Suggested points

• Explain what “dying intestate” means.

• Who generally inherits when there is a spouse and children.

• Why state law may produce a result the person never intended.

• Explain that intestacy does not necessarily avoid probate.

• Why creating even a basic estate plan gives the individual more control.

Story prompt: Have you handled an estate where intestacy produced a surprising or unwanted result?

Suggested points

• Estate planning is about more than net worth.

• Someone may need authority to make financial decisions during incapacity.

• Healthcare decision-making matters regardless of wealth.

• Parents need to consider minor children and guardianship.

• Even modest assets can become difficult for a family to manage without planning.

Story prompt: Describe a modest estate where good planning—or lack of planning—made a significant difference.

Suggested points

• Will.

• Revocable living trust when appropriate.

• Financial power of attorney.

• Healthcare documents.

• Beneficiary designations and asset titling are part of the overall plan too.

State prompt: Explain any terminology or documents that are particularly important in your state.

Suggested points

• Estate plans should not simply be created and forgotten.

• Marriage, divorce and death can require changes.

• Births and changing family relationships matter.

• Major financial or property changes may matter.

• Changes in state law or moving to another state may justify review.

Story prompt: Have you seen an outdated estate plan create a problem?

Suggested points

• Existing documents do not necessarily become invalid simply because someone moves.

• State laws and terminology differ.

• Powers of attorney and healthcare documents deserve particular review.

• Property ownership and marital-property rules may differ.

• Have an attorney in the new state review the plan.

State prompt: Mention one issue people moving into your state should know about.

Suggested points

• Why homeowners consider trust ownership.

• Potential probate-avoidance benefits.

• The trust must actually become owner of the property.

• A trust is not necessary for everyone.

• State-specific property, tax or creditor considerations should be reviewed.

Story prompt: Have you encountered a trust that was created but never funded with the home?

Suggested points

• Explain the basic distinction between revocable and irrevocable trusts.

• Retaining complete control generally limits creditor protection.

• Probate avoidance and creditor protection are different objectives.

• Be cautious about sweeping “asset protection trust” claims.

• Proper planning depends on the person's circumstances and state law.

Suggested points

• A will generally directs probate rather than avoids it.

• Explain what probate actually accomplishes.

• Assets passing by beneficiary designation may avoid probate.

• Joint ownership may affect probate.

• Trust ownership may affect probate.

Story prompt: Describe a common misconception clients have about wills and probate.

Suggested points

• There is no single timetable.

• Simple and contested estates are very different.

• Creditor periods or court procedures can affect timing.

• Asset complexity and family disputes create delays.

• Good advance planning can sometimes simplify administration.

State customization: This is an excellent topic for specific local procedures and realistic timeframes.

Suggested points

• Explain the kinds of costs that may occur.

• Attorney and court costs.

• Executor/personal representative compensation where applicable.

• Complexity and disputes can greatly increase cost.

• Contrast probate cost with the cost and effort of advance planning without exaggerating savings.

Suggested points

• Why parents commonly consider doing this.

• Potential probate-avoidance benefit.

• Loss of control or exposure to the child's problems may result.

• Tax/basis consequences may matter.

• Explain alternatives that may accomplish the goal more safely.

Story prompt: Have you seen joint ownership create an unintended problem?

Suggested points

• Distinguish convenience from ownership.

• Explain what happens at death.

• Potential family disputes.

• Exposure to the child's creditors/divorce or other problems may vary.

• Alternatives such as powers of attorney, POD designations or trusts.

Suggested points

• Certain assets pass by beneficiary designation.

• A will generally does not redirect those assets.

• Old beneficiary designations are commonly overlooked.

• Divorce, remarriage and births can create problems.

• Beneficiary designations should be coordinated with the entire estate plan.

Story prompt: Describe a situation where an outdated beneficiary designation defeated someone's apparent intent.

Suggested points

• Explain why beneficiary selection matters.

• Naming an individual and naming an estate can create very different results.

• Tax rules for retirement accounts are especially important.

• Trusts can sometimes be appropriate but require careful drafting.

• Encourage coordination among estate-planning, tax and financial professionals.

Suggested points

• Family members may not automatically have authority.

• Bills and financial accounts can become difficult to manage.

• Court intervention may sometimes become necessary.

• A financial power of attorney can allow someone selected in advance to act.

• State law controls many details.

Story prompt: Have you encountered a family forced into a court proceeding because documents were missing?

Suggested points

• Online documents can address some straightforward situations.

• The difficult issue often isn't generating a document but knowing what the document should accomplish.

• Asset ownership and beneficiary designations must coordinate with the plan.

• State law differences matter.

• More complicated families/assets create greater risk from one-size-fits-all planning.

I particularly like this topic because you can be educational without sounding defensive about online services.

Suggested points

• What concern caused the family to plan.

• What planning they put in place.

• What eventually happened.

• How the advance planning simplified things.

• The broader lesson other families can learn.

Important: Protect client confidentiality and remove identifying details.

Suggested points

• What the person intended.

• What was overlooked or done incorrectly.

• What happened after incapacity or death.

• How the problem might have been prevented.

• The lesson viewers should take away.

Suggested points

• Why the client created the trust.

• What assets were properly transferred into it.

• What occurred when incapacity or death happened.

• What the successor trustee was able to do.

• Why proper funding and follow-through mattered.

Suggested points

• Describe the seemingly minor mistake.

• Explain why people commonly overlook it.

• What consequence resulted.

• How it could have been prevented.

• Give viewers one thing they should check in their own plan.

Possible examples: A beneficiary designation, property title, outdated executor, unfunded trust, forgotten account, old power of attorney, or another seemingly small issue that created an unintended result. etc.