Estates Made Simple
Welcome to the “Estates Made Simple” Podcast, hosted by Gordon VanderLeek, a licensed lawyer specializing in wills, estates and trusts, and Jenna Carvalho, an estate and trust consultant with over 10 years experience helping families secure their assets and plan for the future. We are a bi-weekly podcast that discusses the complicated and often confusing world of estate administration. Our goal is to provide you with the insight, knowledge and resources to help you navigate this complex process. Every episode we bring our unique perspective to provide listeners with unbiased information and practical tips to ensure success and mitigate risk. Even if you are not an executor, there will be topics of interest as you consider planning options for your own estate. Join us for helpful tips and important information on navigating estate administration so you can achieve peace of mind as an executor or administrator.
Estates Made Simple
Estate Planning Essentials: Insights for a Smooth Administration
Summary:
In this episode, our hosts explore the critical insights they wish they could share with individuals who have created new wills before passing away. Drawing from their extensive experience managing hundreds of estates, they discuss common issues that arise during estate administration and offer practical advice for effective estate planning.
The episode emphasizes the importance of organization, communication, and thoughtful planning to ensure a smooth estate administration process for executors and beneficiaries alike.
Key points:
- Keeping legal documents up-to-date is essential, but equally important is maintaining organized records of all assets, liabilities, and relevant information
- A well-organized estate simplifies the executor's role and reduces delays and costs associated with estate administration
- Create and regularly update a comprehensive list of assets and liabilities, including credit cards, bank accounts, and other financial information
- Ensure tax returns are filed and up-to-date to prevent additional burdens on the executor
- Discuss estate plans openly with family members to avoid surprises and potential disputes
- Clarify the reasoning behind specific decisions, such as the choice of executor and distribution of assets, to manage expectations and prevent misunderstandings
- Provide the executor with all necessary information and resources to make their task as straightforward as possible.
Hosts:
Jenna Carvalho
The smartest way to choose an executor.
Guardian Estate Company
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Gordon VanderLeek
Give your family a legacy of protection - Wills, Estates and Trusts.
VanderLeek Law
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