Trusts and Estate Plan Disagreements Spouses ask for a tie breaker Trust Distribution Held Up Q: We enjoy reading your columns every week. I know that you have addressed this many times in your columns, and I understand the purpose of probate. My wife and I disagree on something. We do have a trust set [...]
Who Can Prepare Estate Planning Documents? A reader in Arizona points out that paralegals can prepare trusts, wills, and other documents needed for a successful estate plan Q: As you are attorneys, you may not like to hear that in Arizona, paralegals can prepare estate planning documents. This includes trusts, wills, powers of attorney and [...]
Trust Distribution Held Up Q: I was told I am a beneficiary of my sister's trust. She owned a home and other assets. Her son is the trustee but we don’t have a good relationship. I have been waiting for my distribution for several months. I have called several times and each time I [...]
Empty Trusts: Estate Planning Mistake #1 Q: I created a revocable trust so that my three kids won’t have to deal with probate when I die as I did with my parents’ home. How do I get my mortgaged home into the trust, or does it need to be? A: We think you’ve made a [...]
Revocable Trust: Get It Right the First Time Q: We had created a revocable trust to hold title to a family home back in 2007. The attorney that created the trust for us has since retired. We need to make some minute, simple changes to the trust. Our son has since married and has two [...]
Putting Assets In a Trust A reader wants to understand how to put her mortgaged home and other assets into the trust she created. Q: I created a trust so that my three kids won’t have to deal with probate when I die as I did with my parents’ home. How do I get my [...]
Estate Issues: Transferring Co-owned Assets How estates transfer assets like brokerage accounts or houses that are co-owned Q: I just read your article in the newspaper about the parents weighing the pros and cons of sharing assets with their daughter. What do you think about brokerage accounts that are held in joint tenancy with one [...]
Paying Off Mortgage: House in Trust Q: I watched one of your videos about paying off your mortgage and I have a question. I have a living revocable trust and my home has been titled in the name of the trust. My mortgage will be paid off soon. Let’s say I die. and at that [...]
Selling a Home in an Irrevocable Trust Q: I read your article on living trusts recently. You detail the workings of property in a revocable trust and what one should do with the funds upon the sale of the property. Would the same things apply to an irrevocable trust? I am the creator of a [...]
Paid Off House: Will It Affect My Trust? If your house is in a trust, will paying off the mortgage affect the successor trustee? Q: Well, I just paid off my house and don't know what the next steps might be. I did receive a letter from my mortgage lender congratulating me on paying off [...]
