About
Dave Strousberg, Esq.
Dave Strousberg routinely advises clients throughout Colorado on a wide variety of Estate Planning issues, including Will and Trust preparation, asset protection strategies, guardianship nominations, and Power of Attorney and Living Will considerations. He is a member of the Trusts and Estates Section of the Colorado Bar Association, and is a frequent presenter on Estate Planning tactics and important issues that impact families of all kinds across the state. Dave is recognized as a Trusted Advisor to his clients, offering an innovative approach to the Estate Planning process that makes the process efficient, understandable, and relatable for everyone.
“I am just like so many of my clients. I have a family that I care deeply about - I am a husband and father to three children, ages 8, 6, and 1 - and knowing that they are taken care of should something happen to me or my wife has been a top priority of mine. Years ago, when I started looking for an estate lawyer to work with for my own family, I found the process to be complicated and overwhelming. It inspired me to start Wills Simplified - a modern day Estate Planning law firm that focuses on clear and effective communication with our clients. I know what it’s like to support a family and to want to achieve that peace of mind. I bring that passion for supporting my family to my client’s families.”
Dave often serves as an adjunct instructor at the University of Colorado and the Metropolitan State University of Denver, teaching a wide variety of courses, including Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, and Business and Professional Speaking. In addition to Estate Planning, Dave has extensive experience practicing labor and employment law, mediating family disputes, and providing jury and trial consulting services to other lawyers and law firms throughout the country.
Dave Strousberg, Esq.
Dave Strousberg routinely advises clients throughout Colorado on a wide variety of Estate Planning issues, including Will and Trust preparation, asset protection strategies, guardianship nominations, and Power of Attorney and Living Will considerations. He is a member of the Trusts and Estates Section of the Colorado Bar Association, and is a frequent presenter on Estate Planning tactics and important issues that impact families of all kinds across the state. Dave is recognized as a Trusted Advisor to his clients, offering an innovative approach to the Estate Planning process that makes the process efficient, understandable, and relatable for everyone.
“I am just like so many of my clients. I have a family that I care deeply about - I am a husband and father to three children, ages 8, 6, and 1 - and knowing that they are taken care of should something happen to me or my wife has been a top priority of mine. Years ago, when I started looking for an estate lawyer to work with for my own family, I found the process to be complicated and overwhelming. It inspired me to start Wills Simplified - a modern day Estate Planning law firm that focuses on clear and effective communication with our clients. I know what it’s like to support a family and to want to achieve that peace of mind. I bring that passion for supporting my family to my client’s families.”
Dave often serves as an adjunct instructor at the University of Colorado and the Metropolitan State University of Denver, teaching a wide variety of courses, including Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, and Business and Professional Speaking. In addition to Estate Planning, Dave has extensive experience practicing labor and employment law, mediating family disputes, and providing jury and trial consulting services to other lawyers and law firms throughout the country.
Our Story
In her mind, asking me made sense – why not ask the new lawyer in the family for help. I explained to her, however, that it might not be a good idea to have your own family member prepare the plan – and also pointed out that she should look for an attorney with some experience in this area. I figured she should find someone that would be able to address those concerns that I described that she had above.
She found another local attorney and asked if I would attend the planning meeting with her and wanted to know if I would serve as the Successor Trustee of her Trust. I agreed.
I remember meeting with the attorney. The meeting felt overly formal. He asked a lot of questions and told her that he would have the documents ready for her in a few weeks. He told her that he would bill her by the hour, but couldn’t really tell her the exact amount until he was done. He told her that her Estate Plan should include certain documents, and that she needed to fund her Trust throughout her life, but didn’t explain how or why.
When we left the meeting, she turned to me and said, “My goodness that was overwhelming. That was more challenging than I was expecting.”
We went back a few weeks later for her to sign everything.
She signed it all, paid the bill, and we left.
All she said then was, “That was more expensive than I thought.”
I remember wondering things like what my role would be as Successor Trustee, how she should best store these documents, and what types of events would require an update? And shouldn’t she have had the opportunity to conduct a real review – instead of just “sign here.”?
I kind of figured that the Estate Lawyer would have gone over all of that – and more – during the meetings. But there was no discussion like that. There was no explanation of what the implications of each of the plan documents were – or how and when they should be used properly.
She passed away less than a year later.
And throughout all of the grief and emotional moments, I had to step up and serve in my role as Successor Trustee.
I remember wishing that she and I would have sat down with the Estate Attorney and asked those questions. More than that, though, I wished that the lawyer would have just been more helpful in the first place.
I spent the next year navigating the world of Estate Planning and administration so that I could help to carry out her final wishes. The Estate Planning Lawyer had set up her Estate Plan fairly well, I’d say that it reflected about 80% of what she would have wanted. I knew that if she had been properly educated and guided through a meaningful review, then she would have worded certain provisions of the Will and Trust differently.
We know that Estate Planning can be both overwhelming and stressful, and oftentimes people struggle to even figure out where to begin.
Give us a call and schedule your free consulation today and let us help you get started.
