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

102: What to Ask Before Serving Under a Power of Attorney

Your mom, dad, or another family member asks you to serve as their agent under a power of attorney. You want to help. But do you understand what you're agreeing to? Serv

101: Why You Can't Just Refuse an Inheritance

What happens when someone leaves you an inheritance you don't want? Can you simply refuse it? And if you do, who gets the money instead? In this episode of The Death Rea

100: How Talking About Death Changed the Way I Live

100 episodes about estate planning, preparing for death, and the things we leave behind. Who knew that could teach you so much about living? In this special 100th episod

99: Why Your Parents' Trust Could Cost You Thousands

Your parents may have created an irrevocable trust years ago as part of their estate planning to protect family assets and reduce estate taxes. But what if that same trus

98: Why You Shouldn’t Give Your Kids the House Yet

If you inherit a house, there’s one number you may not realize you need: what was the house worth on the date the owner died? In this episode, Jill uses a fictional hous

97: Why Jane Goodall’s Message Matters Right Now

In this episode, Jill reflects on the life and legacy of Dr. Jane Goodall, exploring what it means to “do your little bit” in a world where not everyone starts from the s

96: What to Expect When Hiring an Estate Planning Attorney

Hiring an estate planning attorney shouldn’t require you to figure out your estate plan before you walk through the door. You don’t need to know whether you need a Will

95: What Divorced Parents Need to Know About Life Insurance

How Divorce Affects Life Insurance and Estate Planning: If you're divorced with minor children, your parenting plan may require you to maintain life insurance to provide

94: Why Your Responsible Child Might Be the Wrong Trustee

How do professional trustees manage trusts? Estate planning attorney Jill Mastroianni and Alex Fisher explain fiduciary duties, trust administration, beneficiary distribu

93: Why Your Pour-Over Will Won’t Avoid Probate

Why a Revocable Trust Still Needs a Pour-Over Will You created a revocable trust as part of your estate planning to avoid probate. So why did your attorney also give you

92: Why Turning 18 Changes Everything in a Medical Crisis

Why Your 18-Year Old Needs a Healthcare Power of Attorney Your child turns 18, but practically, not much may change. They may still live at home, be on your health insur

91: Why Reading the Will Looks Nothing Like in the Movies

What Happens to a Will after Someone Dies? You've seen the scene in movies: the family gathers in a lawyer's office, the Will is dramatically read aloud, and everyone di

90: Why You Shouldn't Add Your Child to Your Deed or Bank Account

Should you add your child to your house deed or bank account? It sounds like a simple estate planning shortcut. Add your daughter's name to the deed so she inherits your

89: Why Your Original Will Matters More Than You Think

Have you ever wondered whether a photocopy of your Will is enough? In this episode of The Death Readiness Podcast, estate planning attorney Jill Mastroianni explains why

88: How to Overcome Estate Planning Jargon and Overwhelm

The biggest obstacle to estate planning isn't procrastination. It's confusion and overwhelm. In this episode, Jill shares why she changed the way she practices law, the s

87: How to Avoid Costly Mistakes After a Death

Losing someone you love is hard enough. Figuring out what to do next can feel overwhelming. In this episode, estate planning attorney Jill Mastroianni sits down with est

86: Why I Won't Leave My Kids Cash

If your children inherited a million dollars tomorrow, would you want them to receive a check—or a trusted guide? In this episode, Jill pulls back the curtain on her own

85: What You Need to Know Before Editing Your Will

What happens if you simply cross out part of your Will, write “VOID” above it, and initial the change? The answer is more complicated, and riskier, than most people real

84: Why Your Power of Attorney Can't Do Everything

When someone you love names you as agent under a power of attorney, it can feel like you'll be able to step in and handle whatever needs to be done. But what happens when

83: What You Need to Know About Corporate Trustees

Michael thought he had done everything right. He created a revocable trust, avoided probate, and named a neutral third party to serve as trustee after his death. But when