Death Readiness Dispatch September 5, 2025 |
|
Hi First name / there, Imagine spending 27 years in prison for a crime you didn’t commit. In today’s podcast episode, Jason Gichner, Executive Director of the Tennessee Innocence Project, and I talk about Joyce’s story — a story of injustice, resilience, and unshakable agency. I first met Jason when we were both young attorneys. He had spent 10 years as a public defender and was transitioning to private practice. I was fresh out of law school. We were both new to estate planning. Even then, his compassion stood out. I saw it firsthand when we helped a client finalize her estate planning from her hospice bed. That same deep commitment to protecting people’s agency carries through in his work today. In the middle of her trial, Joyce Watkins, an innocent woman accused of the rape and murder of a little girl named Brandi, was offered a deal: Say her boyfriend Charlie did it, and she’d serve just one year. Her response? “I’m not sending an innocent man to prison for something he didn’t do.” Instead of freedom, Joyce chose a life sentence. Joyce chose agency. After serving 27 years in prison for a crime she did not commit, Joyce was finally exonerated. Her story is a powerful reminder that protecting your truth matters, even when the cost feels unbearable. |
|
Beyond Joyce’s case, Jason and I discuss the prevalence of wrongful convictions, the very practical reasons innocent people plead guilty, and whether justice is ever served for the wrongly convicted. Even after Joyce was exonerated in 2022, she’s still fighting for her rights. Tennessee law caps wrongful conviction compensation at $1 million, and yet, the process to qualify is so complex that many never see a dollar. How big is the wrongful conviction problem? Bigger than you think. |
|
In case you missed it, on this week's Tuesday Triage, I break down powers of attorney versus guardianships, and how planning ahead can save your family time, money, and heartache. - Timing matters. A power of attorney can only be signed while someone still has mental capacity. Once capacity is lost, the only option is a guardianship (or conservatorship), which is expensive, time-consuming, and public.
- Transparency builds trust. Encourage your parent to share their choice of decision-maker, even if it isn’t you. Transparency helps avoid suspicion, eases family tensions, and keeps disputes out of court.
- The goal is protection, not control. Powers of attorney aren’t about taking over someone’s life; they’re about safeguarding your loved one’s wishes and resources if they can’t speak for themselves.
|
|
Why Your Business Needs an Estate Plan, Too |
|
Big or small, every business needs a plan to protect it today, and secure it for tomorrow. - Get a handle on your governing documents. Make sure you have your EIN letter, and, if you’re an LLC, your Articles of Organization, and Operating Agreement in one easy-to-find place. Even solopreneurs should have an Operating Agreement, and it should address what happens if you’re incapacitated, not just if you die.
- Add a backup signer to bank accounts. If you’re the only person with access to your business bank account, that’s a risk. Most banks will require a simple banking resolution, and many even have a template you can fill out.
- Create and document repeatable systems. Standard operating procedures free up mental space, streamline delegation, prepare you for emergencies, and even make your business more attractive to buyers.
|
|
The Support You Need to Get It Done |
|
If these episodes have you thinking about your family, your parents, or your business, and what would happen if something happened to you, I can help. - Gather, organize, and review your personal, financial, and legal information
- Find and vet an attorney in your state
- Prepare for and even attend attorney meetings
- Understand your estate plan in plain language
- Ensure everything is implemented and organized so your loved ones aren’t left guessing
|
|
Thanks, as always, for being here. |
|
1938 Burdette Street #3029
Ferndale, MI 48220, United States |
|
|
|
