps to prepare for your parent’s cognitive decline, including:
• The emotional challenge of confronting a parent’s decline, and why being proactive is an act of courage and love

Resources & Links

• Free 15-Minute Consultation: Schedule here.
• Important Information Sheets:
• Personal information sheet (SSN, passwords, etc.)
• Home information sheet (wifi, access codes, security)
• Medical information sheet (insurance, medications, providers)
• Pet information sheet
• Personal balance sheet
• Key people information sheet

Connect with Jill:

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to receive news and updates.
• Love this episode? Please rate and review in the Apple podcasts app!

This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state. 

What happens when no one agrees on who should manage a loved one’s care—or their money? Jill talks with Sara Ecklein, a professional fiduciary in California, to talk about what goes wrong when we don’t plan ahead. From costly legal fights to irreparable family breakdowns, they unpack how a neutral third party can step in before conflict becomes a catastrophe.

They also explore what it means to be a mindful fiduciary, how family dynamics get complicated when siblings are put in charge, and why planning isn’t just about documents; it’s about legacy.

What Jill and Sara discuss:

• What a professional fiduciary actually does (and why it’s more than just “cutting checks”)
• The roles of trustee and agent under a power of attorney, and how they differ
• What it means to be a mindful fiduciary (and how presence, empathy, and neutrality can positively impact a family’s experience)
• The emotional and financial cost of family conflict when no one plans for death or incapacity
• A real-life Michigan guardianship case and what it reveals about court involvement and family discord
• Why naming a sibling as trustee can lead to fractured relationships
• How a trust protector can act as a “watchdog” without being involved in the day-to-day management of a trust
• The difference between a “successful” estate plan on paper vs. in real life
• Planning ahead for your own death, even if you're a professional fiduciary like Sara Ecklein
• The power of legacy, and why estate planning is about how you live, not just what you leave behind

Resources & Links

• Take the Quiz: Could a professional fiduciary prevent your estate plan from becoming a battlefield? www.deathreadiness.com/pro
• Five Wishes: https://fivewishes.org
• Pet Important Information Sheet: Download Here
• Michigan Guardianship Case: In re Guardianship of AMS
• Michigan estate planning attorney: Meaghan Miracle
  • Company: Miracle Law
  • Address: 1850 44th Street SW Wyoming, MI 49519
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 616-227-0870 
• Watch the video: Do you need a Will?

Learn more about Sara Ecklein:

• Sara’s podcast: The Legacy of Love
• Sara's company: Trust and Honor
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: 1484 Pollard Road / Suite 124 Los Gatos, CA 95032
• Phone: 669-280-0110

Connect with Jill:

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to receive news and updates.
• Love this episode? Please rate and review in the Apple podcasts app!

This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state. 

What if the movies we loved growing up were quietly teaching us to settle for less credit, less rest, and less power? In this episode, Jill Mastroianni unpacks the messages in movies like Groundhog Day, Three Men and a Baby, and Miss Congeniality, and how those messages still echo today in hospitals, law offices, and family conversations about caregiving and estate planning.

Jill talks about agency, consent, emotional labor, and how the women who keep everything afloat often lack the tools and support they deserve. This episode is both a breakdown and a wake-up call. And, it’s an invitation to rewrite the script.

In this episode, Jill covers:

• The cultural conditioning we absorbed from movies in the ‘80s and ‘90s
• How Groundhog Day distorts consent and persistence
• What Three Men and a Baby taught us about helpless men and overburdened women
• How to view Miss Congeniality through the lens of a new generation
• Emotional labor, caregiving, and the invisible scripts women still follow
• The power of naming what’s not okay, and what we’ve internalized
• How estate planning ties into agency, boundaries, and rewriting expectations
• A real-life story of helping aging parents finally get their estate plan done
• Why handing off the mental load matters just as much as getting the documents in place

Resource:

• Free video: "Do You Need a Will?" A quick, clear explanation of what a Will actually does (and doesn’t do).

Connect with Jill:

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to receive news and updates.
• Love this episode? Please rate and review in the Apple podcasts app!

Did you enjoy this episode? Share it with someone you care about.

This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state. 

Caregiving isn’t side work - it’s a leadership position. Host Jill Mastroianni talks with Jennifer O’Brien, author of Care Boss and The Hospice Doctor’s Widow, about the emotional labor, strategic thinking, and societal blind spots surrounding caregiving. Drawing from her experience leading healthcare organizations as well as caring for her husband and parents, Jennifer challenges the notion of caregiving as “soft” work and offers real-world tools to do it well. We cover everything from palliative care to “go bags” to how not to offer help to a caregiver.

