Estate Plan Delivery Meeting: What to Expect When You Sign Your Estate Planning Documents | Repair The Roof Podcast

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This conversation provides a comprehensive overview of what to expect during an estate planning delivery meeting. Attorney Ted Gudorf explains the importance of this meeting, the steps involved in reviewing and signing legal documents, and the critical process of funding a trust. Listeners will gain confidence in navigating their estate planning journey and understand the significance of each document and step in the process.

Unlocking Peace of Mind: What Really Happens at Your Estate Plan Delivery Meeting

Your estate plan is only as powerful as its delivery. Here’s why this final step is too important to miss—and how to make the most of it.

Most people approach their estate plan delivery meeting with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

You've spent hours answering questions, making personal decisions, and planning for the future. And now, you’re about to sign the legal documents that bring it all to life. It’s natural to feel nervous—this is where the rubber meets the road.

Key Takeaways:

  • Most people feel overwhelmed about estate planning meetings.
  • The delivery meeting is crucial for implementing your estate plan.
  • Showing up on time for the delivery meeting is essential.
  • A diagram outlines the structure of your estate plan.
  • Legal documents are organized for clarity and understanding.
  • Trust documents are the most important pieces of your plan.
  • A pour-over will serves as a backup document.
  • The funding process begins on the day you sign your trust.
  • Regular contact with the office is part of the Legacy Club membership.
  • Proper funding of your trust is key to an effective estate plan.

But here’s the truth: the delivery meeting is not just another appointment. It’s the moment your legacy becomes real.

Whether you're planning to attend soon or simply curious about the process, here’s what you need to know—plus two critical reasons why being prepared makes all the difference.

Why This Meeting Is a Milestone—Not a Formality

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations. You’ve already completed three major milestones in the Family Estate and Legacy program:

  • ✅ Submitted your client organizer

  • ✅ Attended the Goals and Responsibilities meeting

  • ✅ Finalized the design of your custom estate plan

Now you’re at Step 4: the delivery meeting—the turning point where all your thoughtful planning is transformed into legally binding protection for your family.

But here’s the key insight:
 Your estate plan isn't fully effective until it’s signed, notarized, and funded. Without that, it’s just a well-crafted blueprint gathering dust.

What to Expect When You Walk Through the Door

This isn't a cold, high-pressure legal formality. It's an organized, supportive, step-by-step walkthrough that ensures you're comfortable with everything before you sign.

Here's a breakdown of what happens:

1. We Start with the Big Picture

You’ll receive a one-page visual diagram outlining the entire structure of your estate plan. This reference sheet is more than a visual aid—it becomes your go-to guide for future reviews and family discussions.

The diagram clearly identifies:

  • The name of your trust(s)

  • Who serves as trustee(s)

  • Your beneficiaries and remainder beneficiaries

  • Any special structures like LLCs or irrevocable trusts

This sheet sets the stage for understanding the "why" behind every document you'll review.

2. Custom Binders—Built Just for You

We present your personalized estate planning binders—complete with labeled tabs and sections. This structure isn't just for aesthetics; it helps ensure nothing is missed and that your plan remains easy to manage over time.

3. Your Legal Documents, Explained

You don’t need to read every line. That’s what we’re here for.

We walk you through the critical highlights of each document, including:

  • Revocable Living Trusts: Who created it, who benefits, and who manages it

  • Pour-Over Will: The backup plan for any assets left outside the trust

  • Personal Effects Memorandum: Where you designate meaningful personal items

  • Power of Attorney (Financial & Medical): Who can make decisions if you can’t

  • Living Will & HIPAA Release: Guidance for end-of-life care and access to records

  • Funeral & Burial Preferences: Optional, but helpful for loved ones during a difficult time

Each section is explained in plain English, not legalese—thanks to software from WealthCounsel, a national organization of estate attorneys. These documents are formatted for clarity, with readable type and clean organization.

Two Unique Features That Set This Process Apart

Most law firms stop at the signing. We go further, ensuring your plan is ready for real life.

? 1. Immediate Funding Begins—That Same Day

We don’t just hand you documents and wish you luck. We begin the funding process right in the meeting by:

  • Signing deeds to move real estate into your trust or LLC

  • Executing a property assignment to transfer your personal belongings into the trust

Why this matters:

A trust without assets is an empty shell. Funding your trust is what gives it power.

