The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate planning podcast

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.

As a daughter, a sister to a brother with special needs, and a mother herself, Jill Mastroianni knows firsthand what it feels like to carry the weight of future planning. This episode offers an intimate glimpse into her own family’s story—one filled with heartbreak, hesitation, and ultimately, the strength to move forward. Because sometimes death readiness doesn’t feel brave—it just feels necessary.

We explore:

• The mental load women carry when they’re the ones holding it all together
• The emotional weight of estate planning conversations with aging parents
• Planning for a sibling with special needs—and the fear that can paralyze progress
• Why legal documents don’t tell the whole story—but they still matter
• Why “being the one left behind” demands preparation, not just hope
• Real-world estate planning stories that show why “good intentions” aren’t enough:
• How to start planning when you’re overwhelmed
• Simple first steps for organizing your digital life and essential information
• The power of “body doubling” to make estate planning feel doable, not daunting

Resources & Links:

• Aretha Franklin Probate
  • Detroit Free Press article: Aretha Franklin's handwritten wills reveal window into her private world: Read them here, dated May 21, 2019
  • May 20, 2019, petition re: purported holographic wills
  • Purported holographic Wills, dated
    • June 21, 2010
    • October 20, 2010
    • March 31, 2014
• Estate of Frankford Michigan Court of Appeals decision, dated February 18, 2025
• Estate of Jesse L. Beck Montana Supreme Court decision, dated October 29, 2024
• New York Times article: They Caught the Flu, and Never Came Home, dated April 24, 2025
• Set up your legacy contacts for online accounts:
  • Google – Set up your Inactive Account Manager
  • Apple – Add a Legacy Contact to your Apple Account
  • Facebook – Add, change or remove your Legacy Contact on Facebook
• Download information sheets:
  • Personal Important Information Sheet
  • Key People Information Sheet
  • Home Information Sheet
  • Password Tracker
    • Find your saved Google passwords with Google’s password manager

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.

In this special episode, we step away from legal mechanics and into something deeply personal: the power of capturing family stories. Jill and her daughter April share an episode from their private family podcast, featuring Carmen Mastroianni—Jill’s father and April’s grandfather.

Carmen reflects on his childhood in Schenectady, New York, his unexpected path to college, and his unforgettable experience serving in the Vietnam War. Nicknamed “Macaroni” during basic training, Carmen’s stories are full of humor, heartbreak, and history. Along the way, Jill offers listeners a behind-the-scenes look at how you can create a podcast to preserve your own family legacy.

What We Discussed

• The inspiration behind starting a family podcast
• Carmen’s early years: riding horses, working in his dad’s bakery, and life at a private Catholic high school
• How a last-minute college application changed his life
• His friendship with Donnie Brewer and the profound loss that followed
• Getting drafted into the Vietnam War and earning the nickname “Macaroni”
• His unexpected transfer from infantry to finance—and how it saved his life
• The emotional return home from an unpopular war
• Life lessons he hopes future generations will remember
• April’s choice to honor her grandfather as an “unknown hero” in a school project
• Tips, tools, and encouragement for starting your own family podcast

Resources & Links

Podcasting Tools Mentioned:

• Microphone:ATR-2100X (~$50)
• Foam Windscreen (~$5)
• Recording Software: Riverside.fm (~$30/month)
• Podcast Hosting: Simplecast (~$15/month)
• In-Person Recording: Zoom PodTrak P4 (~$170)
• Cover Art Creation: Canva (free and paid options)
• Family Podcast Starter Checklist
• Family Podcast - Questions to Start Real Stories

Podcast Editing Support:

Jon Gay – JAG in Detroit Podcasts

Connect with Jill:

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to receive news and updates

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.

In this real and relatable episode, Jill explores the often-avoided topic of senior living and long-term care. She’s joined by senior care consultant Mikelle Rappaport, who breaks down the various types of senior living and care options and how to plan for them—both practically and financially. Jill also speaks with Bob Stanton, who shares the journey of moving his wife of 54 years into a skilled nursing facility. Together, they unpack the real challenges families face when navigating aging, caregiving, and the difficult decisions that arise at their intersection.

What We Discuss

• What long-term care really means and what types of care are available
• Understanding ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) and IADLs (Instrumental ADLs)
• Common misconceptions about family caregiving and what's realistically sustainable
• How Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, and long-term care insurance factor into paying for care
• What different types of senior living facilities offer, from independent living to skilled nursing
• When it’s time to consider a higher level of care—and how to make peace with that choice

Resources and Links

• Golden Lifestyle Partners – Learn more about Mikelle’s services: goldenlifestylepartners.com
• Contact Mikelle directly at: [email protected]
• VA Aid & Attendance Info: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Aid and Attendance
• HASCA: Home Aide Service of the Central Adirondacks, Inc
• Masonic Care Community: Skilled Nursing Care

Questions and Suggestions? Email Jill at [email protected].

Subscribe to receive news and updates.

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.

In this episode, host Jill Mastroianni continues her conversation with Kristen Lewis, a special needs estate planning attorney. They explore how to build the right team of professionals to support your child’s future. From trustees to life care planners, disability care managers, and legal guardians, they discuss who should be on your team and how to choose the right people for these critical roles.

Kristen also shares key mistakes to avoid—such as disinheriting a child with special needs—and explains how tools like special needs trusts and ABLE accounts fit into a well-rounded planning strategy. Whether you're just getting started or refining an existing plan, this episode will give you actionable steps to help you move forward with confidence.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The key professionals to include in your special needs planning team (estate planning attorneys, trustees, life care planners, disability care managers, intimacy counselors, and more)
• How to choose a trustee for a special needs trust and why professional trustees are often the best choice
• Why disinheriting a child with special needs is a mistake—and what to do instead
• The role of ABLE accounts in financial planning and their limitations
• How to coordinate assets and beneficiary designations to ensure financial security without jeopardizing government benefits
• The importance of family communication and how a well-prepared plan can ease concerns for both parents and siblings

Resources & Links:

Find a Special Needs Estate Planning Attorney: Special Needs Alliance
ABLE Account Information: ABLE National Resource Center

Kristen Lewis’ Resources: Estate Planning for Families with Special Needs; Planning Challenges for Families with Special Needs; What Can a Care Manager Do for Me?

Caregiver Important Information Sheet

Contact Kristen Lewis: [email protected]

Connect with Jill:

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to receive news and updates.

Have Questions about Special Needs Estate Planning?

Special needs estate planning is complicated, and it’s normal to need to hear this information more than once! If you have questions, email me at [email protected]. If enough people ask, Kristen and I may do a follow-up episode to clarify key points.

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If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who could benefit. Follow The Death Readiness Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.

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.