The Plain English Legal Podcast

5 Things in Every Good Power of Attorney

In this episode, we break down the essential elements of a Financial Power of Attorney. Not all POAs are created equal, and understanding these key provisions is crucial for securing your finances during challenging times.

For the full YouTube video on this topic, please click here to watch.

Subscribe to my Youtube channel @theplainenglishattorney to watch the full videos of my podcast episodes!

#theplainenglishattorneypodcast #podcast #estateplanning

Panic at the Probate Court! Part 1 of 3

PART 1 OF 3 Probate can be complicated, and the proof a court requires can be arduous for most non-lawyers. But how do assets end up in probate?

What happens to them when they do?

Does the Will cover everything?

Is the process always the same?

In this three-part series recorded at a national estate planning conference in September of 2024, Jeffrey G. Marsocci breaks down in plain English the general probate process with examples from North Carolina’s system. In the end, many people want to avoid the costly, time-consuming, and frustrating probate court process, but just in case assets do end up in probate, this series will help you understand the basics.

Check out the YouTube video version here.

#estateplanning #probate

Medicaid Planning 3 Steps Ahead

When it comes to Medicaid Planning for a family, many attorneys and planners look no further than the client needing care. This one-step thinking can often lead to the client’s original goal of protecting their home and life savings from the nursing home falling apart after they qualify for Medicaid.

In this quick session from a national estate planning conference, Jeffrey G. Marsocci, The Plain English Attorney®, compares and contrasts instances of poor and good planning, and how a team of professionals can save hundreds of thousands of dollars for not just the client, but their spouse and then down to the children when you think multiple steps ahead.

#medicaidplanning #medicaid #nursinghome #longtermcare

Check out the YouTube video version here.

Basics of Trust Funding--Part 2 of 2

One of the biggest problems in estate planning is client who want to avoid probate get a revocable living trust... and then fail to fund their trust the right way.

In this recorded session from a basic estate planning conference, Jeff reviews the different types of assets with other professionals and how to have the assets work in conjunction with a revocable living trust.

PART 2 of 2. #estateplanning #revocabletrust 

Check out the YouTube video version here.

Basics of Trust Funding--Part 1 of 2

What should go into a revocable living trust?

Do bank accounts?

IRAs and 401ks?

What about real estate?

In this recorded session from a basic estate planning conference, Jeff reviews the different types of assets with the attendees, different nuances, and even provides examples from his own practice. PART 1 of 2. #estateplanning #revocabletrust 

Check out the YouTube video version here.

Fund Your Will?

Does your will ACTUALLY control your estate?

The answer is not as simple as it may seem, and it matters whether or not the asset ends up in probate.

In this podcast episode, Jeff reviews how different assets need to be titled or beneficiaries changed in order to make sure your Last Will and Testament's terms, contingencies, and age limitations are carried out.

 #estateplanning #lastwillandtestament #probate 

For the YouTube video version, check it out here.

Just the FAQs

A review of basic estate planning terms and concepts, from definitions, different types of documents, and how things work with probate. (Sorry, this one is in an AI voice because we're working on some big things for this Fall!)

For more basic information, check out the free program at http://www.FreeTrustCourse.com 

Professional Medicaid Planning Failures--Part 2 of 2

Losing the house to the nursing home?

Having to go to court for Mom's guardianship because Dad died?

Losing everything the parents worked for because *both* parents now need Medicaid?

And realizing all of these horrors could have been avoided if only the Medicaid attorney looked beyond just getting one spouse qualified for benefits.

Unfortunately, the bar is set so low for Medicaid Planning professionals in general and Medicaid Attorneys specifically that comprehensive, forward-thinking strategies and plans are hard to come by.

In this discussion between Certified Medicaid Planners (TM) Jeffrey G. Marsocci and David Cole, they explore five big ways that professionals fall short and how issues should be approached instead.

For the YouTube video version, check it out here: https://youtu.be/UezX6Bi1LLk

#medicaid #medicaidplanning #assetprotection #estateplanning

Professional Medicaid Planning Failures--Part 1 of 2

Losing the house to the nursing home?

Having to go to court for Mom's guardianship because Dad died?

Losing everything the parents worked for because *both* parents now need Medicaid?

And realizing all of these horrors could have been avoided if only the Medicaid attorney looked beyond just getting one spouse qualified for benefits. Unfortunately, the bar is set so low for Medicaid Planning professionals in general and Medicaid Attorneys specifically that comprehensive, forward-thinking strategies and plans are hard to come by.

In this discussion between Certified Medicaid Planners (TM) Jeffrey G. Marsocci and David Cole, they explore five big ways that professionals fall short and how issues should be approached instead.

For the YouTube video version, check it out here.

5 Ways Medicaid Attorneys Destroy Families By Failing to Plan Ahead

Unfortunately, it is all too common that attorneys who help clients qualify for Medicaid completely fail to plan for contingencies with the family, even when the client is asking to make sure their assets are saved for their loved ones.

In a recent case I have been briefed on, the previous attorney merely met the extremely low bar of just getting Mom qualified, but committed five big errors... or at least what we consider errors. In this video, we review five big ways many Medicaid planning attorneys can destroy a family by failing to take even likely contingencies into account. #medicaid #powerofattorney #irrevocabletrust #trusts

For the YouTube video version, check it out here.