King & Wood, P.A.

Avoid Common Estate Planning Mistakes

“Piecemeal estate planning, where wills, trusts, insurance policies and other instruments are created in isolation, often leads to conflicts and inefficiencies.”

Otherwise sound estate plans can be undermined by critical mistakes. A recent article from The National Law Journal, “Estate Planning Mistakes—2025 Annual Refresher—Part 3 [Podcast],” outlines how to avoid a number of common mistakes and protect the estate plan and the family from the effects of these missteps.

Not providing complete and accurate information. Transparency is critical when creating an estate plan. There are times when life’s circumstances may be sensitive and difficult to share with a professional.  However, secrets can tear estate plans to bits. If assets are being hidden to avoid paying taxes or if there is an unacknowledged biological child, the integrity of the estate plan could be jeopardized.

This is especially relevant in a blended family. If a prior marriage or a child from a prior marriage is not disclosed, the result could be litigation between heirs. Hidden debts or undisclosed assets may surface after death, leaving executors and heirs with tax liabilities and family strife.

Failure to coordinate estate and financial instruments. Financial investments, life insurance policies and estate plans are rarely all started and completed at the same time. However, these and other accounts need to be coordinated so they work together. If a will says all three children should receive equal shares of an estate, but only one child is named as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy, the three are not going to receive equal shares. Provisions with different instructions in trusts, wills and beneficiary designations will only lead to trouble.

This is a relatively easy problem to solve; it just takes time and attention. Review estate planning documents every few years, including wills, trusts, any account with a beneficiary designation, power of attorney documents and life insurance policies. An estate planning attorney is always willing to speak with a financial advisor and CPA to ensure that the estate plan and financial tools will work together.

Talk with your family about your estate plan. A lack of trust and communication leads to estate plan failure and family fights. If you are uncomfortable talking with family members, consider setting up a family meeting with your estate planning attorney. If the family is spread across the country, an online video meeting can be coordinated.

Even the best of intentions can lead to problems. If one family member is struggling financially while the others enjoy robust earnings, parents may wish to leave more of their estate to the child having money problems. Talking about this openly with all of the siblings while parents are still living is far better than giving the family a major jolt when expectations aren’t met. If the conversation doesn’t happen, a painful legacy may be created.

Relying on Joint Tenancy to transfer assets. It may seem like joint tenancy is an easy way to transfer assets upon death. However, it can undo the intentions of a will or a trust. Assets held in joint tenancy pass directly to the surviving tenant, transferring outside of the estate plan. If a parent puts one child’s name on a joint account but not others, the child on the account is under no legal obligation to share the asset with their siblings, setting the stage for family discord and often, litigation.

Joint tenancy should be reviewed along with all other ownership and estate planning documents to consider how it will impact the estate plan. Revocable trusts may offer the same flexibility, while also ensuring that assets are distributed according to the intent of the overall estate plan.

Relying on informal agreements. A verbal promise between close family members may feel good. However, it won’t be enforced if one party fails to live up to their promise. This situation arises frequently when family heirlooms or personal possessions are promised but end up in another person’s hands. Documenting these promises and discussing decisions with heirs can avoid disputes and damaged relationships.

Effective estate planning requires attention to detail, communication and the guidance of an experienced estate planning attorney. Ensuring that the estate is properly planned has the added bonus of protecting the relationships between family members, which is the most valuable legacy of all.

Reference: The National Law Journal (Dec. 17, 2024) “Estate Planning Mistakes—2025 Annual Refresher—Part 3 [Podcast]”

Is Having a Will Important?

“In an unpredictable world, having a will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones and your legacy.”

A last will and testament is a legal document outlining your wishes for the distribution of your property, the care of any dependent minor children and the declaration of who you want to be your executor. As explained in a recent article, “Do I Need a Will?” from mondaq, your will is a powerful tool giving you control over your estate and protecting your final wishes.

All wills become a matter of public record after they are filed with the court in the probate process. This is when the court determines if the will is valid, i.e., meets the requirements of the law in your state and if the executor, the person who you named to be in charge of distributing your assets and managing your estate after you die, is acceptable to the court.

There are many advantages to having a will, not the least of which is the peace of mind of knowing your wishes have been expressed, documented and will be carried out. Without a will, your estate is going to be divided according to your state’s laws. You or your family members may not like how the state does this. However, there won’t be much they can do about it.

