The Edwards Law Firm

Estate Planning For All Generations

Educational Alerts

How Do I Trust Thee…Part III

If a client’s Estate Plan involves a revocable trust, then the client needs to decide who will serve as trustee after the client dies. Sometimes, clients have several undesirable options if they want to name an individual and they consider naming an institution to serve as trustee. This article provides a framework for clients considering naming an institutional trustee.

How Do I Trust Thee…Part II

When clients undertake Estate Planning, they face the difficult decision of naming one or more individuals to serve in various fiduciary positions. If a client sets up an irrevocable trust during life, the client may prefer to serve as trustee instead of naming a third party. Serving as trustee gives comfort to the trustor that they maintain a level of control over the assets transferred to the irrevocable trust; however, depending upon the provisions of the trust, naming a trustor as trustee of an irrevocable trust could defeat the intended tax consequences. This article explores what powers a trustor should avoid serving as a trustee of an irrevocable trust.

How Do I Trust Thee…Part I

When clients undertake Estate Planning, they face the difficult decision of naming a trustee after their death. While Estate Planning documents are effective once signed, they often contain provisions regarding what will happen upon the trustor’s death. Because of the application years in advance, the choice of who will serve as trustee often vexes clients. They need to make this decision years in advance of the time that the individual will serve and as we know, circumstances change. This article examines the various considerations that should be made when naming a trustee.

Estate Planning: Laying the Foundation

There is not a person alive who has put something off until it seems as though a problem has grown from manageable to one that haunts your dreams. The longer you procrastinate, the more hesitant you become. Once you finally decide to tackle it, you realize taking that first step is always the hardest, but […]

Trusts vs. Wills: Details to Compare

When it comes time to create a comprehensive estate plan, you can take a variety of steps toward a better future. At some point, you’ll be faced with this question: is it better to create a trust or will? It can be a challenge to decide, but in the end you must be confident in […]

How Do I Title Thee…Part 1

We often consider Estate Planning documents such as a Will, Trust, Property Power of Attorney, and health care documents to be the building blocks of an Estate Plan. While a necessary and important part of Estate Planning, thinking of the documents as the starting point for an Estate Plan skips several important steps. This article is the first in a two-part series. The first part examines the various ways to hold title to assets and the second part examines the effect that title may have on an Estate Plan.

Beneficiary Designations and the SECURE Act: Prior Designations

Beneficiary designations can be deceptively simple. But their simplicity is sort of like an iceberg. Danger lurks beneath those tranquil waters, both for the client and the attorney. Designations for IRAs and retirement plans can be particularly complicated, especially after the SECURE Act. This article examines how beneficiary designations done prior to the SECURE Act might not have the intended consequences today. Read on to learn more.

Beneficiary Designations and the SECURE Act: Eligible Designated Beneficiaries

Beneficiary designations can be deceptively simple. But their simplicity is sort of like an iceberg. Danger lurks beneath those tranquil waters, both for the client and the attorney. Designations for IRAs and retirement plans can be particularly complicated, especially after the SECURE Act. This article focuses on beneficiaries who don’t fall under the standard 10-year payout of the SECURE Act. Read on to learn more.

Top Reasons To Consult an Elder Law Attorney

Top Reasons To Consult an Elder Law Attorney from William T Edwards, Jr. If you have questions related to estate planning; if you are concerned about what you have done in the past, it’s best to see what an elder law attorney can do for you.  Learn more about elder law attorney in this presentation.