Do not be confused about what estate planning is and whether or not you need to do it.
Most Americans do not have estate plans. One of the reasons that they don’t is confusion about what getting an estate plan means and who should have them. The term “estate” often conjures up images of the palatial estates of the ultra-wealthy. However, the term applies to the property of anyone who passes away.
We will all have estates someday. For that reason, it is important to know what estate planning actually does.
Recently, the Vail Daily discussed some basics in “Estate Planning.”
If an estate is the property you have when you pass away, then estate planning is deciding what should happen to that property. It is you deciding beforehand who you want to have your property and the legal means by which they will receive it.
The two most common methods to have your property distributed are wills and trusts.
A will is a legal document that is submitted to a court. The will sets out who should receive what. If the will is valid, the court will oversee the process of making sure that the property goes where you want it to.
A trust creates a new legal entity to hold and distribute property. It is not normally submitted to a court, unless it is a “testamentary” trust created under a will to manage the estate distribution. Another person known as a trustee, is charged with making sure that your directions are followed.
There are other aspects of estate planning you should address, including planning for your own end-of-life care. Visit an estate planning attorney if you have questions about wills, trusts, or any other aspects of estate planning.
Reference: Vail Daily (Dec. 8, 2016) “Estate Planning.”
