What Does a Trustee Actually Do? Estate Planning's Most Misunderstood Role | Ep 27
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Estate planning often stops at deciding who gets what, but the real test is who's in charge of carrying it out.
Brooke breaks down the three-bucket system for how assets pass after death, then walks through exactly what a trustee does, from managing a child's inheritance to choosing between a family member and a corporate trustee.
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What You'll Learn
✅ How to choose a trustee for estate planning
✅ What does a trustee actually do
✅ Non-probate vs. probate assets explained
✅ What is the HEMS distribution standard
✅ Corporate trustee vs. family member trustee
⏱️ Chapters
[00:00] — Welcome: Why Your Trustee Choice Matters More Than the Plan
[01:57] — The Three Buckets: How Assets Actually Pass at Death
[06:24] — Meet Emma: What a Trustee Really Has to Decide
[09:47] — Fiduciary Duty: The Legal Weight of Being a Trustee
[12:19] — Annual Accountings & Staying Administratively Healthy
[14:38] — The HEMS Standard: What Trust Money Can (and Can't) Cover
[19:34] — Emma Grows Up: Trustee Decisions From Age 16 to 30
[25:40] — Trustee Compensation & Corporate Trustees
[32:02] — The Real Questions to Ask Before Naming a Trustee
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The views and opinions expressed on “Life Is Legal” are those of Brooke Hardie and her guests alone…and are provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. No part of this podcast or any related materials are intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice
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