Legacy Lawyers

Federal enforcement around suppressors and short-barreled firearms has shifted in 2026. The questions about who can possess them, what happens if you’re incapacitated, and what happens when you die have not. In this episode, Nathan Croxford and Taylor Stone break down what has changed with NFA items, why “ATF is not enforcing” is not the same as “repealed,” and why NFA gun trusts still matter for...

Americans 60 and older reported $7.75 billion in losses to the FBI in 2025, up 59% in a single year. The newest scams (AI voice clones, fake government calls, gold couriers) are built to fool careful people, which means “just be careful” isn’t a plan anymore. In this episode, Michael Haslam and Brian Edwards break down how the latest scams actually work and how an estate plan can be designed to ma...

An estimated 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's or dementia, about 1 in 9. Chances are good you know someone, and chances are also good their family didn't plan for how fast it can move. In this episode, Nathan Croxford and Taylor Stone explain what to put in place before a loved one loses the capacity to sign anything. They cover the two documents that matter most,...

Not all estate plans are created equal, and most people have no way to tell the difference until it's too late. In this roundtable episode, Michael Haslam, Taylor Stone, Brian Edwards, and Cody Millward get candid about what separates real expertise from checkbox planning. They walk through what they actually see when a client brings in a plan built somewhere else (trusts that were never funded, r...

In one year, the share of Americans who trust AI more than an attorney for estate planning jumped from 20% to 30%, the biggest single-year shift Trust & Will has measured in six years of surveying. Among Gen Z, that number is 46%. In this episode, Michael Haslam and Brian Edwards break down what that shift actually looks like in their own practice: clients showing up more educated after resear...

A brand new federal savings account for kids just opened, with a free $1,000 attached for a lot of families. Most parents have heard the headline and none of the fine print. In this episode, Nathan Croxford and Taylor Stone break down what a Trump Account actually is (hint: it's not a 529, it's closer to a retirement account), who qualifies for the free seed money, and how it stacks up against Uta...

87% of people who inherit an IRA make a mistake that can destroy up to half the account's value. Most of them have never heard of the rule they broke. In this episode, Michael Haslam and Brian Edwards break down what actually happens after an IRA or 401(k) gets inherited. The old "stretch IRA" that let heirs spread withdrawals over their own lifetime disappeared in 2020, replaced by a flat 10-year...

62% of Gen X adults have zero estate planning documents — a higher rate than Gen Z, Millennials, or Baby Boomers. The generation carrying the most financial complexity is the least protected, and almost nobody is saying it out loud. In this episode, Nathan Croxford and Taylor Stone break down the four pressures hitting Gen X at the same time: supporting aging parents and kids simultaneously, inher...

The moment your child turns 18, you lose all legal access to their medical records, school records, and financial accounts — not some access, all of it. Most parents find this out in a hospital waiting room, when it's too late to fix. In this episode, Nathan Croxford and Brian Edwards break down exactly what changes the day a child becomes a legal adult, and the three documents that restore a pare...

Selling a highly appreciated business, property, or investment usually means writing a big check to the IRS — but the tax code offers legitimate ways to reduce or eliminate that bill. Most people either don't know these strategies exist, or assume they're only for the ultra-wealthy. In this episode, Michael Haslam and Nathan Croxford break down six legal levers for reducing your taxes — from struc...

Most people assume asset protection is for the ultra-wealthy — offshore trusts, Cayman Islands, $50,000 to set up. It's not. And for Utah residents, there's a tool right at home that delivers the same core protection at a fraction of the cost. In this episode, Nathan Croxford and Brian Edwards break down the Utah Domestic Asset Protection Trust — what it is, how it works, and why fewer than half o...

A living trust that was never funded doesn't avoid probate — it just delays it. Most Utah families who go through probate anyway had a trust sitting in a filing cabinet the whole time. The document isn't the plan. The funding is. In this episode, Nathan Croxford and Taylor Stone walk through exactly why 7 out of 10 living trusts fail at the worst possible moment, and give you a step-by-step checkl...