Parents of young children or children with special needs must have a will to name a guardian for their offspring. Without a will, the court will decide who will raise your children and where they will live.

Having a comprehensive estate plan helps prevent family conflicts. Your clear instructions should leave no doubt about your intentions. Families in the middle of grieving the loss of a loved one are often susceptible to fighting when they otherwise would be able to work out issues without drama.

Having a will also allows you to create a legacy by giving assets to a charity you care about. Your estate planning attorney can help you with a number of gifting strategies to make donations over time, minimize tax liabilities and provide heirs with income streams.

The first step in creating a will is identifying an experienced estate planning attorney you feel comfortable with. The next step is to create an inventory of your assets, including everything from bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement funds, personal items and real estate property.

Some assets don’t pass through a will. Accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs usually have beneficiary designations and pass directly to the person or people named by you when you opened the account. Make sure that these designations are still correct so the right people receive these assets.

Depending on your income and asset level, estate planning has many tax implications. You’ll want to take advantage of any tax-saving opportunities.

Once you’ve reviewed these materials, your estate planning attorney will create the documents. The will needs to be put in writing, signed and witnessed. You may need one or two witnesses, depending on where you live. Remember that your will needs to be updated to keep pace with changes in your life and the law.

Having a will created by an experienced estate planning attorney will help you avoid common mistakes, understand complex concepts and create a plan for the future for you and your family.

Reference: mondaq (Dec. 19, 2024) “Do I Need a Will?”

How to Balance Love and Legacy in a Second Marriage?

“Navigating the complexities of blended families requires careful consideration of both emotional dynamics and legal rights to ensure that everyone's interests are protected.”

Getting married for the second or even third time presents many challenges for estate planning, finances and family dynamics. A thoughtful strategy can build a harmonious family and protect legacies, according to a recent article from The Street, “Love and Legacy: Balancing the Two in a Second Marriage.”

Finances can be a flash point for subsequent marriages, especially if spouses have different levels of assets. Mature couples typically come to a second marriage with children, houses, retirement accounts, alimony and credit card debt. How will assets be distributed, what will inheritances look like and how will the couple plan for the future? These are just a few questions to address when marrying again.

Other issues to consider:

Home ownership. Should the new spouse be added to the deed if one spouse owns a home and the other spouse moves in? This has implications for estate planning. If both spouses are on the deed, what is the plan upon the death of the first spouse? If the home automatically passes to the surviving spouse, the children of the deceased spouse may be excluded from their share of the home ownership.

Beneficiary designations. Marrying again with healthy retirement accounts requires looking ahead. If the new spouse is named a beneficiary, are the deceased’s children disinherited? What if a spouse wishes to leave money to their biological children only. However, the surviving spouse won’t have enough money to live on?

Inheritance rights. Balancing the inheritance of biological children while ensuring that the spouses have protected each other takes advance planning. Without it, a surviving spouse could be left homeless or dependent upon adult children for support. An estate planning attorney may recommend a marital trust to provide for the surviving spouse, while ensuring an inheritance for the children.

Social Security benefits. For those who counted on the higher benefit level of their first spouses, remarrying may impact SSI, surviving spouses, or divorced surviving spouse benefits. This is something to explore before marriage, since it can’t be undone.

These issues may feel overwhelming. However, tackling them before marriage can prevent friction between the couple and stepchildren. Among the many plans for a wedding, an appointment with an estate planning attorney should be made to create a personalized estate plan to address your unique situation, including children from prior marriages.

Your meeting should also include a complete review of all wills, trusts, beneficiary designations and retirement plans. Ensure that your documents reflect your new marriage and distribute assets according to your wishes.

Blended families are complicated and require personalized estate, tax, and financial planning. The increasing numbers of people choosing to love again and blend their families show how much people value being part of a family. Protecting your family with a well-thought-out estate plan can start a new marriage on the right foot.

Reference: The Street (Dec. 19, 2024) “Love and Legacy: Balancing the Two in a Second Marriage”

How to Choose a Successor Trustee?

“You've set up a trust to protect your assets and your beneficiaries. However, you still must choose the right person to execute your wishes.”

