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What is a Trust vs a Will?

Published: January 28, 2019
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WHAT IS A TRUST vs A WILL?

Both trusts and wills are used in estate planning. Both are used to name your beneficiaries and which beneficiaries will receive your assets after you are gone.

The paths your beneficiaries will take with a trust and a will are, however, quite different.

A LIVING TRUST IS ABOUT SPEED—IT’S BUILT FOR EFFICIENCY

A living trust (revocable or irrevocable) is not subject to probate. A will is subject to probate. This is the main difference between the two estate planning tools.

  • While attorney’s fees for setting up a trust are often more than a will, having your assets in a living trust can speed up the time it will take for your beneficiaries to actually receive assets you want them to inherit.
  • Fees to execute the trust’s terms are minimal, if any. The successor trustee will simply fulfill the terms of the trust and make the asset transfers happen to the beneficiaries.
  • Probate of a will can last at least one year.
  • Once probate begins, your estate will incur attorney’s fees and other expenses, such as asset appraisal fees. The probate court may set a cap on the fees your estate will incur during probate.

A LIVING TRUST GOES INTO EFFECT WHILE YOU ARE ALIVE

Your revocable or irrevocable trust is active once you’ve signed it. A will takes effect upon your death.

Two examples:

  1. Your trust designates your son as a co- trustee of your trust. If you are no longer able to make decisions about finances–let’s say you have a chronic illness or an accident–your son can immediately and legally continue to take the financial reins–without going to court or any other entity to give your son the power to do this.
  2. If you have a disabled child a trust can be set up to fund and to oversee their care. You and your successor trustee(s) can be legally empowered to make decisions about the child’s well-being, education and care throughout your child’s entire lifetime.

A TRUST IS KEPT PRIVATE

Since a living trust isn’t subject to probate court, it is a private matter between the grantor, the trustee and the beneficiaries. No one outside of those mentioned in the trust can find out the value of your assets, how much was given to your beneficiaries, or any other details.

What happens in a probate court is public record.

Contact Scott D. Bloom law for more information about using a trust in your estate plan.

 

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CLIENT Testimonial

This question is asked all the time: “Wouldn't it be easier to get a will off the internet, transfer my land when I die, and put my children on my bank account?” It’s just not a good idea. For the plan to work as you would want it to, it should account for plenty of complications. A good plan should protect your spouse and your children from the loss of valuable government benefits if anybody is or becomes disabled. The plan should avoid the delay and expense of probate court. The plan should protect money from children’s creditors or divorce or remarriage. It should be crafted to serve family harmony and to avoid disputes between children as joint owners. Even a relatively simple situation is made up of many moving parts. Internet documents and joint-ownership devices just won’t do the job.

Also, assembling the moving parts so they work smoothly is just the first step. Your estate plan needs maintenance too, just like your car has a “check engine” light. Major family events like serious illness or death, marriage, birth, or financial reversals are alerts that you should tune up your plan to reflect those changes. Your plan shouldn’t be “one and done.”

It takes expertise to coordinate the various strategies available. Don’t risk a result that will cause your family problems and unnecessary expense. Call us to create a plan that harmonizes the moving parts, so the gears will work together and you will leave the legacy you intended. We hope you found this article helpful. If you have questions or would like to discuss your legal matters, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 215-364-1111 to schedule a consultation.

- Creating an Estate Plan On Your Own: Think Twice

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At Scott Bloom Law, we strive to provide excellent client service and will contact you as soon as possible. Send us an email, or call us to speak to someone directly.

CLIENT Testimonial

Scott explained estate planning very thoroughly and in terms we could understand. He let us know our options and we feel that he is very knowledgeable, professional and also a compassionate person. We recommend Scott to our family and friends!
- Fred T., Willow Grove, Pennsylvania

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