Why Talking About Your Parent's Death Can’t Wait

As a daughter, a sister to a brother with special needs, and a mother herself, Jill Mastroianni knows firsthand what it feels like to carry the weight of future planning. This episode offers an intimate glimpse into her own family’s story—one filled with heartbreak, hesitation, and ultimately, the strength to move forward. Because sometimes death readiness doesn’t feel brave—it just feels necessary.

We explore:

• The mental load women carry when they’re the ones holding it all together
• The emotional weight of estate planning conversations with aging parents
• Planning for a sibling with special needs—and the fear that can paralyze progress
• Why legal documents don’t tell the whole story—but they still matter
• Why “being the one left behind” demands preparation, not just hope
• Real-world estate planning stories that show why “good intentions” aren’t enough:
• How to start planning when you’re overwhelmed
• Simple first steps for organizing your digital life and essential information
• The power of “body doubling” to make estate planning feel doable, not daunting

Resources & Links:

• Aretha Franklin Probate
  • Detroit Free Press article: Aretha Franklin's handwritten wills reveal window into her private world: Read them here, dated May 21, 2019
  • May 20, 2019, petition re: purported holographic wills
  • Purported holographic Wills, dated
    • June 21, 2010
    • October 20, 2010
    • March 31, 2014
• Estate of Frankford Michigan Court of Appeals decision, dated February 18, 2025
• Estate of Jesse L. Beck Montana Supreme Court decision, dated October 29, 2024
• New York Times article: They Caught the Flu, and Never Came Home, dated April 24, 2025
• Set up your legacy contacts for online accounts:
  • Google – Set up your Inactive Account Manager
  • Apple – Add a Legacy Contact to your Apple Account
  • Facebook – Add, change or remove your Legacy Contact on Facebook
• Download information sheets:
  • Personal Important Information Sheet
  • Key People Information Sheet
  • Home Information Sheet
  • Password Tracker
    • Find your saved Google passwords with Google’s password manager

Connect with Jill:

• Book a free 15-minute consultation
• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to receive news and updates.

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This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state.