Trusts are a popular estate planning tool, allowing for control and protection of assets and tailored to meet specific needs. A trust requires both a trustee or successor trustee, says a recent article from Kiplinger, “You’ve Got a Trust: Now Who Should Be the Successor Trustee?”

If you have an irrevocable trust, you might want to have two different people to serve as trustees. The investment trustee is in charge of managing the investments in the trust, while the administrator trustee manages the operations aspect of the trust. One person could perform both roles, but having two people may provide a second layer of oversight. Irrevocable trusts require the grantor to give up control of the assets in the trust, which may be more acceptable when two people are in charge of the trust.

Revocable or living trusts allow the grantor to be a trustee and have complete control over the trust. A successor trustee is named so someone can take over the trust if the grantor is incapacitated or dies.

The grantor may again choose to have two trustees. One can be the trustee in case of incapacity, and the second can be the trustee when the grantor dies. If you name an adult child as your executor and they are also the trustee of your revocable will, one person is responsible for everything. Dividing the roles could lighten the load for busy adult children. If a trustee lives far away, it may be challenging for them to act on your behalf during incapacity and you may wish someone more local to serve in this role.

Successor trustees have a number of duties. They have a fiduciary duty to identify and protect trust assets, pay bills, oversee finances, manage investments, manage the distribution of trust assets, file tax returns, make tax elections and manage any legal or financial issues relating to the trust. Depending upon the size of the trust, this could be a time-consuming responsibility.

Before automatically naming the eldest child to serve as successor trustee, take some time to think about whether or not they are the best person for the job. If the trust estate is passing to the children and the successor trustee’s role will be simple—dividing assets evenly among beneficiaries—this might be an easy decision.

Suppose there are more complex matters, like a distribution being held back because one of the beneficiaries is a minor or has a drug dependency issue, and distributions are at the discretion of the trustee. In that case, the trustee may face repercussions from family members.

Naming a successor trustee is like choosing someone to serve as your executor. They have to be honest, organized, good with financial matters, and able to communicate with heirs even when there’s little or a lot of resentment about their being in charge. They must also be available to interact with your professionals, including an estate planning attorney, financial advisor and accountant. There are instances when a bank, private fiduciary, or estate planning attorney may be a better choice for a successor trustee.

Your estate planning attorney can help you sift through the personalities and skill sets of possible trustees to determine the best candidate for the job.

Reference: Kiplinger (Dec. 18, 2024) “You’ve Got a Trust: Now Who Should Be the Successor Trustee?”

Can You Make a Will in a Video?

“Why the written word is still the final word in estate planning.”

Jesse Beck had no will at age 45. However, he did make a video in which he stated he wanted his brother Jason to inherit everything if he died. Four days after making the video, Jesse was struck and killed by a car. Not surprisingly, estate litigation ensued after his death. The Montana Supreme Court ruled that video doesn’t count as a will, according to The Wall Street Journal article, “Yes to Text Messages, No to Video: What Counts as a Will.”

Despite the article’s title, you definitely don’t want to create a testamentary document using a text. A lack of understanding about what is acceptable as a will often leaves heirs with legal disputes and huge headaches. Beck’s brother won’t inherit his estate. It will go to his daughter. He would have done far better to have a will and an estate plan.

The gold standard is a paper will prepared by an estate planning attorney who knows the state’s laws and is signed with ink—known as a “wet signature.” While some states recognize holographic wills written and signed by hand on paper, doing so puts your wishes at risk.

Nearly half of all Americans don’t have a will. Some states recognize electronic wills, and legislation is pending in a few other states. However, the electronic will must be text and not audio or video. There are growing concerns about using artificial intelligence and deepfakes to create fraudulent electronic wills or alter electronic wills without the testator or heirs being able to identify the changes.

When someone dies without a will, known as intestacy, their state’s laws determine who inherits their estate. If Jesse wanted his brother to inherit his estate, he should have had a will created with an experienced estate attorney. While his own estate may have been modest, there is a wrongful death case pending against the vehicle involved in Jesse’s fatal accident. Alexia’s inheritance may be in the millions.

Different state courts have ruled differently regarding non-paper wills. An appellate court in Michigan accepted a digital will created with a note in an Evernote app on the decedent’s mobile phone.

Montana doesn’t have an electronic or e-will statute. However, writing may be treated as valid if there is clear and convincing proof the decedent wished it to be a valid will. In a case different from the Beck matter, a Montana court rejected using a text message as a will.

