Step into the darkly funny world of Richard Linklater’s true-crime gem, Bernie, where a beloved small-town funeral director becomes the center of a murder case—and a community’s moral maze. In this episode of 82 Toothpicks, our estate planning crew unpacks how charm, grief, and power can collide in surprising ways.

We dive into the real-life legal issues woven through Bernie’s saga: wills and beneficiary changes, powers of attorney (POA), probate procedure, fiduciary duty, undue influence, capacity, and how misuse of funds and “royalty checks” can spark criminal, civil, and ethical consequences. You’ll hear how elder law principles apply when family heirs clash with charitable gifts, why proper execution (hello, holographic wills in Texas) matters, and what happens when the named beneficiary can’t inherit—think Slayer Statute and intestacy.

Highlights:

🧾 Will rewrites and handwritten wills: what’s valid, what’s risky, and how capacity can change the outcome

💸 POA ≠ free money: generosity vs. financial elder abuse—and when advisors should speak up

⚖️ Courtroom strategy: motive, venue changes, and how circumstantial evidence shapes a verdict

🎧 If you’ve ever wondered how Hollywood gets estate planning right (or hilariously wrong), this episode is for you. Subscribe to 82 Toothpicks on your favorite podcast app, and visit huizingalaw.com for free resources and past episodes. And download Ethan’s books to see estate planning through a whole new lens.

🎬🦷 Every movie is an estate planning movie—don’t miss the next one!

You can find Bernie on IMDB here.