Category Archives: Trust Administration
Trust Administration Versus Probate: Which Should You Choose?
Following a great deal of speculation regarding the possibility of a will contest, actor James Gandolfini’s will has been filed for probate with apparently no problems among his heirs. The former Sopranos star, whose estate is estimated at $70 million, arranged for most of his assets to transfer to his beneficiaries outside of probate. The… Read More »
A Troubled Child and Your Estate Plan
According to a 2011 Columbia University study, 46 percent of American high school students use alcohol or drugs (approximately six million teenagers), and that almost all those suffering from substance abuse addictions started using before they reached their 18th birthday. Parents are often at a loss when dealing with a teen or adult heir who… Read More »
What Happens to Your Business When You Are No Longer There to Run it?
When George Steinbrenner died in July 2010, his most famous asset — the New York Yankees — was left in the care of his two sons Hal and Hank. Many Yankee fans wondered how this might affect baseball’s most successful franchise and whether or not the team would be sold. It turned out that while… Read More »
What Should I Consider in Choosing a Trustee?
If your estate plan includes a trust, one of the most important decisions you will make is who the trustee (or trustees) should be. If the trust is one which will give the trustee(s) discretion about how much money to give the beneficiaries — and under what circumstances — then choosing the trustee may be… Read More »
Should I Try to Avoid Probate?
For many people, the word probate conjures up fears that their hard-earned money and property will disappear after their death into the black hole of court costs and lawyers fees, dragging their heirs through a long, torturous and painful process. As a result, many people look for ways to avoid probate. The truth is that… Read More »