The bottom line: unless you intend to subject your family to a lot of legal wrangling and spend a lot of time in court, it’s best to meet with an experienced estate planning attorney and have a will prepared. You’ll also want to speak with the attorney about related documents, including Power of Attorney, Healthcare Proxy, Living Will and, if applicable, Trusts.

Reference: The Wall Street Journal (Dec. 14, 2024) “Yes to Text Messages, No to Video: What Counts as a Will”

Estate Planning to Serve Today’s More Complicated Life

“Traditional estate planning often assumes a conventional family structure, but modern relationships demand more nuanced approaches.”

The plan of simply leaving everything to a surviving spouse, relying on the unlimited marital deduction to protect against any estate taxes at the first death, works for some families. However, when this is the only strategy, heirs receive an unwelcome tax surprise when the second spouse dies. A recent article in The National Law Review, “Estate Planning Mistakes—2025 Annual Refresher—Part 2,” reviews this and other estate planning matters.

The marital deduction strategy could be vulnerable to different jurisdictional approaches if one of the spouses is not a U.S. citizen or the estate includes overseas property. Foreign property regulations or citizen-based taxation systems could unravel a straightforward marital deduction strategy. A Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT) might be considered for international estates.

To work properly, the QDOT must meet specific requirements. A U.S. trustee must immediately pay any estate tax if the principal is distributed, and special withholding is required for distributions to the non-citizen spouse. If the estate is valued at over $2 million, a bond or letter of credit for 64% of the initial QDOT value must be furnished by a bond or letter of credit, or a U.S. bank must be the trustee.

For domestic estate planning, using a credit shelter trust, sometimes referred to as a credit equivalent bypass trust, could solve taxes at the second spouse's death. The trust takes assets out of the taxable estate, and while funding is limited to the estate tax credit amount, this type of trust could create significant long-term tax savings.

Asset allocation takes more than a simple division of assets. One heir may have a substance abuse problem, while another enjoys a highly lucrative career. Different maturity levels and financial responsibility must be considered when dividing assets to achieve the testator’s goals of caring for the family. A trust may be needed to provide limited support to the individual who can’t manage money, while another may be in a high tax bracket and prefer assets to be passed on to grandchildren.

Today’s family could be traditional, blended, include non-traditional partnerships or children conceived through assisted reproduction or surrogacy. Without addressing these different definitions of families, partners, and children, some family members could be unintentionally excluded from family trusts or qualify as decedents under prior estate planning documents. Definitions of familial relationships and explicit provisions may need to define “issue” and “descendants” to protect family members, while preventing unintended claims.

Documentation and record management is a cornerstone of estate administration. However, it typically receives little attention during the estate planning process. Having to reconstruct assets based on poorly maintained records causes headaches and additional expenses for heirs. Secure storage solutions need to be considered.

Digital vaults are growing in use. However, they must be carefully vetted to ensure that sensitive information is both protected and, at the same time, accessible to the right person. Your estate planning attorney will have recommendations for safely storing documents, whether in a fire-and-waterproof safe at home or online.

Your life and your family may look very different from your parents’ or your grandparents’ lives. However, your estate plan can reflect modern life and serve to protect all of your loved ones.

Reference: The National Law Review (Dec. 9, 2024) “Estate Planning Mistakes—2025 Annual Refresher—Part 2”

Don’t Make these Roth Conversion Mistakes

“Roth conversions get major coverage from the popular press these days.”

When they learn Roths deliver tax-free income, many people practically trip over their own feet to convert money from traditional retirement accounts to Roth accounts. However, without good planning, which includes looking at current and future tax rates, this rush to convert can be a costly mistake, says a recent article, “Roth Conversion Mistakes, Who Knew?” from Financial Advisor.

There are important dynamics to take into consideration before doing conversions, including the impact on the taxable percentage of Social Security benefits. Required Minimum Distributions can lead to larger Medicare Parts B and D premiums because of the income-related monthly adjustment amount.

The advantages of conversion are attractive. If you can afford to pay the taxes upfront and heirs will inherit a Roth, they can let it grow tax-free for a decade. A conversion can be used to create a multi-generational wealth transfer extending ten years past your own demise.

There's much to consider when you start considering the positive reasons to make a conversion.

