The Estate Planning Mistakes Divorce Can Expose with Trusts and Estates Attorney, Lauren Klein

A divorce agreement can divide the assets and still leave major financial risks behind. Trusts and estates attorney Lauren Klein joins Gabriella to explain how wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, life insurance, and account titling can conflict with the terms of a divorce. They discuss why trusts often make asset division harder, how state law affects a spouse’s rights during the divorce process, and how poor coordination can lead to tax problems, probate delays, or lost alimony protection. Lauren also explains why signing a trust is only part of the work and what to ask the professionals handling your estate plan, divorce strategy, and financial accounts. Lauren A. Klein, Esq., LL.M., is co-founder of Flourish Law Group, a Florida boutique firm focused on estate and tax planning, probate and trust administration, and elder law. She holds an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida, teaches Wills and Trusts at St. Thomas University Benjamin L. Crump College of Law, and hosts the Legal + Wealthy™ podcast. Connect with Lauren: 🔹 Website - https://flourishlawgroup.com/ 🔹 LinkedIn -   / lauren-a-klein-esq-ll-m-a39a5a35   🔹 IG -   / legalandwealthy_   🔹 Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Continue Listening for Business Owners: 🎧 10. How to Divorce-Proof Your Business | Part 1: What Every Business Owner Needs to Know Before Divorce - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎧 11. Emotional Traps in Divorce | Part 2: What Every Business Owner Needs to Know Before Divorce - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎧 21. Business Valuation in Divorce | What Business Owners Need to Know (and What Can Go Wrong) with Matt Springer - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎧 23. The Hidden Option: ESOPs & How to Save Your Business During Divorce with Matt Middendorp - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Three Safeguards That Keep Your Divorce and Estate Plan Aligned: 🔹 Review your estate plan as soon as divorce becomes possible. Filing, final judgment, and state law may affect powers of attorney, beneficiary rights, wills, and trusts at different times. Ask a local estate planning attorney what you can change now and what must wait until the divorce is final. 🔹 Match the divorce agreement to every controlling document. A judgment may not prevent conflict if a life insurance beneficiary, account designation, or trust provision points elsewhere. Coordinate the decree, estate plan, insurance policy, and beneficiary designations so alimony and asset transfers can happen without a probate fight. 🔹 Confirm that your trust is properly funded. A signed trust does not avoid probate unless assets are retitled into it or the trust is named where appropriate. Have your estate attorney and financial advisor review real estate, brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, and beneficiary forms together, AND establish who is responsible for completing each change. Gabriella E. Martinelli, CDFA®, CDA®, is the Founder at Ever After Wealth® and Host of the Divorce and Money Podcast. She is passionate about supporting clients through divorce by providing clarity during a confusing time, offering education and resources, and serving as a reliable support system for those facing difficult financial decisions that will significantly impact their future. The Divorce & Money Podcast, hosted by Gabriella E. Martinelli, CDFA®, CDS®, is all about how to navigate your separation and divorce so you can set yourself up for a strong financial future. Gabriella is the Founder at Ever After Wealth®, a divorce financial strategy firm. Connect with Gabriella & Ever After Wealth®: 🔹 Website - https://www.everafterwealth.com/ 🔹 Instagram -   / everafterwealth   🔹 LinkedIn -   / everafterwealth   🔹 YouTube -    / @everafterwealth   🔹 Facebook -   / everafterwealth