? 2. Access to the Legacy Club

Your plan doesn’t end with a signature. You’ll receive one year of complimentary Legacy Club membership, including:

  • Email, phone, or in-person access for estate planning questions

  • Coordination with your financial or tax advisors

  • Ongoing support for asset funding and plan updates

This ensures your estate plan evolves with your life—not against it.

Logistics You Should Know (So There Are No Surprises)

  • Duration: Most meetings last under 2 hours. More complex plans may take up to 3.

  • Payment: Your final balance is due at the end—bring a checkbook or credit card.

  • Copies: You’ll take the original documents home. We scan digital versions into your private client portal.

  • Workshop Invite: Before you leave, we’ll register you for our Asset Alignment Workshop—a vital session on funding your trust properly, offered six times a year.

Why Preparation Is Everything

Because your documents are printed and assembled for your exact appointment date, it’s essential to:

  • Arrive on time

  • Avoid rescheduling unless absolutely necessary

Delays can disrupt the review process and lead to extra time or cost—especially when legal deeds and funding steps are involved.

What Comes Next

You’ve completed step 4 in our Seven-Step Family Estate and Legacy Program. After your delivery meeting, we’ll help you:

  1. Coordinate with financial advisors

  2. Attend the Asset Alignment Workshop

  3. Schedule ongoing maintenance or a family meeting

This phased approach makes estate planning a living process—not a one-time transaction.

Your Next Step

Your plan is only as powerful as your follow-through.
This is where your estate plan becomes real protection—not just paperwork.

Conclusion

Your estate plan delivery meeting is far more than a signature session—it’s the moment you lock in control, protection, and peace of mind for your family’s future.

By knowing what to expect, showing up prepared, and taking that next step toward funding your plan, you're turning intention into action.

And that’s where your legacy truly begins.

Transcript: Prefer to Read — Click to Open

Ted (00:00.046)

Are you worried about the high costs of nursing home care? Afraid that a health problem could wipe out your savings and leave nothing for your family? If you’re losing sleep over how to protect what you’ve worked for, you’re not alone. My name is Ted Gudorf, Board Certified Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney, and I help families like yours protect their money from long-term care costs. In the next few minutes, I’ll show you how you can shield your savings, get benefits you deserve,

and keep your family financially secure, even if you think it’s too late. Over the past 30 years, I’ve helped hundreds of families navigate the confusing world of elder law planning. Take Mary and John, for example. When John needed nursing home care, they were told they’d have to spend almost all their $300,000 in savings before getting Medicaid. After working with us, they protected over 75 % of their money while still getting John the care he needed.

Or consider Susan, whose mother was already in a nursing home paying $9,000 each month from her savings. Even at this crisis stage, we use strategies that saved half her mother’s money, keeping well over $100,000 for Susan’s family. These aren’t rare cases. Our clients regularly protect 50 to 100 % of their assets while making sure their loved one gets good care.

The truth is that long-term care costs are going up fast. The average nursing home now costs over $106,000 per year, and that’s expected to reach $169,000 by 2031. Men typically stay for 2.2 years, women for 3.7 years, and people with memory problems, like my own father, have well over eight years. This means a long-term care event

could cost your family anywhere from $300,000 over $1 million. What’s worse, people often get conflicting advice. The nursing home says one thing, the Medicaid worker says another, your financial advisor might say something completely different. This confusion leads to costly mistakes when you’re already dealing with a hard situation. Let me share the five critical mistakes I see families make all the time.

Ted (02:22.383)

Mistake number one, listening to the wrong people about spending down assets. I recently met with a woman whose husband needed nursing home care. The nursing home told her to spend half their savings before applying for Medicaid. This was completely wrong. With proper planning, she didn’t need to spend down at all. Another family was told to give all their money to the nursing home until they had less than $2,000. We saved that family over $140,000.

by using legal strategies instead. Mistake number two, applying for benefits without proper planning. Many people apply for VA benefits or Medicaid benefits on their own, get denied, and lose months of potential benefits. One client applied for VA benefits without planning first. It took the VA 10 months to deny their claim before they came to see me. A simple fix could have qualified them from the start.

but they lost 10 months of benefits. Mistake number three, not using expert help. The rules for Medicaid and BA benefits are extremely complex and change often. Trying to navigate the system alone is like trying to do your own surgery. I’ve seen families argue for months about whether to hire an elder law attorney only to lose over $100,000 in assets that could have been protected. Mistake number four, thinking a lawyer will cost too much.