Procedural errors happen very often. Someone might miss the December 31, 2024, deadline for a 2024 Roth conversion, thinking they have until April 15, 2025, when 2024 IRA contributions are due. The deadlines are different and need to be kept straight.

This is especially true for people doing a “backdoor Roth,” making a non-deductible contribution to a traditional IRA and then converting the account to a Roth. The tax calculation on a Roth conversion considers the year-end balances of the person's traditional retirement accounts. This includes SEP-IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs—not just the account being converted.

This most commonly occurs when someone has a small IRA account from a former employer they may have forgotten about. However, the cost can be substantial.

Another error: the income tax withheld from a Roth conversion counts as a taxable distribution, and if the account owner is under age 59 ½, there’s a 10% early withdrawal penalty.

If you convert an IRA and elect not to have taxes withheld, don’t make the mistake of forgetting to file estimated tax payments. You’ll end up with a tax penalty if you forget.

The most expensive mistake possibly comes from people who know they need to make an estimated tax payment but decide the tax cost of the conversion will be larger than the cash they have on hand, so they choose to let the conversion go. However, in many cases, taxpayers over age 59 ½ are better off converting and having taxes withheld versus not doing the conversion at all.

Reference: Financial Advisor (Dec. 1, 2024) “Roth Conversion Mistakes, Who Knew?”

Why Your Children Need You to Complete Your Estate Planning

“Between work, carpooling, after-school activities, and random time-consuming obligations that arise in daily life, estate planning can be put on the back burner.”

Parents of minor children need an estate plan to protect their children’s future. The article “Estate Planning Series: For Parents” from Colorado Parent explains what can happen if a family with young children doesn’t have an estate plan.

Estate planning is more than distributing assets or even planning to avoid an estate going through probate. A last will and testament is the legal document used to name a guardian for minor children if both parents should die or become incapacitated.

Without a will, the court appoints someone as the children’s guardian. Most people would instead make this decision themselves, naming a person they trust and know will help their children thrive. If parents name their own parents or anyone in a generation above them, they need to carefully consider whether or not those people can raise the children as they age.

Parents don’t have to name a family member to be their children’s guardian. Parents may get some push-back on this decision. However, they know their children and family best. It may be better for children to be raised by a trusted friend who has agreed to take on this task than the children’s grandparents. Family members who are perfectly capable of dealing with toddlers may be too elderly when children reach their teenage years and need a different kind of parenting.

A Power of Attorney is essential for everyone over 18. When someone becomes incapacitated, another person can take over the business of their lives, maintaining a house and managing day-to-day bill paying. Without a POA, a family member must have a guardianship or conservatorship approved by a judge. The judge might appoint a professional guardian who doesn’t know the person or their family or a family member who has a fraught relationship with the incapacitated person.

An estate planning attorney can create a POA to suit individual needs. A document downloaded from the internet is likely to be riddled with potential disasters, including the possibility of giving someone more decision-making power than you would have wanted.

Estate planning for families with young children also addresses how the children’s living expenses will be paid. If life insurance is purchased, what happens to the proceeds if one of the parents dies? If a child is the life insurance beneficiary, a court-appointed custodian may be appointed to receive and manage the funds. By placing the life insurance into a trust and naming a trustee, the parent can be confident the proceeds will be used solely for the child’s upbringing.

These are just a few issues parents must consider when creating an estate plan with young children in mind. Speak with an experienced estate planning attorney to protect your family and their future. Once it’s done, you can return your attention to all of the ups and downs of parenting.

Reference: Colorado Parent (December 2024) “Estate Planning Series: For Parents”

How Dying Without a Will Leaves Heirs an Extra Dose of Grief

“People can avoid messy family fights by preparing a will. It needn’t be a complicated document.”

Don’t delay having a will prepared by an experienced estate planning attorney, warns a frank article from Barron’s, “What Happens if You Die Without a Will? You Could Leave Heirs—and Pets—With Even More Grief.”

If you die without a will, a probate court will name heirs to receive assets and guardians to raise children. However, no one will be required to protect your pets. In worst-case scenarios, assets with no designated beneficiaries, including bank accounts, real estate property and retirement accounts, can end up in the state’s unclaimed property department.

If you’d rather choose who will be your heir, assign a person you know and trust to raise your children and want to ensure that your beloved animal companions live comfortably after you’ve passed, then you need a will.

