Fiduciary Duty, Probate & Crisis Planning Explained | Plan for This Podcast Ep. 11

Описание: When life changes suddenly, who actually has authority to act? In this episode of Plan for This, Marguerite and Ron unpack two real-world stories that reveal what happens when estate planning meets crisis.

First, we follow Bill, who flies to Paris after his parents survive a serious accident. He assumes he’ll be the one managing their affairs — until he discovers a professional trustee has already taken charge. Marguerite explains how this happens, why families choose professionals, and how fiduciary duty protects privacy, capacity, and safety when emotions run high.

Then, a listener writes in about a second challenge: “My siblings and I inherited a house with a mortgage — what now?” Marguerite breaks down probate timelines, reverse mortgages, communication with lenders, and what families must do immediately to avoid foreclosure or legal penalties.

This episode is a reminder that estate planning is not about control — it’s about protecting your future when life becomes unpredictable.

Welcome to the *Plan for This Podcast*—your trusted source for estate planning, wills, trusts, caregiving, and financial preparedness.

Hosted by Marguerite Lorenz and Ron Greenwald, we simplify complex topics into clear, actionable steps that help you protect what matters most.

📌 In this episode:

00:00 – Opening: When life changes suddenly
00:42 – Bill flies to Paris after his parents’ accident
01:58 – Discovering a professional trustee is already in charge
03:12 – Why families choose professional trustees
04:40 – Fiduciary duty vs. family expectations
06:05 – Capacity, privacy, and legal authority in crisis
07:38 – How trustees communicate across borders
09:10 – The emotional shock of “not being the one in charge”
10:25 – Why proactive planning protects children, not excludes them
11:45 – Listener question introduction: inherited house with mortgage
12:30 – Understanding the type of mortgage (conventional vs reverse)
13:48 – Probate, lenders, and the danger of waiting too long
15:10 – Successor in interest: what families must request immediately
16:25 – Options for siblings: refinance, sell, buy-out, or negotiate
18:02 – Marguerite’s step-by-step plan to avoid foreclosure
19:35 – How communication prevents family breakdown
20:55 – Ron’s reflections: crisis shows your plan, not your intentions
22:08 – Estate planning as emotional and financial protection
23:20 – What this means for every family going forward
24:30 – Closing thoughts from Marguerite
25:15 – PlanFan invitation & CTA

✨ What You’ll Learn on This Channel:
Estate planning basics (wills, trusts, probate, and more)
Executor and trustee responsibilities explained
Family caregiving, financial preparedness, and legacy planning
Real stories, expert insights, and practical tools

👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes: @PlanForthis
👉 Join our PlanFan community: https://planforthis.com/

Because when life asks, *“Did you plan for this?”*—you’ll be ready.

#EstatePlanning #WillsAndTrusts #Caregiving #FinancialPreparedness #PlanForThisPodcast #EstatePlanning #ProfessionalTrustee #Probate #MortgageAdvice #FamilyEstate #PlanForThis #TrusteeDuty #ReverseMortgage #InheritedProperty #FamilyFinance #PlanFan