Estate planning is a critical task for all adults to complete. This outlines several points, including who receives which assets when you pass away. Trusts are one of the options you have to pass down assets. There are two broad categories of trusts: revocable and...
Trusts: Legal Insights and News
Can a trustee refuse payouts?
Disputes can sometimes happen when a trustee doesn’t want to make payouts to the beneficiary of the trust. When the original person created that trust, they were able to pick both a trustee and a beneficiary, and the trustee is supposed to make distributions in...
Should Totten trusts be part of your California estate plan?
Totten trusts, also known as payable-on-death (POD) bank accounts, are gaining traction in California estate planning. But are they the right fit for you? Below, we delve into their benefits and downsides to help you decide. What is a Totten trust? Imagine a bank...
Why should you establish an irrevocable trust?
Estate planning often involves various instruments to manage and protect assets, including irrevocable trusts. Unlike its more flexible counterpart, the revocable trust, an irrevocable trust has terms that can't easily be changed once established. Irrevocable trusts...
3 reasons beneficiaries may take legal action against a trustee
The role of a trustee is complex. They often need to manage property that people they personally know wants to access. They may spend years overseeing the investment and administration of trust assets, all for a relatively small amount of compensation set aside by the...
How do irrevocable and revocable trusts differ?
Trusts are an important aspect of the estate planning process. These are established in order to pass assets down to your beneficiaries without having to go through the probate process. There are several different types of trusts, but they all fall into one of two...
Setting Up a Special Needs Trust
You have worked hard for a very long time to be able to take care of your family. You want to protect and provide for them, including those with special needs. You may have someone close to you who has special needs and you may wish to set up a trust so that you...
To whom does a trustee ultimately have a fiduciary duty?
Accepting the role of trustee means taking on a lot of work. It also means assuming a fiduciary duty. The trustee managing a trust, controlling its assets and making distributions to beneficiaries will need to perform their duties appropriately and in a timely manner....
What to consider when selecting a trustee
A trust has a lot of responsibility in the administration of a trust, including a trust that is part of an estate plan. For that reason, estate planners should know what to take into account when selecting a trustee to administer their trust. Considerations when...
Should you be using incentive trusts in your estate plan?
If you’re like a lot of people in the San Diego area, then you’re concerned about what will come of your assets when you’re gone. Sure, you’re probably excited about the prospect of leaving financial resources for your loved ones to enjoy, taking comfort in the fact...
