On The Record

Michael Rutkowski
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Education
  • Weekly

We are all going to die one day, so we might as well talk about it. Estate planning attorney Michael Rutkowski has spent over 20 years helping families protect what matters most, and now he is breaking it all down for you. Trusts, wills, tax planning, powers of attorney, the stuff nobody teaches you but everybody needs. Every week Mike cuts through the legalese and makes one of life's most important conversations actually make sense. Because if you do not have a plan, your state already made one for you. Now you have a friend in estate planning. Welcome to On The Record.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    Why Michael Jackson's Estate Went to Probate (And How to Avoid It) | Ep 9

    You paid for a trust, signed the documents, and put them on a shelf. But if your home and bank accounts were never retitled into that trust, your family could still end up in probate court for 9 to 18 months. Most people don't realize that creating a trust and funding a trust are two completely different steps, and skipping the second one undoes everything. Michael Rutkowski is an estate planning attorney and host of On the Record, where he breaks down estate planning in plain English. In this episode, he explains exactly what trust funding means, why most attorneys don't help you do it, and how to check whether your accounts and property are properly titled. He walks through a simple checklist you can do today and shares how even Michael Jackson's estate ended up in contested probate because of this exact mistake. This one is for anyone who set up a trust and assumed the hard part was done. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (00:19) The Suitcase Analogy (01:05) Why Most Attorneys Skip Funding (01:54) How to Check Your Accounts and Deed (02:55) The Michael Jackson Example (03:31) Your Action Plan Even Michael Jackson ended up in probate due to a trust being improperly funded. Have you checked if yours is funded recently? To see how my team can help, call 248-927-2930 today or visit our website at https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/contact Free Resources: https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/resources/downloadable-guides Connect with Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelrutkowski Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrutkowskiesq Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rutkowskilawfirm Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelrutkowski

  2. Oct 21

    Don’t Leave Your Parents a Mess: Estate Planning Basics for Your 20s | Ep 8

    Think you're too young for estate planning? If something happened to you tomorrow, could your parents access your bank accounts, cancel your subscriptions, or even cash a check in your name? Without a few basic documents in place, the answer is no, and your family could end up in probate court over something as small as a tax refund. Michael Rutkowski, an estate planning attorney with over 20 years of experience, breaks down exactly what people in their 20s need and don't need. He covers powers of attorney, HIPAA authorizations, beneficiary designations, digital asset planning for crypto and online accounts, and shares a real story where a $2,500 tax refund forced a grieving family into probate. He also addresses the cost concern head on: your plan is far simpler and far cheaper than you think. This episode is for anyone in their 20s or any parent who wants their kid to get ahead of this. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (00:58) Don't Leave a Mess for Your Parents (01:56) Beneficiary Designations and Crypto (02:49) Digital Asset Planning (03:31) What This Actually Costs Michael says he would be impressed if a 20 something called to plan. Drop a comment if you are ahead of it and what made you decide to start now. To see how my team can help, call 248-927-2930 today or visit our website at https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/contact Free Resources: https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/resources/downloadable-guides Connect with Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelrutkowski Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrutkowskiesq Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rutkowskilawfirm Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelrutkowski

  3. Oct 7

    Why You Should NEVER Put Your Kids On Your Deed (What to Do Instead) | Ep 7

    Transferring your home to your kids while you're alive might seem like simple estate planning, but it can trigger enormous capital gains taxes that proper planning completely avoids. If you have ever thought about adding your child to your deed or signing the house over, this episode explains exactly why that move backfires and what to do instead. Michael Rutkowski, an estate planning and elder law attorney with over 20 years of experience, hosts On the Record to make these concepts simple and actionable. In this episode he walks through a real family that faced a $280,800 tax bill, explains step up in basis in plain English, and breaks down how trusts and lady bird deeds transfer your home while protecting it from creditors, divorce, and nursing home estate recovery. Whether you own a home worth $300,000 or $500,000, this one is for you. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (00:34) Why You Should Never Gift Your Home (01:39) The Tax Math That Costs Families Thousands (02:26) Creditors, Lawsuits, and Divorce Risk (03:27) Trust vs Lady Bird Deed (04:44) Your State Already Has a Plan for You A lady bird deed or trust can transfer your home and protect the step up in basis. Drop a comment, which option is a better fit for you? To see how my team can help, call 248-927-2930 today or visit our website at https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/contact Free Resources: https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/resources/downloadable-guides Connect with Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelrutkowski Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrutkowskiesq Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rutkowskilawfirm Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelrutkowski

  4. Sep 30

    Can AI Actually Write Your Will for Free? (We Put It to the Test)

