When tackling estate planning, adding a payable-on-death (POD) or transfer-on-death (TOD) designation to an account allows the assets (money and property) in that account to be passed to a named beneficiary when the original account holder dies. Like trusts, POD and TOD accounts bypass probate. They are also fast, easy, and usually free to set […]
Joint trusts are beneficial for many married couples, especially if they have a stable relationship, do not have many creditors, and do not live in a state where their estate may be subject to a state death tax. Compared to separate trusts, they are easier to fund, allow the surviving spouse to have complete control […]
Some trusts are irrevocable as soon as they are created, which means that, in general, the trustmaker/grantor (the person who created and funded the trust) cannot terminate or modify it to take back the money or property that the trust holds. You may wonder why anyone would want an irrevocable trust, but irrevocable trusts can […]
Whether you are reviewing your existing trust or creating a new trust, you should understand the important role that trustees play not only in handling trust matters but also in providing for and protecting your loved ones. What is a Trust? A trust is an agreement between an owner of accounts and property (Trustmaker/Grantor) and […]
