Influencing Heirs

Did you know you already have an estate plan? The only question is whether it is the estate plan you want— the one that’s best for you and your family.

Anyone who owns assets has an estate, whether those assets fill a 50-room mansion or a shopping cart. Upon a person’s death, those assets must, by law, be properly distributed. Exactly which assets are distributed to whom depends on the estate plan. Without proper planning, a court could determine their distribution in accordance with state law, which may not fit the wishes of the deceased.

One of the big benefits of estate planning is the ability to name your heirs, specify the share of your estate they will receive, and dictate the manner and timing at which the heirs get their share. Generally speaking this part of estate planning may be done with either a will or a trust. But it takes a trust to avoid probate, protect the estate from legal problems and con artists, and to minimize death taxes.

Estate Planning - Influencing Heirs Providing Non-Binding Information Influence Behavior The Restraint Continuum *Also see Resources - Wealth & Family *Also see Innovative Planning - Protect & Preserve Family *Also see Changing Nature of Estate Planning - Influencing the Legacy