How to Manage a Revocable Trust
Back in May of 2022, I wrote a post explaining What is a Revocable Living Trust. In this post, I would like to focus on how to manage a Revocable Trust. (I will be using the term Revocable Trust and Living Trust to mean the same thing.) In understanding how to manage a Revocable Trust, […]
What is a Revocable Living Trust?
A Revocable Living Trust is a common estate planning document that is typically used as a substitute for having a Will. It provides a way to manage your assets while you are alive and after you pass away. The primary reason that many people choose to create a Revocable Living Trust is to avoid probate. […]
Joint Trusts – A Great Planning Opportunity for Non-Traditional Couples and Blended Families
Creating an estate plan for clients who are in non-traditional relationships or are part of a blended family can be very tricky. Why is Estate Planning for Non-Traditional Couples So Tricky? Let’s assume a hypothetical fact situation where you have a women (Jane) with $4M in assets. She is a widow and has 2 children. […]
You Can Create a Pet Trust – Just Like the One For Choupette
According to multiple news sources, when the creative director and fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld died on February 19, 2019, he left his famous cat, Choupette, a significant amount of money in trust. Pet trusts are now quite common, and specifically authorized by statute in most jurisdictions. Many people consider pets as a part of the family, and want them […]
Reasons to set up a 3rd Party Supplemental Needs Trust as an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust
Recently, I wrote a post explaining the differences between a First Party Special Needs Trust and a Third Party Supplemental Needs Trust. As you are aware, the goal of a Special Needs Trust or a Supplemental Needs Trust is to provide financial resources to a Special Needs Person in a way that will not cause them […]
Reasons to Value a Trust
Recently I gave a lecture on the valuation of trusts. While I am not an accountant nor am I a valuation expert, I live and breathe trusts… and frequently the question comes up, what is value of a particular beneficiary’s interest in a trust. Keep in mind, just because a trust is worth $1M, it […]
Dynasty Trusts Explained
I am frequently asked about the best way to transfer wealth to younger generations. Sometimes people feel that absent having a minor child, a problem child or a special needs child, there is no reason to set up a trust. Often times they are correct and there is no reason create a trust because the […]
Non-residents Non-citizens of the US Should Be Careful of How they Invest in American Assets
Many individuals who live outside of America like to purchase real estate in America or invest in the U.S. Stock Market. It can be much safer than investing in other parts of the world and often times the individual has children who have moved to America to live or study. Florida and New York are […]
Calculating Trustee Commissions in NJ
From time to time, people ask me how executor’s commissions and trustee’s commissions should be calculated. I have already written a post on calculating executor and administrator commissions, so this post will focus on Trustee commissions. New Jersey statutes on trustee commissions are very difficult to interpret because they use the term fiduciary to apply […]