    If you have thought about using AI or an online tool like LegalZoom to create your will, this episode shows you exactly what those tools miss and why it matters. Most people assume a will is all they need, but without the right questions being asked upfront, your estate plan could leave your family stuck in probate court. Michael Rutkowski, an estate planning and elder law attorney with over 20 years of experience, hosts On the Record. In this episode he builds a will using AI on camera, reviews the result, and walks through every gap: no questions about probate avoidance, asset protection, trust funding, or planning for minor children. He explains why he probates LegalZoom documents regularly and why an unfunded trust is worthless. This one is for anyone who has been putting off their estate plan or wondering if a DIY option is good enough. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:08) AI Starts Building the Will (02:37) What the AI Will Actually Looks Like (03:44) Why Estate Plans Are Hard to Evaluate (05:06) The Art of Asking the Right Questions (07:13) LegalZoom, Online Tools, and Trust Funding (08:28) What Bad Planning Costs Your Family Have you used an online will tool? Leave a comment on how impressed you were with the results. To see how my team can help, call 248-927-2930 today or visit our website at https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/contact Free Resources: https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/resources/downloadable-guides Connect with Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelrutkowski Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrutkowskiesq Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rutkowskilawfirm Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelrutkowski

  5. Sep 23

    How to Make Sure Debt Collectors Can Never Come After Your Kids | Ep 5

    If you have ever worried that your kids will be stuck paying off your credit cards or medical bills after you pass away, this episode will set the record straight. Most people do not realize the bigger risk is not the debt they leave behind, it is the DIY planning they have already done. Adding your children's names to your bank accounts or your home can expose your assets to their divorces, lawsuits, and creditors in ways you never saw coming. Michael Rutkowski, a Michigan estate planning and elder law attorney, breaks down exactly which debts die with you, which creditors can actually force the sale of your home, and why keeping assets out of probate is your strongest protection against all of it. He walks through real scenarios, from a son's divorce draining mom's bank account to Medicaid liens as priority creditors, and names the specific tools that fix it: trusts, beneficiary designations, pay on death accounts, lady bird deeds, and powers of attorney. This one is for anyone who has already put a child's name on an account and needs to know what to do next. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:13) The Divorce Scenario (02:14) Tools That Solve This Problem (03:19) Debt and Your Kids After You Die (05:41) Can a Creditor Force a Home Sale (07:11) Probate and Creditor Protection (07:45) Liability for Trustees and Agents Michael says never put your kids' names on your accounts. Have you already Taken this or other proactive steps that could put your family at risk? Comment below. To see how my team can help, call 248-927-2930 today or visit our website at https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/contact Free Resources: https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/resources/downloadable-guides Connect with Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelrutkowski Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrutkowskiesq Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rutkowskilawfirm Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelrutkowski

  6. Sep 16

    What to Do After a Loved One Passes: A Step by Step Guide | Ep 4

    If you recently lost a parent or loved one and have no idea what to do next, this episode walks you through the entire process step by step. Most families feel pressure to act fast, pay bills, turn in cars, start dividing things up. That urgency can lead to costly mistakes, like a $30,000 to $50,000 surprise bill from turning in a leased car the wrong way. Michael Rutkowski, an estate planning and elder law attorney with over 20 years of experience, hosts On the Record to make these conversations simple and human. In this episode he covers how to inventory assets, where to look for estate planning documents, how the six-month creditor notice period works, what to do with titled property, and how to avoid fraud after someone passes. He walks through a $500,000 estate example to show how bills get paid before distributions. Whether you are settling a probate estate or just trying to figure out where to start, this one is for you. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:55) How to Inventory Assets (03:50) Tracking Down a Trust (05:28) Filing with Probate Court (07:15) A $500K Estate Example (08:19) Freezing Accounts and Avoiding Fraud (09:47) Titled Assets and the DMV (10:24) Pets and Pet Trusts (11:21) Final Takeaways To see how my team can help, call 248-927-2930 today or visit our website at https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/contact Free Resources: https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/resources/downloadable-guides Connect with Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelrutkowski Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrutkowskiesq Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rutkowskilawfirm Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelrutkowski

