Why Do Estate & Probate Attorneys Trust Burning Tree?
Because unchecked addiction threatens the family legacy.
A Duty That Extends Beyond Documents
As an estate or probate attorney, you protect assets and uphold legal intentions—but sometimes deeper issues threaten everything.
Warning signs you might notice:
- Addiction affecting beneficiary decision-making
- Family dysfunction complicating estate matters
- Mental illness impacting legal capacity
- Substance use threatening asset preservati
Your Role Matters
You’re uniquely positioned to see how personal struggles can undermine legal and financial intentions.
Referring clients to appropriate help can:
- Preserve estate integrity and family wealth
- Protect beneficiaries from self-destructive behaviors
- Ensure legal intentions are properly fulfilled
When Should You Consider Referring for Long-Term Treatment?
Addiction can affect every corner of estate planning and administration. You may consider a referral if you observe the following:
- An executor or beneficiary struggling with substance use, impairing their ability to manage responsibilities
- Rapid depletion or mismanagement of assets due to addiction-driven financial decisions
- Legal or tax neglect, such as unpaid liabilities or failure to follow court-mandated duties
- Family disputes escalating around addiction-related issues
- Trust concerns, especially in young or vulnerable beneficiaries who lack judgment due to substance use
These aren’t just disruptions—they’re liabilities that can derail even the most carefully constructed estate plan.
What Red Flags Might You See?
Your ongoing interactions may reveal warning signs such as:
- Erratic or impaired decision-making in meetings
- Chronic financial instability or secrecy around spending
- Deterioration in appearance, hygiene, or emotional regulation
- Inability to engage meaningfully in planning conversations
- Concerned family members quietly voicing distress
“Estate attorneys who refer to Burning Tree Ranch understand that protecting a legacy sometimes means helping someone heal. We’re honored to support families and legal teams through these difficult but necessary conversations.”
Brook McKenzie, LCDC
CEO, Burning Tree Programs
Why Do Attorneys Refer Clients to Burning Tree?
Burning Tree Ranch offers the nation’s only long-term residential program specifically designed for chronic relapsers and co-occurring disorders.
- 8–14 months of inpatient treatment, with dual-diagnosis support
- 12 months of structured aftercare
- Close coordination with referring professionals
- Confidential support for families and care teams
We serve clients who do not get well anywhere else and walk with them through the recovery journey.
How Can Legal Professionals Ethically Support Clients in Crisis?
While you are not obligated to recommend treatment, your fiduciary duty and professional ethics may guide you to take action when:
- Addiction impairs your client’s ability to carry out their wishes or duties
- Family harmony is breaking down due to substance-related conflict
- The estate is at risk of misuse, misappropriation, or litigation
You are not acting as a clinician—but you are standing as a protector of both legal intent and human well-being.
How Can Attorneys Use Legal Structures to Create Leverage for Change?
Estate attorneys can use legal structures to create leverage for change:
- Conditional distributions: Tie access to assets or trust payouts to treatment engagement or completion
- Incentive trusts: Release funds for education, housing, or personal needs only upon documented recovery milestones
- Escrow arrangements: Hold funds until treatment goals are met, verified by professionals
- Guardianships or conservatorships: For those legally incapable of managing affairs, with treatment as a provision
- Healthcare directives: Include language around treatment expectations if incapacity due to addiction arises
These tools protect both the estate and the individual—and can shift the family system toward recovery.
Let’s Work Together to Protect What Matters
If you’re navigating a complex estate compromised by addiction, we’re here to support your next step—discreetly, professionally, and compassionately.
Have a referral?
I’d be happy to help.
Call or submit an inquiry—and feel free to request me directly.
Brook McKenzie, LCDC
CEO, Burning Tree Programs
“Burning Tree not only saved my sons life they gave him a life we could have only imagined. It was his last chance since all other programs had failed. Our lives had been a living hell. They educate the entire family and you will never find a more understanding or compassionate group of people dedicated to your loved ones recovery.”
Lisa M.
Family of Burning Tree Alumni
Have a Referral?
If you suspect a client is facing a crisis bigger than balance sheets, we’re here to help. Confidentially, ethically, and without pressure.