A family member embarking on a search to identify property might be able to glean some information from the prior year’s tax returns. They’ll still first have to find the tax returns and then go to court to be appointed administrator of your estate. If you have digital assets, including cryptocurrency, and haven’t made a plan for someone to take control and manage those assets, your family may never see those assets.

Having assets titled with preferred beneficiaries is as important as having a will. Retirement accounts with named beneficiaries, including 401(k)s, supersede directions in a will. If most of your wealth is in a 401(k) or other accounts with the ability to name a beneficiary, make sure that those names are correct.

In community property states like California, spouses are entitled to community property, and asset distribution follows state law.

If you have children, and especially if they are still minors, you want to have a will to explicitly state who you want to raise your children if both parents die. While other family members can petition the court for guardianship, your children could become the center of a family blowup if more than one person wants to take custody.

If you care about what will happen to your pet, you must also plan for them. Even the most well-intentioned family member isn’t required to take your pet into their home. Shelters have many senior dogs and cats left behind when their owners die and are less likely to be adopted than kittens or puppies. Most states allow you to create a pet trust, where you set aside funds for the care of your pet and name a person to be the pet’s guardian and another person to be in charge of the trust. You can name the guardian to be the same person as the trustee, or you can keep the roles separate.

Unless you want to create a maelstrom for your family and let other people make important, life-altering decisions for those you love, schedule a meeting with an estate planning attorney to review your estate and create a will, along with other necessary estate planning documents.

Reference: Barron’s (Dec. 6, 2024) “What Happens if You Die Without a Will? You Could Leave Heirs—and Pets—With Even More Grief”

What Is a Living Trust?

“A popular option is a living trust, which many people consider one of the better routes to take.”

Estate planning isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Every family situation is different. What works great for your brother-in-law, may not work for you and your spouse. Living trusts pass wealth on to the next generation. However, they are one of many ways to accomplish estate planning goals. A recent article from msn, “Is a Living Trust Really the Best Way to Pass an Inheritance to Your Family?” takes a closer look.

A living trust is created to be a legal entity separate from the person who creates it, known as the “grantor.” Sometimes referred to as a “revocable trust,” it can be changed or dissolved at any time as long as the grantor is alive. Trusts are created by estate planning attorneys and tailored to the specific needs of the individual.

There are many benefits to using a trust. Assets placed in a trust pass directly to beneficiaries without going through probate. When someone dies, their will is submitted to the local court and reviewed by a judge who determines whether or not the will is valid and if the executor is acceptable to the court. Until the court approves the will and the executor, the estate is in limbo, and nothing can move forward.

Depending on how complicated the estate is and how well the local courts perform, it can easily take six months to a year for the court to approve the will. If the decedent owned property or other assets in different states, these all have to go through probate in each state.

A trust has a trustee and a successor trustee. If the decedent was the trustee, the person in charge of the trust, then the successor trustee can step in and manage the trust. If assets were placed in the trust to pay bills while the estate is being settled, the successor trustee can do this without waiting for probate to be completed. Beneficiaries can be given their inheritance upon the death of the decedent without delays from the probate process.

Most people don’t know this. However, a will becomes a public document in the probate process. Estranged relatives, ex-spouses, creditors and thieves can all view the will. This is why families who have suffered a loss are targets of scammers and recipients of phone calls and direct mail from people seeking to buy the decedent’s home or serve as financial advisors, assuming an inheritance is being received.

A living trust also allows for great flexibility to respond to changes in life. If a family member gets divorced or married, welcomes a new baby, or dies, the trust can be changed easily to adapt to new circumstances. The same is true for financial changes in life. If the grantor needs access to the assets in the trust, they can be taken out, or the trust can be dissolved. You can’t do this with an irrevocable trust.

Meeting with an estate planning attorney is the best way to determine if your circumstances warrant a trust and which is best suited to your goals. There are trusts to protect blended families, structure donations to charity, pass wealth to grandchildren and trusts for disabled individuals. A conversation with an experienced estate planning attorney will answer questions about trusts and provide peace of mind, knowing that you’ve done the right thing for your family.

Reference: msn (Dec. 1, 2024) “Is a Living Trust Really the Best Way to Pass an Inheritance to Your Family?”