The Wednesday before Thanksgiving a few years back, I had one of those “juggling it all”

Death Readiness Dispatch

August 22, 2025

Hi First name / there,

 

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving a few years back, I had one of those “juggling it all” days as a working mom. I was headed into probate court for an important hearing before Judge Andra Hedrick. At the same time, my daughter April was home from school for the holiday weekend.

 

So, I asked Judge Hedrick if April could sit in and observe. Her response? “How would she like to be a junior court officer for the day?”

 

April carried documents up to the bench and stood proudly next to the court officer. It was a small gesture that left a big impression.

 

Judge Hedrick has a gift for making the court accessible. Earlier this summer, she posted online that her courtroom would host students during Friday morning motion dockets—“an opportunity for them to get a firsthand look at some of the things that lawyers and judges actually do.” And, knowing that transportation might be a barrier for working parents, she added: “We are a stop on the WeGo bus line.”

 

She places a high value on education and inclusion. My daughter was one of many to benefit from this philosophy. 

 

Because probate court isn't just paperwork—it's real life, and real people: judges, families, even kids navigating what happens after someone dies. And that’s exactly what we’re talking about in today's podcast episode.

Today, Judge Andra Hedrick brings her passion for education beyond the courtroom. She even shares how you can get a front-row seat to her Nashville probate court, no matter where you live.

 

We talk about:

If you’ve ever wondered what probate looks like in real life or what happens when a “DIY Will” ends up in court, check this out.

Or, if your parents are tempted by a “do-it-yourself” estate plan, my Parent Prep Plan can help. In the Parent Prep Plan, I help find a state-specific attorney who’s the right fit, and then I walk with your parents through the entire estate planning process—organizing assets, prepping for and even attending attorney meetings, and following up afterward to explain things in plain English.

When Lindsey in Tennessee tried to help her dad, she ran into a wall: the bank accepted her dad’s power of attorney for his checking and savings accounts, but not for his trust accounts.

 

Lindsey is her dad’s financial agent, which means she can step into his personal financial shoes to pay bills, manage accounts and sign checks.

 

But trust accounts are different. They weren’t in her dad’s individual name; they were titled to him as trustee.

 

Think of it like an elected official. If the President of the United States can’t serve, we don’t look to whomever he named in his power of attorney. We look to the United States Constitution, specifically the 25th Amendment, which says the Vice President takes over.

 

In the same way, when a trustee can’t serve, we don’t look to a power of attorney. We look to the trust agreement itself, which spells out who becomes the next trustee, or how one is appointed.

Your dad might think that naming you as the beneficiary of his IRA will make it easier to care for your mom with dementia. But what if that decision actually puts both the money—and your mom—at risk?

 

Why?

 

#1: You are a mere mortal. What happens to the IRA if you predecease your mom?

#2: Once the IRA (or the required minimum distributions from it) is in your name, it’s exposed to your personal liabilities.

#3: There’s no built-in accountability. When funds are in your own name, there’s no legal requirement to track them separately or use them exactly as intended.

Thanks, as always, for being here.