Wills and Trusts

If you don’t do any estate planning whatsoever, the state you live in provides a default will for you. For some that works just fine. But, for many, it can be disastrous. Why? Because the state provides a “one size fits all” solution. Like our fingerprints, all of us have unique circumstances. And while many of us might have a will or a trust that is similar to others, it is very important to know that your peculiar situation is adequately addressed.

With a will, you get to choose who gets your property upon your death, and you get to choose who is responsible for carrying out the directions in your will. Because you choose who gets what and how, you are able to take in account any and all concerns you might have with each recipient.

For some, a trust will be an important part of the plan. If you desire utmost privacy or wish to avoid the probate process all together, a living trust will accomplish those goals. Others desire various forms of asset protection; trusts are often used to shelter and protect property from creditors or the unscrupulous.

“One size fits all” might work well for baseball caps; it’s clumsy and frequently counter-productive for making sure that your property goes to the right people in the right manner.