If you're juggling caregiving responsibilities, this episode is for you. And if you're not a caregiver (yet), it’s a window into what your friends, family, or future self may need.

What We Discuss

• Why caregiving is leadership. Caregivers are decision-makers, advocates, and strategists. They're doing CEO-level work without the pay or recognition.
• Jennifer’s caregiving story. Caring for her husband Bob, a palliative care and hospice physician, Jennifer learned the hard way how lonely and demanding caregiving can be.
• The vision and purpose of caregiving. Why it’s essential to align on a shared goal, usually a peaceful, dignified death, and use it as a guidepost through tough decisions.
• Starting the conversation early. How Jennifer and her husband talked about end-of-life preferences before illness and clarified end-of-life wishes after a terminal diagnosis.
• The At Peace Toolkit. A free, “jarringly practical” resource Jennifer created to help people get their documents and wishes in order before a crisis.
• How to ask for help (and offer it). Strategies for delegating, examples of pinpointed positive feedback, and how to support caregivers without creating more work for them.
• The Death Deck. A conversation-starting card game that can bring reluctant partners on board.
• Hospice vs. Palliative Care. What these terms mean, how they differ, and how to advocate for the care your loved one needs.
• Why you need a “Go Bag.” It’s not just for caregivers. Medical information, power cords, dentures—what to pack and why it matters.
• Home design and end-of-life care. From slippery marble floors to six-inch shower curbs, we talk about how your environment can make, or break, caregiving.
• Self-care vs. self-management. Why “get a pedicure” doesn’t cut it and what real self-management looks like for caregivers.
• Precious time. The term Jennifer’s husband used to signal the end of life was near. Why it matters, and how to recognize it when it comes.

Resources & Links

• Subscribe to the Death Readiness newsletter. Get bonus episodes, tools, and straight talk in your inbox.
• Books by Jennifer O’Brien
• At Peace Toolkit. Jennifer O’Brien’s guide to being at peace with end of life. This packet walks you through setting up the medical ID on your smartphone, establishing your advance healthcare directives, organizing administrative details, and starting conversations with loved ones.
• Video – How to create a Medical ID on your iPhone
• The Death Deck. 112 cards with a mix of multiple choice and open-ended questions designed to spark lively discussion around the topic of death.
• State Advance Directive Forms provided by the National Alliance for Care at Home
• Caregiver Important Information Sheet
• Medical Information Sheet
• Precious Time Implementation Guide. Guides healthcare professionals in communicating the reality of the end-of-life situation to patients and their families.

Connect with Jennifer:

• Website: jenniferaobrien.com
• Send a message to Jennifer

Connect with Jill:

• Book a free 15-minute consultation
• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to the Death Readiness email newsletter.

This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state. 

What happens to your body after you die—and who decides? Jill sits down with Jamie Sarche, Director of Pre-arranged Funeral Planning, at Feldman Mortuary, to explore embalming, cremation (both fire and water), green burial, body composting, and the emotional and logistical weight of making funeral plans. Jill even begins her own funeral planning on-air, offering listeners a firsthand look at what these conversations involve.

If you've ever wondered what’s inside an urn, whether you can be composted, or why so many cremated remains end up forgotten in a closet, this is the episode for you.

What We Discuss

• Why embalming is common—but not required or environmentally friendly
• What’s really in an urn (hint: it’s not “ash”)
• The surprising environmental cost of fire cremation
• Alternatives to fire cremation, including water cremation and natural organic reduction (aka body composting)
• What makes a funeral “green” and how to avoid unnecessary embalming
• How pre-need funeral planning works and what decisions are involved
• Jamie’s approach to making funeral planning less scary and more human
• How funeral planning intersects with grief, family dynamics, and emotional preparedness
• How to talk to your loved ones about what you want (or don’t want)

Resources and Links:

• Jamie’s speaking engagements:
• TEDx talk: Breaking down the taboos about death
• Death Rituals: Creating Jewish Life
• Jamie’s Body Talk article
• Jill’s Obituary Writing Tool– A guided resource for drafting an obituary using ChatGPT
• Podcast episode mentioned in this episode re: How to Create a Family Podcast
• Link to dog painting referenced in episode
• Link to photos of Kristen and Jill running the Boston Marathon
• Noble podcast

Connect with Jamie:

• Director of Pre-arranged Funeral Planning at Feldman Mortuary
  Email: [email protected]

Connect with Jill:

• Book a free 15-minute consultation
• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to receive news and updates.

Did you enjoy this episode? Share it with someone you care about.

This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state.