Wills and Trusts

Two common ways in which people plan for the disbursement of their property are through a Last Will and Testament and by creating a trust. People often associate trust funds, or trusts, as tools only used by very wealthy people. However, there are advantages to establishing a trust from which people who are not wealthy can benefit.
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While you may have heard of a will, you may not have heard of a pour over will. A pour over will, however, can be a valuable estate planning tool when properly employed. In particular, a pour over will can be a great safety net if you have put a trust in place to hold your assets in order to avoid the costly and time consuming proceedings involved in probate. Read on to find out what exactly a pour over will does and why it can be such a useful part of your estate plan.

What is a Pour Over Will?

In a pour over will, which is a legal document, the remaining assets in a person’s estate automatically transfer to a previously established trust when they die.

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Q: What is a revocable living trust?

Whether they’re from the music or television world, celebrities are viewed by some as role models – much to the chagrin of parents that might disagree with the examples set by their on-stage or off-screen behavior. Antics and personalities aside, estate planning attorneys are more likely to judge celebrities on their choices – or lack of choices – in the estate planning department.

Mega-stars, like the late Prince, sometimes die without any estate planning documents in place, leaving an Read more . . .

Q: Do I need a pet trust?

Many people know that one of the most important functions of a last will and testament--also known simply as a “will”, is to designate legal guardians (and successor guardians) for minor children. If you die before your children reach the age of majority and you have not executed a will that designated their legal guardians, a judge will decide who raises your children – – and it may not be someone you would have chosen. A will serves many other purposes, and is the starting point for most customized estate planning in New York and New Jersey.
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