About

Jen’s Story

I’m Jen Gumbel. I’m a probate attorney who’s helped hundreds of families with the legal issues that come up in health emergencies. The reality about estate planning is that it isn’t simply about legal documents. People who have great legal documents can still leave preventable messes.

If you’re going to go to the effort, and expense, of getting an estate plan, you should know that it’s actually going to minimize the legal issues that come up. You shouldn’t have to wonder, guess and hope that your family won’t be left with an overwhelming list of legal tasks at the worst possible time. So I created Organized (after)Life to share how estate planning works and equip you with what you need to know to have a plan that actually works.

When I grew up, being a lawyer was never on my radar. I wanted to teach. Being a teacher was and is my gift. As I went through college, I quickly learned I wanted people to come already fired-up.

That’s how I discovered the law. After shadowing an estate planning attorney in my hometown in South Dakota, I knew the law was for me. People came invested in knowing the answer. Getting an estate plan that works is all about educating people and coming up with a strategy to minimize legal issues.

I was also specifically prepared for it in a way most lawyers aren’t.

My father suddenly died from an aggressive cancer when I was fourteen. People, lawyers included, are weird about death and can be unsure how to approach the issue. I don’t and I’m not. Young parents planning for a worst case scenario, people who just got a diagnosis, the elderly coming to grips that more life is behind than ahead, I can wrap my head around that. Helping people walk through legal issues or reducing the legal to-do list they’ll leave for their loved ones is my super power.

And I hate the scramble. When you put this off and don’t take the steps you need to, you’re setting up a scramble. I created Organized (after)Life so you know how to avoid a mess and won’t be left scrambling.

Why I started Organized (after)Life

I started Organized (after)Life to equip you with the information you need to effectively reduce the to-do list you’ll leave for the people who will grieve you and to help you understand that everyone is capable of leaving a good legacy. I share the tools and information that all of us in “death law” wish every client knew coming in and I show people when and why working with an attorney is important. It’s my way of swiping at death.

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What You’ll Learn In The Workshop

Estate planning is a process that many people don’t really understand – and that’s understandable! I can help you understand how this legal process works and how you can lessen the burden on loved ones.

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How assets move after death

The first thing I need to know as an attorney helping families, is what the person had and how those things are moving. You can not set up a manageable to-do list without understanding this fundamental concept. I’ll walk you though this important, but easy to understand legal structure.

Steps to leave a manageable plan

The people who left behind a manageable to-do list took common steps, starting with understanding what they owned. I’ll walk you through each necessary step.

How to ensure you get a personalized plan

Leaving behind a manageable to-do list take more than documents, it takes a strategy – like knowing if you should have a trust or not. You can only get a personalized strategy through a local attorney licensed in your state. I’ll give you tips on how to locate an attorney who bring you incredible value by helping you strategize and who will craft a plan personalized to your needs.

Steps to take to ensure your plan goes into action

A manageable to-do list takes a strategy and good documents to set up the strategy, but the strategy won’t happen unless you’re financial organized. I’ll walk you through the organization process and teach you how to keep your finances organized.