Trusts & Estate Law

Probate laws govern the procedures for distributing property according to a will, while trust laws allow for the creation of legal relationships that help avoid probate. Both are state laws.

Drafting an irrevocable trust means establishing an arrangement whereby the beneficial ownership of assets is separated from legal ownership. Irrevocable trusts, used mainly for estate planning...

Estate-planning documents such as wills and trusts are confidential prior to the person's death, and living trusts are no exception. Unless a person is the designated trustee, they likely won't...

You likely have heard the terms "trust" and "will" and may have a basic idea of what each legal concept is. A trust is a system in which property is held for the benefit of someone else, and a...

Trusts are relatively common but not particularly well understood. Though there are numerous special types of trusts, most fall into the two general categories of revocable or irrevocable....

Living trusts are helpful, and sometimes critical, components of a well-structured estate plan. The type of living trust you need depends on your individual circumstances. Generally, you will have...

A family trust is a specific type of trust that generally refers to one created for more than one member of the same family, such as multiple children or siblings. Technically, there is nothing...

Although many people turn to the Internet when they begin to plan their estates, wills, and trusts, it is important to remember that the information is general and may not be up-to-date or valid...

"Special needs trust" can have a variety of meanings. A special needs trust can be a first party trust, a Medicaid payback trust, a court confirmed trust, or a third-party trust. ...

A living trust can ensure that your family members avoid estate taxes and can allow you to retain maximum control of your assets. Although most people creating a living trust have their documents...

Living trusts are trusts which shelter assets. Generally, living trusts are used in estate planning, family business management and/or to create wealth. A living trust is usually a revocable trust...

An irrevocable trust, also called an income trust, is a legal entity created to own and control assets on behalf of third parties. The assets of the trust come from a grantor, sometimes called a...

Family trusts may be either revocable or irrevocable. This designation is established when the trust is created. Revocable trust can be terminated at any time at the request of the grantor, or the...

A trust agreement is a written document that creates a legal entity called a trust. A trust holds property under the terms and conditions specified in the document. There are several different...

For the sake of your heirs, you should learn about wills and trusts before you begin your estate planning. If you only have a will, your estate will go through probate, which can cost your...

Most people who ask for family estate trusts really want a revocable living trust to reduce estate taxes and manage finances. Consider family estate or revocable living trusts with an estate...

Revocable living trusts are 98 percent of living trusts; they help avoid probate and allow others to use money to take care of the trust maker. Find out what an irrevocable living trust is from an...

In estate law, trusts are taxed differently depending on whether they are revocable or irrevocable trusts. Learn how a trust is taxed from an estate planning and probate lawyer in this free video...

A trust designates one person, a trustee, to legally hold the title to property for another person, the grantor. A living trust is a term for a trust one creates while he is still alive. As such,...

Creating a living trust is a very wise decision -- especially if you have an estate worth more than $100,000 and you have loved ones to whom you want to give part of your estate. If there is a...

Estate planning usually involves creating a will or living trust to determine how an estate will be divided upon death. Both types of estate planning have distinct differences in regards to how...

The reasons for establishing revocable and irrevocable trusts are as diverse as those who have them. The circumstances for doing so also vary. As its name implies, a revocable trust can be revised...

Most individuals, regardless of financial status, have assets and some type of "estate." Living trusts, wills and living wills afford us the opportunity to protect those assets however we see fit....

Living trusts, also called inter vivos trusts, are property arrangements that individuals create while they are alive to benefit their heirs after their death. The person who establishes the trust...

A living trust is a way to pass assets along to children or other beneficiaries while avoiding the costs and time necessary to move a Last Will and Testament through probate court. All trusts are...

A living trust is an estate planning tool that is usually drafted by an estate attorney. Unlike trusts created after death, a living trust is created while the individual is still alive. Living...

Pet trusts are becoming more and more commonplace due to the love and concern Americans have for their pets. After all, pets are considered family members, and it only makes sense to provide for...