Wills and Trusts Explained

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It's a challenge to explain wills and trusts in a short post, but here's my best shot.
People acquire stuff during their lifetime. Some of the things they acquire (like IRA's and life insurance) can be designated on a beneficiary designation form to go to certain individuals when they die.
Other assets (like investments, businesses, real estate, and many bank accounts) require a will to transfer those assets from your name to another when you die. If you have no will (die "intestate"), your state dictates who gets your assets.
To be a valid will, it must meet your state's formality requirements. Other matters you address in your will are naming your executor and designating guardians for any minor children you may have when you die.
It's uncommon to list your specific assets in your Will. It's more common to be general and provide, for example, that your estate is to be divided among your children, equally. Sometimes people make specific bequests of money or property.
Here's where the trust discussion. Sometimes, it is inappropriate to leave a bequest to an heir "outright." When you make an outright bequest of part of your estate to someone, then that amount is dumped into their lap. It may not make sense to dump an inheritance into the lap of someone who is a minor or someone who is an adult but incapable of managing the inheritance responsibly. So in your Will, you make a bequest that is subject to the terms of the testamentary trust that is described in your Will.
When you die with assets in your name that need to be transferred pursuant to your Will, there will be a probate (in , also called a "Succession"), because our system is such that the courts must oversee the management and distribution of assets when you die.
Instead of testamentary trusts, some people set up stand-alone (also known as "inter vivos" trusts) during their lifetime. People will transfer assets to their trusts during their lifetime for different reasons: probate avoidance, estate tax avoidance; avoid having to deplete your estate at the nursing home; or for other reasons.
Whenever a conversation is initiated about wills and trusts, we also address powers of attorney and living wills, which can ensure that your wishes are carried out during your lifetime by the right people when you lack the capacity to make your own decisions.
For prospective law firm clients who want to schedule a free 15 minute initial phone call with Paul Rabalais, go to: go.oncehub.com/Paul8
This post is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Please do not act or refrain from acting based on anything you read on this site. Using this site or communicating with Rabalais Estate Planning, LLC, through this site does not form an attorney/client relationship.
Paul Rabalais
Estate Planning Attorney
www.RabalaisEstatePlanning.com
Phone: (225) 329-2450

Пікірлер: 63

  • @eazzflame
    @eazzflame10 ай бұрын

    Your videos are very helpful.. I'm not a lawyer but I'm working remotely for a law firm in MD as client specialist/receptionist.your examples of scenarios are familiar and relates to the kinds of inquries I get from clients. It helps me understand better their situation so I can relay it correctly with our attorneys. Thank you!

  • @americasestateplanninglawy1946
    @americasestateplanninglawy19464 жыл бұрын

    KZread would only permit me to reference five other videos during this video, so where I said I was linking a video, I could not. Enjoy and thanks!

  • @Financial_fitness_lady
    @Financial_fitness_lady Жыл бұрын

    You explained all this really well! I feel like I could actually go in to someone the set up my estate plan/will/trust/POA etc and understand what they're talking about and ensure it's set up the way I want. Thank you!

  • @sfmommyof3boys
    @sfmommyof3boys Жыл бұрын

    Do you need a Will/living trust for bank accounts?

  • @baldeagle242
    @baldeagle242 Жыл бұрын

    I know a lot of these videos are a few years old but... THANK YOU! You have earned a new sub!

  • @maverickjacksonexecutivedi7569
    @maverickjacksonexecutivedi75692 жыл бұрын

    Wow impressive! Powerful video with great information. We are never to old to learn. Thank you for sharing this.

  • @2901nc
    @2901nc4 жыл бұрын

    Excellent, understandable place to start!

  • @bswami1
    @bswami14 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the fantastic videos from Redmond, WA. Helpful to learn these before talking to my financial advisors.

  • @bjlong4452
    @bjlong44523 жыл бұрын

    Thank you. I will be watching many more of you videos.

  • @sharkgon2386
    @sharkgon23863 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much for your educational video, this make easy to communicate and understand the language with the professional to be able to get the best help.

