Sword Fights, Succession Plans, and the Estate Planning Wisdom of The Princess Bride
Release Date: 08/08/2025
Perms, Privilege, and Pet Trusts: Estate Planning in Legally Blonde
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What, like it's hard? We're breaking down the iconic film Legally Blonde to reveal the surprising number of estate planning lessons hidden in plain sight. While this movie is a beloved legal comedy, our team of experts couldn't resist analyzing how the entire murder trial rests on financial motive and inheritance, proving that even in the brightest comedies, legacy is a serious business. Join the 82 Toothpicks team as we bend and snap our way through the legal accuracy (and inaccuracies) of Elle Woods's journey. We’ll explore how a trust fund could have eliminated a motive for murder, the...
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What Scrooge Got Wrong: Estate Planning Lessons from The Muppet Christmas Carol
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What can a frog and a pig teach us about Christmas? What if Ebenezer Scrooge's biggest failing wasn't his lack of holiday spirit, but his terrible estate plan? This week, we're unwrapping the hidden legal lessons in the beloved holiday classic, The Muppet Christmas Carol! Join the 82 Toothpicks team as we go beyond "Bah, Humbug!" to explore how Charles Dickens' timeless tale is packed with surprisingly relevant themes for modern families. We discuss how Scrooge’s journey reflects the real-world motivations for creating a plan, moving...
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Spirited
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Could Will Ferrell ever redeem an unredeemable Ryan Reynolds? In this episode of 82 Toothpicks, we unwrap the holiday musical Spirited and discover what a modern-day Christmas Carol can teach us about legacy and responsibility. It turns out, even a story full of ghosts, time travel, and musical numbers is packed with surprisingly practical estate planning lessons. Join us as we explore the core legal and emotional themes woven throughout the film. We discuss the immense responsibility of guardianship, what happens when someone is unwilling or unable to serve in that role, and how a...
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National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
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Ever wonder what estate planning lessons could be hiding in your favorite holiday comedy? In this episode, the 82 Toothpicks team breaks down the hilarious and chaotic holiday "classic," National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, to uncover surprisingly serious takeaways about preparing for your family's future. Join us as we explore the legal and financial blunders behind Clark Griswold's quest for the perfect family Christmas. We'll dive into the Griswolds' mayhem to discuss core estate planning themes, from financial missteps to questions of incapacity and elder law. This conversation will give...
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Abandoned at Christmas: Legacy Lessons from Home Alone 🏠
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What happens when an eight-year-old is left behind—and there’s no legal backup plan? In this episode of 82 Toothpicks, the team dives into Home Alone (1990) to unpack the estate planning chaos lurking beneath the Christmas comedy. As Kevin McCallister outwits two burglars and fends for himself, Ethan, Thad, and Joselyn explore the real-world legal questions raised when parents disappear, property is unprotected, and no one has power of attorney. They cover: 🧒 Emergency guardianship and who can legally step in when a minor is home alone 🏠 Personal property, home ownership, and...
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas🎄: Grievances, Guardianship, and the Gift of Community
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This week on 82 Toothpicks, the team breaks down How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the 2000 Jim Carrey version) to uncover what happens when resentment, rejection, and unclear community values collide. As the Grinch plots his revenge and Cindy Lou Who searches for something deeper than “stuff,” Ethan, Joselyn, and Thad explore the real-life legal and legacy questions that bubble beneath the Christmas chaos. From the Grinch’s traumatic backstory and abandonment in a basket to the town’s questionable leadership and judgmental culture, this episode asks: who’s really responsible...
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No Capes, No Excuses: The Incredibles and Superpowered Planning for the Modern Family
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🎙️ 82 Toothpicks | Estate Planning Meets the Movies What happens when a superhero dad hits a midlife crisis, a stay-at-home mom stretches herself thin, and their baby literally bursts into flames? This week, the 82 Toothpicks crew tackles The Incredibles, Pixar’s not-just-for-kids classic packed with family tension, secret lairs, and estate planning gold. From the opening lawsuit over an unwanted rescue (hello, living will!) to a late-stage voicemail about a baby with “special needs” (you guessed it—special needs trust), we break down how the Parr family’s real struggles mirror...
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Count on It: Guardianship, Fiduciaries, and Family Fallout in Rain Man
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🎙️ 82 Toothpicks | Estate Planning Meets the Movies What happens when an estranged son discovers his father left everything to a brother he didn’t know existed? In this episode of 82 Toothpicks, the team breaks down Rain Man—not just as a drama about family and connection, but as a surprisingly sharp case study in guardianship, fiduciary duty, and what happens when trust decisions leave emotional fallout. Ethan, Thad, and Joselyn explore the estate planning dynamics revealed through Charlie and Raymond’s journey, including the implications of Raymond’s placement in Walbrook...
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Back to the Future: Time Travel, Trusts, and the Power of a Backup Plan
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Back to the Future isn’t just a sci-fi classic—it’s a blueprint for what happens when you fail to plan for the unexpected. In this episode of 82 Toothpicks, Ethan, Joselyn, and Thad take a DeLorean-deep dive into the estate planning lessons hidden in Marty McFly’s journey through time. From Marty’s handwritten letter to Doc (a surprising example of fiduciary communication) to the clock tower scene as a metaphor for contingency planning, the team unpacks real-world legal strategies behind the chaos. They examine how guardianship, informed consent, and powers of attorney play out when...
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Black Flame Candles, Guardianship Gaps, and the Trouble with Undead Estate Plans: Estate Planning Lessons from Hocus Pocus
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Ready for a Halloween classic with a legal twist? In this episode of 82 Toothpicks, the team sinks their teeth into Hocus Pocus, unraveling the surprising estate planning lessons hiding among witches, spellbooks, and immortal cats. As Max lights the black flame candle and chaos breaks loose, the crew highlights how poor planning—and worse execution—can unleash real-world legal nightmares. Ethan, Joselyn, and Thad explore how the Sanderson sisters' return raises questions about capacity, consent, and durable powers of attorney, especially when adults are bewitched and unavailable....
info_outline“Inconceivable!” that a fantasy adventure could double as an estate planning masterclass? Not so fast. This week on 🎙82 Toothpicks, Thad, Ethan, and Joselyn break down the cult classic The Princess Bride and uncover the unexpected legal lessons hiding behind Miracle Max, wedding crashes, and swordplay.
From the rotating legacy of the Dread Pirate Roberts to the royal scheming of Prince Humperdinck, this episode dives into how inheritance, guardianship, and personal property all show up in this beloved film. The crew laughs their way through iconic scenes (yes, we’re still quoting “You keep using that word...”), debates the best lines, and highlights estate planning themes that hit surprisingly close to home.
💡 Key takeaways:
✅ Business succession planning with the legendary Dread Pirate Roberts
✅ Probate pressure and forced royal marriages for political gain
✅ Heirlooms, homicide, and honoring history through personal property bequests
✅ Powers of attorney and capacity, especially when someone’s only “mostly dead”
🎮 Plus: A lightning round of Princess Bride trivia, finish-the-quote madness, and a reminder that even fantasy flicks can spark real-world planning conversations.
🎧 Ready to turn movie night into a legacy lesson? Subscribe to 82 Toothpicks, share with your fellow film buffs, and grab our free legacy resources at huizengalaw.com.
💍 Marriage (and good planning) is what brings us together today.
🎬 Every movie is an estate planning movie. Don’t miss the next one!