what to bring to a trust attorney meeting

by Rosanna Witting 9 min read

While it is nice to bring account names, numbers, balances and current statements, the attorney is more interested in the titling (sole, joint, tenants-in-common) and order of magnitude of the assets then the exact balances and account numbers.

Bring copies of your current estate plan documents
If you have previously executed a Will, Trust, Durable Power of Attorney, and/or Advance Health Care Directive, don't forget to bring them with you to your appointment.
Mar 29, 2019

Full Answer

What should I bring to my meeting with my attorney?

Jul 30, 2020 · Ideally, the first meeting is a time to get everyone on your team together to work through issues and exchange ideas. “All clients come to us from a different place,” says Ivory Ruud, senior vice president and regional trust manager with U.S. Bank Wealth Management. “Each situation is different, so we respond to each individual client’s ...

What do I bring to the probate attorney?

Aug 24, 2021 · Executors and trustees are fiduciaries. They have been given legal authority by the testator, trustmaker, or the court to carry out the distribution of the testator’s or trustor’s estate accounts and property. A fiduciary’s legal duty, known as a fiduciary duty, extends beyond the estate. Fiduciaries must also act in the best interests of ...

How do I prepare a living trust document?

While it is nice to bring account names, numbers, balances and current statements, the attorney is more interested in the titling (sole, joint, tenants-in-common) and order of magnitude of the assets then the exact balances and account numbers.

What do I need to bring with me to my interview?

Trusts and Estates Danyi Law Offices, P.C. 610.691.6994 Instructions to New Executor: Checklist of Things to Bring to First Meeting Will (original document) Death Certificates (original …

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What questions are asked for a trust?

Questions to ask the trustee and/or trust administratorWhat is your role as a trustee? ... When can I access what's in the trust? ... If I request assets, is it mandatory that you distribute them to me? ... What laws or other factors are considered when distributing assets within the trust?More items...

How do you prepare to set up a trust?

Make a Living Trust: A Quick ChecklistList Your Assets and Decide Which You'll Include in the Trust. ... Gather the Paperwork. ... Decide Whether You Will Be the Sole Grantor. ... Choose Beneficiaries. ... Choose a Successor Trustee. ... Choose Someone to Manage Property for Minor Children. ... Prepare the Trust Document. ... Sign and Notarize.More items...

Will in conflict with a trust?

A will and a living trust are both part of a comprehensive estate plan, that sometimes are inconsistent with one another. When there are conflicts, the trust takes precedence. A will has no power to decide who receives a living trust's assets, such as cash, equities, bonds, real estate, and jewelry.

How do I prepare my estate?

Estate Planning: 11 Things to Do Before You DieGather Important Documents and Contact Information. ... Execute a Last Will and Testament. ... Complete a Living Will or Advance Directive. ... Put in Place a Power of Attorney. ... Establish a Living Trust. ... Update Your Beneficiaries. ... Secure Your Digital Assets. ... Plan Final Arrangements.More items...

What assets Cannot be placed in a trust?

Assets That Can And Cannot Go Into Revocable TrustsReal estate. ... Financial accounts. ... Retirement accounts. ... Medical savings accounts. ... Life insurance. ... Questionable assets.Jan 26, 2020

How do you list assets in a trust?

Assets Held in the Trustee's Name It will likely be labeled "Schedule A" or something similar, and should list the items the person who set up the trust intended to hold in the trust.

What supersedes a trust?

While a revocable trust supersedes a will, the trust only controls those assets that have been placed into it. Therefore, if a revocable trust is formed, but assets are not moved into it, the trust provisions have no effect on those assets, at the time of the grantor's death.

What is better a will or a trust?

The big advantage of a living trust over a will is that it streamlines the property transfer. After you're gone, the assets in the trust will be distributed to your heirs without the court's involvement — which means no probate. Your loved ones will receive their inheritance faster and with less hassle.

How does a trust work after someone dies?

In simple terms, a trust functions as an intermediary between you and your intended beneficiaries—a conduit used throughout your lifetime and/or after your death. Unlike testamentary trusts, which are created under the terms of a will and take effect after death, living trusts are established during one's lifetime.

What are the four must have documents?

This online program includes the tools to build your four "must-have" documents:Will.Revocable Trust.Financial Power of Attorney.Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare.

What should be in a death folder?

Here are some examples of documentation that could be included in your in case of death file:Will.Living trust.Power of attorney.Life insurance policy.Birth certificate.Marriage license.Bank and credit card accounts.Loan documents.More items...

What should I do before dying?