  • @dani323
    @dani323 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much! These are great educational videos to those of us without the legal language, and knowing. You empower us to walk into this situations not to be taken advantage of; knowledge IS power. Finally, encouraging to get our paperwork together that our legal needs are in order; not decided by a corrupted judge in Court. Thank you for your honesty!

  • @davinaalleyne6079
    @davinaalleyne60793 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this important information. I'm going to need some more advise on the matter.

  • @quinnkirsop
    @quinnkirsop4 жыл бұрын

    Very thorough and helpful. Thanks Paul!

  • @americasestateplanninglawy1946

    @americasestateplanninglawy1946

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks QK! 👍

  • @MeetButthead
    @MeetButthead4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for your time the viewer for sure is the winner .Thank you for your explanation!!!

  • @americasestateplanninglawy1946

    @americasestateplanninglawy1946

    4 жыл бұрын

    Your simple compliments are inspiring. Winners are ordinary people with extraordinary heart! 😃

  • @cinthyamoore884
    @cinthyamoore8842 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much. This helps a lot

  • @user-no7gc7kv4f
    @user-no7gc7kv4f3 жыл бұрын

    thank you for your videos!

  • @MOHAMMADIBRAHIM-bp6xn
    @MOHAMMADIBRAHIM-bp6xn6 ай бұрын

    Thank you for the info, Sir.

  • @EC4400
    @EC44003 жыл бұрын

    Wow! Very informative. Thank you so much

  • @americasestateplanninglawy1946

    @americasestateplanninglawy1946

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the comments EC! 😎

  • @CharlesAvilaMeasInst
    @CharlesAvilaMeasInst Жыл бұрын

    That was very helpful, hank you so much!

  • @sherrireid1384
    @sherrireid13844 жыл бұрын

    Very well explained and very helpful!

  • @americasestateplanninglawy1946

    @americasestateplanninglawy1946

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for your comments SR! 👍

  • @InLawsAttic
    @InLawsAttic Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much.

  • @Asun888
    @Asun8884 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much. This is easy to understand. Clear explanations. I wish you are in Florida.

  • @americasestateplanninglawy1946

    @americasestateplanninglawy1946

    4 жыл бұрын

    Nice of you to comment. I wish I were in FL too. Love the beaches. 😎🏖

  • @mayyang8350
    @mayyang8350 Жыл бұрын

    Excellent video!

  • @jasonfurnas4748
    @jasonfurnas4748 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the video

  • @dennisbarr7592
    @dennisbarr75928 ай бұрын

    Well done!

  • @ChadWardenPS3
    @ChadWardenPS34 жыл бұрын

    Explaining a hard subject very easily. Well done

  • @americasestateplanninglawy1946

    @americasestateplanninglawy1946

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Chad 😎

  • @shamat9988
    @shamat99884 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! This is helpful for my law school class.

  • @allythabit5175

    @allythabit5175

    4 жыл бұрын

    Sorry may u help this question can a trustee be a beneficiary

  • @PonchoNugen

    @PonchoNugen

    Жыл бұрын

    @@allythabit5175 Yes

  • @CraneOperator83
    @CraneOperator832 жыл бұрын

    My grandparents got old money and my dad is a banker. Looks like my inheritance is looking slim to nothing.

  • @K5310
    @K5310 Жыл бұрын

    Hi , when Testator writes up a will and part of that in the will it to designate a guardian, then do Testator has to fill out another form to ask the curt to appoint the guardian BEFORE the Testator deceased or decapitated ??

  • @vincebarista111
    @vincebarista111 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you Paul for this really well laid out and clear explanation! My question is, if we have a living trust do we still need to have a will? Or to paraphrase - in what cases would people still want to write a will even though they have created a living trust? Thank you! Vanja

  • @waltjames9988
    @waltjames99882 жыл бұрын

    Do you still need to probate your assets if property is set up through a lady bird, and the rest is through beneficiaries listed

  • @sharkgon2386
    @sharkgon23863 жыл бұрын

    I wish you be here in Dallas to where I can visit your office for a personal study of how would be accommodated my own personal situation.

  • @johnb9710
    @johnb9710 Жыл бұрын

    Hello, What is the difference between successor beneficiary and contingent beneficiary and secondary beneficiary?

