Thursday, July 14, 2016

Significance Of Estate Planning Trusts

By Christine McDonald


There are two kinds of trusts. Implementation of living trusts starts before you die while testamentary trusts can only be implemented upon your demise. The concept is very simple but the strategies can be complicated for people who are not familiar with estate planning trusts.

It is not a decision that can be made in a spur of the moment. You need to give the matter the attention it needs. If you have children who were borne outside your current marriage then you have the responsibility to ensure that they are factored in your trust.

Not everyone is good in financial planning. Therefore, you have to consider this option when your spouse is not a financial expert. He or she might end up running things down in your absence if you do not appoint a trustee to help out. It will be unfortunate for the properties you have worked hard to attain your entire life to be wasted before you are even cold in the ground.

Disabled people can only do much when it comes to management of assets. If the task is overwhelming then they can take unwise measures in looking for help. There are people who are in search for such individuals in order to exploit them. You cannot put your beneficiaries in such a compromising situation. Ensure that they have a trustworthy person to advise them and act on their behalf should the need for this arise.

The trust can be your gift to your young ones or even grandchildren. It will safeguard their future in case financial difficulties set in. Even promising children might be forced to drop out of school or settle for less than they had dreamed of due to financial constraints. The trust money is paid in small rates until the indicated age for paying lump sum is attained.

Tax has to be paid and the technicalities can be complicated. Living trusts are highly taxed but if the beneficiaries are adults then they will be taxed independently. However, the tax on testamentary trust is fixed. The scenarios might change depending on the circumstances. However, it will be a relief on your part if you do not have to handle the process on your own or leave the burden to the beneficiaries.

If the beneficiaries die and there is no surviving family member they would wish to transfer the properties to, you can select a charity organization of your choice to receive the money or estates. Every person is encouraged to extend a hand in helping the less fortunate in the society. No one wishes to be poor or helpless but it is something that sometimes cannot be avoided. If the well-off members of the society assist then the world will be a better place.

The court decides on how your wealth will be divided amongst the surviving family members in case you die without living a trust. In many cases, conflicts arise when this is done. In addition, it is only you who can distribute your wealth well. Do not leave behind a mess because you were hesitant on making plans upon your death. Death is a certainty and you need to prepare adequately for it because it can strike at any time.




About the Author:



0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home