Trust Planning
One of the primary goals of estate planning (in addition to minimizing estate taxes) is giving the surviving family members and beneficiaries less stress and some privacy. Estate planning will ensure that your physical assets, investments, cash, etc. are transferred to your beneficiaries with minimal legal and tax complications and help protect your estate from creditors.
A trust can help you avoid: death probate, living probate (if you become mentally or physically disabled and are unable to manage your own affairs, this involves a guardianship or conservatorship proceeding), court proceedings, time delays and expenses, loss of assets to nursing home and long-term care expenses, loss of an inheritance due to children’s divorce or creditor issues, and loss of your children’s inheritance if your surviving spouse remarries.