  7. Sep 10

    How to Protect Your House From Nursing Home Costs (Before It's Too Late)| Ep 3

    Nursing home care averages $15,000 a month, and without proper planning, your home and savings are exposed. Most families find out too late that gifting assets to kids or grandkids can actually disqualify you from the Medicaid long term care benefit and put your house at risk. This episode breaks down exactly how that happens, what the five year look back really means, and the specific trust strategy that can protect everything you have worked for. Michael Rutkowski is an estate planning and elder law attorney with over 20 years of experience, and On the Record is where he teaches this stuff in plain English. In this episode, he walks through the three things you need to qualify for Medicaid long term care, the asset thresholds for married couples and single individuals, and how a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust protects your home, retirement accounts, and savings if set up at least five years in advance. Whether you are planning ahead or watching a parent's health decline, this is the episode to watch before you make a costly mistake. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (00:46) How DIY Medicaid Planning Backfires (02:30) The Five Year Look Back Explained (04:07) Pre-Planning vs Crisis Planning (06:35) Planning Ahead: What It Looks Like (07:53) The Three Prong Medicaid Qualification Test (09:30) Asset Thresholds and the MAPT (11:46) Why You Need to Act Now Michael explains you can protect 100% of assets with five years of planning. Have you implemented any of these strategies yet? Comment below. To see how my team can help, call 248-927-2930 today or visit our website at https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/contact Free Resources: https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/resources/downloadable-guides Connect with Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelrutkowski Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrutkowskiesq Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rutkowskilawfirm Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelrutkowski

  8. Sep 3

    What Happens If You Die Without a Will? | Ep 2

    If you die without a will, your state already has a plan for your estate, and it probably looks nothing like what you would choose. Probate court can cost 5 to 10 percent of your estate, freeze your assets for 9 to 18 months, and force your family into a public process where fighting often tears people apart. Most people have no idea this is what happens when there is no estate plan in place. Michael Rutkowski is an estate planning and elder law attorney with over 20 years of experience, and On the Record is his weekly show breaking down everything you need to know in plain English. In this episode he walks through what probate actually looks like step by step, explains Michigan's intestate succession rules, and lays out the tools that keep your family out of probate court: wills, trusts, powers of attorney, beneficiary designations, and lady bird deeds. If you have been putting off estate planning, this episode is where to start. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (00:46) What Is Probate Court (02:09) Notice to Interested Parties (05:03) The Probate Process Step by Step (08:48) Tools That Keep You Out of Probate (10:32) Why This Matters Even After You Are Gone Probate can cost 5 to 10% of your estate if you are not properly prepared. Do you Currently have a plan in place? Comment below. To see how my team can help, call 248-927-2930 today or visit our website at https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/contact Free Resources: https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/resources/downloadable-guides Connect with Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelrutkowski Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrutkowskiesq Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rutkowskilawfirm Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelrutkowski

  9. Aug 26

    I Had AI Pretend to Be a Client. Here's What Happened | Ep 1

    Most people put off estate planning because they do not know what to expect when they sit down with an attorney. Michael Rutkowski walks through a full estate planning consultation using an AI agent as the client, covering every question you would might ask in an estate planning consultation and every answer you need to hear right now. To see how my team can help, call 248-927-2930 today or visit our website at https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/contact Free Resources: https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/resources/downloadable-guides Connect with Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelrutkowski Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrutkowskiesq Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rutkowskilawfirm Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelrutkowski

  10. Trailer

    Nobody Talks About This Until It Is Too Late

    We are all going to die, and most families are completely unprepared for what comes next. On The Record with Michael Rutkowski tackles the topics most people avoid: estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and what actually happens to everything you have built. My name is Michael Rutkowski. I am an estate planning attorney with over 20 years of experience helping families protect what they have worked their entire lives to build. This show exists because the legal system is complex, most lawyers make it more confusing than it needs to be, and the cost of doing nothing is far higher than most people realize. If you do not have a plan in place your state already has one for you. Come back every week and I will give you something you did not know before, explained in plain language, so that when the time comes your family is protected and the people you love are not left paying for what you put off. To see how my team can help, call 248-927-2930 todayor visit our website at https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/contactFree Resources: https://rutkowskilawfirm.com/resources/downloadable-guidesConnect with Me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelrutkowskiLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrutkowskiesqFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rutkowskilawfirmTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikelrutkowskiListen to On The RecordSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033QdUF0rYW0URk2Aa8wgwApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-record/id6805281114

  • 1 Trailer
    9 Episodes

Trailer

About

We are all going to die one day, so we might as well talk about it. Estate planning attorney Michael Rutkowski has spent over 20 years helping families protect what matters most, and now he is breaking it all down for you. Trusts, wills, tax planning, powers of attorney, the stuff nobody teaches you but everybody needs. Every week Mike cuts through the legalese and makes one of life's most important conversations actually make sense. Because if you do not have a plan, your state already made one for you. Now you have a friend in estate planning. Welcome to On The Record.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Rutkowski
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Michael Rutkowski
  • Show Website
    On The Record