  • @waynejohnson6488
    @waynejohnson64882 жыл бұрын

    Should you keep making house payments on a Land contract after death or should you wait until the will comes out

  • @TheMCHERRADI
    @TheMCHERRADI2 жыл бұрын

    What is the first step to take and who to contact if your husband or wife dies and how long it takes. Thanks

  • @allythabit5175
    @allythabit51754 жыл бұрын

    Thenk yhu am from tanzania a fourth year law students am just asking you can a trustee be beneficiary?

  • @strategicservices9906
    @strategicservices99062 жыл бұрын

    Do I need to go to lawyer for will to be done in Iowa? I am single with no relatives.

  • @jadler10
    @jadler10 Жыл бұрын

    Who holds/protects the will. Should it be kept in a vault to prevent someone, even the executor from altering illegally?

  • @jasonsmith3982
    @jasonsmith3982 Жыл бұрын

    So if an attorney isn't listening and I do an Appointment of fiduciary and I appoint him as a fiduciary debtor because he is causing an injury to me and won't listen. And he gets suspended for 2 years. What happens?

  • @nancikrukowski5238
    @nancikrukowski52383 жыл бұрын

    How much should I be prepared to pay for a lawyer to handle mine and my husbands will and or trust. We are both in our 60s snd have two children

  • @andrewmaina8422

    @andrewmaina8422

    2 жыл бұрын

    Good question. I think most importantly, have you decided who will be or would be the Trustee? From what I’m seeing, having a Will might lead to a lengthy court process if the kids disagree on it. And having a Trust puts all your assets in the hands of someone you wholly and completely trust (no word pun intended) to treat your both hard earned assets as their very own and to always look out for the interests of your kids like they we’re their kids. I think once you’ve figured that out, the fees of paying a lawyer would be rightly justified.

  • @oncoi1
    @oncoi13 жыл бұрын

    can you help . me and my mom is the caregiver to this lady name carol and she plan to buy a house and in the trust she her brother and my mom. and my mom take care of her for 9 years . and last week this past away and she dont buy the hause so is the money that suppose to buy the house all go to her brother or what ? and in the trust said 50 percent goes to her brother and 50 percents goes to my mom

  • @rain7096
    @rain7096 Жыл бұрын

    👍

  • @sfmommyof3boys
    @sfmommyof3boys Жыл бұрын

    What about bank accounts?

  • @perecarl12
    @perecarl12 Жыл бұрын

    If a father wills assets to a son does that override ownership to the surviving wife?

  • @jasonsmith3982
    @jasonsmith3982 Жыл бұрын

    So a legal death is not the same as someone's natural death. For example, in a marriage, there is death do us part. Meaning: someone's going to die on paper by the execution of a document. Would this be a legal death?

  • @jadenicholls237
    @jadenicholls2377 ай бұрын

    What happens if a grandparent leaves an inheritance to their grandchildren but that individual dies before they come of age to inherit

  • @DD-bn2mx
    @DD-bn2mx3 жыл бұрын

    he was going to simplify wills and then he goes off on the extended beginning lol

  • @henryprovencal4933
    @henryprovencal49334 ай бұрын

    The speed talking you did to explain your stuff gave me a headache. I was exhausted by the end of it. Wow!!!!

  • @user-iw7de7kh3v
    @user-iw7de7kh3v Жыл бұрын

    Testamentary trust goes through probate , so not really a good idea

  • @AWayOfLiving84
    @AWayOfLiving849 ай бұрын

    👣

  • @zachhaughawout4260
    @zachhaughawout42602 жыл бұрын

    Iomiik

  • @sandraevert3273
    @sandraevert3273 Жыл бұрын

    Couple makes a trust the wife dies her will cuz everything to the husband the husband makes a new will different than what to trust is he he doesn't want he wants to change the trust but he doesn't make a new trust he just makes no will does that new will bring the newest legal document cause the trust made under the couple before the wife died void

  • @rocman883
    @rocman8832 жыл бұрын

    You talk to much, get to the point sand quite Babbling on and on my friend. You have great information but you’re just babbling on and on over nothing.