The fee for our services is a small fraction of what we save for families. We charge a flat fee that’s clear upfront. And Medicaid does not penalize you for paying an attorney to help with planning. The benefits we get for clients are often tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Mistake number five, waiting until it’s too late. While we can help in crisis situations, the earlier you plan, the more options you have.

Every month that passes without proper planning could cost your family $10,000 or more in unnecessary expenses. The good news is there’s a better way. The secret is understanding how Medicaid and other government benefits actually work and using legal strategies to protect your assets while qualifying for these programs. Our elder care program uses three simple steps to shield assets. First,

Ted (04:46.671)

We meet with you to understand your unique situation and design a customized plan that fits like a hand in a glove. Second, we handle all the paperwork, applications, and communication with government agencies. We take this burden off your shoulders so you can focus on caring for your loved one. Third, we guide you through the entire process, making sure you avoid the common pitfalls that cost other families thousands of dollars. Imagine having peace of mind.

Knowing that if you or your spouse needs care, you have a clear plan in place. Picture your family freed from the burden of making tough financial decisions during a health crisis. Think about preserving the money you’ve worked so hard for, ensuring it benefits your children and grandchildren rather than being spent on care costs. With proper planning, this isn’t just possible. It’s achievable for most families, even those with modest savings.

if what I’ve described sounds like something you need. Here’s what to do next. Click the button below to schedule a free no obligation strategy call with our team. During this 30 minute call, we’ll discuss your specific situation and outline possible protection strategies. When you click that button, you’ll be taken to our calendar where you can select a time that works for you.

After that, you’ll speak with one of our elder law specialists who will begin creating your customized protection plan. Now, I know what some of you might be thinking right now, but my mom is already in a nursing home. Isn’t it too late for us? I hear this all the time, and I’m happy to tell you that it’s almost never too late. Even if your loved one is already receiving care, we can often protect a significant portion of your assets. Remember Susan’s story I mentioned earlier.

Her mother was already in a facility when they came to us, and we still saved half of her assets. You might also be wondering, isn’t this all very complicated? I don’t understand all these rules. And you’re right. These rules are complex and they change frequently. But here’s the good news. You don’t need to understand all the details. That’s exactly why we’re here. We handle all the complicated parts for you. Just like a doctor handles the complex parts.

Ted (07:05.808)

of a medical procedure. You don’t need to become an expert. That’s our job. Some of you may be thinking, I don’t have that much money saved up. Is this even worth it for someone like me? The truth is, families with modest savings often benefit the most from our help. If you have $50,000 or $100,000 saved up, wouldn’t you rather preserve that for your family than watch it all go to a nursing home? Even smaller estates can benefit significantly from proper planning.

I also hear concerns like, this sounds like we’re trying to cheat the system somehow. Let me be very clear. Every single thing we do is completely legal and ethical. We use strategies that are specifically allowed under the law. We’re not hiding assets. We’re using legal provisions designed to protect families while ensuring care needs are met. And finally, many families tell me, my siblings and I can’t agree on what to do.

Family disagreements about elder care are incredibly common. Part of our process includes family meetings, where we explain options to everyone involved, answer questions, and help reach consensus. Often, having an objective expert in the room can resolve these disagreements and get everyone working together on the same page. The time to protect your family’s future is now. Every month that passes without proper planning,

could cost your family thousands of dollars. Click the button below to schedule your free strategy call. There’s no obligation and you’ll gain valuable insights about your options, regardless of whether you decide to work with us or not. Don’t leave your family’s financial security to chance. Don’t risk losing everything you’ve worked for to long-term care costs. Take control today by scheduling your free strategy call.

Your family deserves the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’ve done everything possible to protect them and your money. Click the button below now and let’s get started.

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