Leaving everything to your spouse and "trusting them to do right by your kids" isn't a plan—it's a wish. In a blended family, a standard will is a ticking time bomb. Under Utah law, a surviving spouse who inherits outright has full legal ownership and can completely disinherit your biological children, intentionally or not. In this episode, Michael Haslam and Taylor Stone break down the exact tool...

Roughly 1 in 4 Americans over 50 has no children. That translates to 22 million adults aged 60+ living alone without a traditional family support system—the highest rate in the world. Despite these numbers, the estate planning industry remains stuck in the past. Nearly every YouTube case study, law firm FAQ, and resource guide assumes you have children ready to step in. For Solo Agers —including n...

A family wakes up to smoke filling their home. They escape safely. The fire department saves part of the structure. They file an insurance claim expecting help rebuilding. Then the surprise: only their personal belongings are covered. The house itself is denied. Why? The home had been transferred into a trust, but the trust was never added to the insurance policy. The insurer argues the named indi...

In this episode, Michael Haslam and Brian Edwards discuss why your legacy deserves the same level of professional coordination as a successful business or a championship sports team. For too long, families have suffered from a "fragmented team" approach, where CPAs, attorneys, and financial advisors operate in silos, leading to missed opportunities and millions in overpaid taxes. Michael and Brian...

A new federal reporting rule is changing how some real estate transactions are reported to the government. But what does it actually mean for homeowners and estate planning? In this episode of the Legacy Lawyers Podcast, we break down FinCEN’s new real estate reporting requirements, why the rule exists, and which property transfers are typically exempt. We also explain how real estate owned throug...

Starting a nonprofit takes more than good intentions. In this episode, we break down what it really means to build a 501(c)(3) the right way, from clarifying the mission to setting up the proper structure and governance. We discuss why mission should always come first, how structure supports long term impact, and the common mistakes organizations make early on. If you are thinking about launching...

Section 8 housing rules can be confusing, especially when an inheritance is involved. In this episode, Mike Haslam and Taylor Stone discuss how subsidized housing works, what changed under the new regulations, and why inheritances can create serious problems for people receiving government benefits. They walk through asset limits, income considerations, and how proper estate planning including spe...

Retirement accounts don’t always go where you expect, especially when cognitive decline becomes an issue. Nathan and Brian discuss how beneficiary designations, tax rules, and retirement trusts intersect, and how the right planning can protect both the assets and the people relying on them.

In this podcast episode, hosts Michael Haslam and Brian Edwards discuss the recent changes to Utah's healthcare directive law, including the new standardized form and its implications for healthcare decision-making. They explore the importance of having a healthcare directive, the changes in the form's structure, and the introduction of surrogates for decision-making when no agent is available. Th...

In this episode, Nathan Croxford and Taylor Stone discuss the legacy of Tony Hsieh, the founder of Zappos, and the implications of his estate planning decisions following his untimely death. They explore the discovery of a will five years after his passing, the complexities surrounding it, and the lessons that can be learned about estate planning. The conversation emphasizes the importance of earl...

In a Halloween-themed discussion, Mike and Brian talk about the “scary” consequences of not properly maintaining an LLC, focusing on a real-life case where an owner lost personal liability protection.

🎙️ AI vs. Attorneys: Can ChatGPT Replace a Lawyer? Mike Haslam and Taylor Stone revisit their popular “Is AI Smarter Than a Lawyer?” challenge to see how far artificial intelligence has come since their first test in 2023. They quiz ChatGPT on Utah estate planning questions—trusts, small estate rules, and special needs planning—and uncover where AI gets it right, where it misses key legal details,...

Family cabins carry deep memories but they can also create conflict if not planned for carefully. In this episode Mike Haslam and Connor Cottle share five key considerations to help families preserve their cabins, avoid disputes, and keep traditions alive for future generations.