Wills, Trusts and Probate Law

Probate attorneys handling wills, trusts, and estate administration must typically advise their clients on matters such as beneficiary designation, how to form a life estate in property, what will happen to property if your client fails to make an estate plan, and more. FindLaw’s Corporate Counsel Center Law Library has law articles written to help you better understand specific estate planning techniques and when to consider forming a trust on your client’s behalf. If your client needs a living will or an advance health care directive, click on the articles below to help inform your research and learn the requirements of each state, such as the number of witnesses necessary and who can be designated as a health care surrogate.

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Wills, Trusts and Probate Law Articles

Why Establish a Charitable Remainder Trust?

Charitable Remainder Trusts provide an excellent way for individuals to leave legacies to a charitable organization of their choice. In addition to providing important financial support to these organizations, there can be tax benefits which result ...
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Why Estate Planning is Important to You

No matter how much you own, you owe it to yourself and your family to plan ahead now for the distribution of your assets upon your death. With good estate planning, you can minimize the costs and expenses, including taxes, which often occur with the ...
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Why You Should Have A Will And Estate Plan

If you die without a Will or other estate plan, state statutes will control and require division of your estate between your spouse and children. The only way to be certain that your assets will go to the right beneficiaries is to have a Will or ...
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Wills and Probate

Most people think of wills when they think about estate planning. However, statistics show that up to seventy percent (70%) OF THE POPULATION DOES NOT EVEN LEAVE A SIMPLE WILL. For those who have thought about their estate planning needs, they may ...
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Wills, Trusts, And Estate Planning

The primary purpose of any will, trust, or estate planning is to make sure that your assets are distributed or held for those individuals or entities which you choose. In a will, you designate your beneficiaries so that upon your passing, your ...
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Wills, Trusts, Estates in Kansas

QUESTION NO. 1 Some people have told me I need to have a Will and others have told me that I need to have a Living Trust. I am confused. Which is best?Wills and Living Trusts each have advantages and disadvantages. It is not possible to go into a ...
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Your Brokerage Account: Tax Implications of Joint Tenancy

Thousands of new brokerage accounts are opened each year and people routinely title them in joint tenancy (with rights of survivorship). Sometimes, this form of ownership is great---a husband and wife have a feeling of togetherness---what's yours is ...
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Your Estate, Your Way

I am concerned about the problems that disability can cause one's family or friends. Statistics indicate that a person is likely to become seriously disabled or incapacitated for some period of time at least once during his lifetime. Serious health ...
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