Savvy estate planners know that revocable living trusts are a cornerstone of any comprehensive estate plan. However, knowing exactly what to put in the estate plan can be a challenge.
No matter how you celebrate the holiday season, this time of year is a popular time to take a step back from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It is a time to focus more on our families and the things that bring us joy. It is also common to give presents at this time of year to celebrate our most important relationships. Present-shopping can be a bit of a challenge for many Americans, particularly when one is shopping for someone who seems to have everything.
Determining who receives your assets after your death is difficult enough, and that is before the paperwork gets involved. One of the best tools in this planning process is a living trust, which can help ensure that your assets go to your intended beneficiaries as quickly as possible with little fuss.
Many people believe that it is a smart idea to add their children on the deed to their home for inheritance purposes. Generally, the reasons for this are honest in nature. In the majority of cases, people want to help their heirs avoid probate or inheritance tax and think adding the child’s name to the deed is a form of asset protection. Sometimes they may also want to put their child’s name on a house deed to prevent the sale of the home to pay for assisted living expenses.
Traditionally when we think about the administration of a decedent’s estate, we envision a process that focuses on the individual’s tangible personal property and belongings, financial assets, business interests, and real estate.