101 Things To Do Before You DieTravel all around the world.Learn a new language.Try a profession in a different field.Achieve your ideal weight.Run a marathon.Take part in a triathlon.Take up a new sport.Go scuba diving / snorkeling and experience marine life up close.More items...•Aug 10, 2017

What will my trust planning appointment look like?

No two trust appointments are alike, just as no two trusts are alike. Often, a trust appointment will take place at your attorney’s office. If you’ve chosen a corporate trustee to manage your trust for you (such as a financial institution), your trust appointment could also be held there.

Who should attend a trust planning meeting?

This initial planning meeting is “often about pulling the entire team together” to discuss the best way to execute your wishes, Ruud says. Depending on your circumstances and needs, your team might consist of the following professionals:

Key Parties in the Will and Trust

Wills and trusts are estate planning tools that allow people to transfer their accounts and property to others when they pass away. It is possible to have both a will and a trust that are part of a larger estate plan.

Whom Does the Attorney Represent?

When you, as the executor or trustee, hire an attorney to help you with the estate or trust administration, you are the client. This means that the attorney-client relationship extends solely to you; the attorney has a legal duty to, and takes direction from, only you.

Keeping Beneficiaries in the Loop

Wills and trusts can be complex and difficult to understand. Most executors and trustees choose to hire an attorney to help them carry out the terms of these legal documents.

Setting Up Your First Meeting

If you are currently serving as an executor or trustee and need assistance navigating the administration, please give us a call at 614-389-9711. We are happy to sit down with you and discuss the process and help guide you through the next steps.

What should an estate plan comply with?

Your estate plan should comply with any divorce and premarital agreements. It should also abide by the terms of any other contract you may have signed promising to leave assets to someone in your will.

How long does it take to get an estate plan signed?

If you provide your estate planning attorney with all your information on Day One, and stick to the process they lay out for you, it shouldn’t take them more than a few weeks to complete your documents and have them ready for you to sign.

What is an estate planning questionnaire?

The purpose of that questionnaire is to provide a general understanding of your family and financial situation to your attorney so that they can best advise you on your estate planning needs. It is designed to make the most efficient use of your time with your estate planning lawyer (and your money), so don’t waste it having them fill out the names of your family members, addresses and contact numbers.

What is an insurance binder?

An insurance binder is typically a one-page document that lists the owner of the policy, the policy number, and the death benefit.

How to set up a living trust?

Steps to Set Up a Living Trust: 1. Decide whether you need a shared trust or an individual trust. If you are married or in a domestic partnership and you and your spouse or partner own most of your property together, a shared trust may be the right way to go. Your other choice is two individual trusts.

Why do people create living trusts?

Most people create a living trust to avoid probate, but you can also use a living trust to name beneficiaries, set up property management for young beneficiaries, and give someone control of your property if you become incapacitated.

Who is the successor trustee of a trust?

Many people choose a grown son or daughter, other relative, or close friend to serve as successor trustee. It's perfectly legal to name a trust beneficiary—that is, someone who will receive trust property after your death. In fact, it's common. Once you've made your choice, discuss it with the person you have in mind to make sure he or she is willing to take on this responsibility.

Can a child inherit trust property?

If children or young adults might inherit trust property, you should choose an adult to manage whatever they inherit. To give that person authority over the child's property, you can make him or her a property guardian, a property custodian under a law called the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA), or a trustee.

How long does it take to get a death certificate?

1. Death Certificate. It usually takes between 2-4 weeks to obtain a death certificate from the county. You certainly are not required to wait until you obtain a death certificate before you go see the probate attorney, but one will be required in order to complete the paperwork for the Court. Generally, the law office will retain ...

Do retirement benefits end after death?

Most retirement benefits will end upon the death of the dece dent but this not always the case. It is prudent to bring any retirement information with you to the appointment with the probate attorney so they can determine if any benefits remain or will continue to the beneficiaries. 4. Address book.

What is a living trust?

A living trust is a document that allows you to place assets into a trust during your lifetime. You continue to use the assets, but they are owned in the name of the trust. You name a trustee who is responsible for managing and protecting the assets in the trust. After your death, the assets in the trust are distributed to ...

What is a trust after death?

A trust is designed to function during your life and after your death. A will provides for the distribution of all of your assets upon your death. It only provides instructions for what will happen to your assets after you die.

Why are living trusts so popular?

Living trusts offer a variety of benefits, which is why they have become so popular. Living trusts allow your estate to avoid probate. By doing so you avoid the costs associated with having a will probated, but you also avoid the delay associated with probate. It can take months for a last will to be probated, but when you create a living trust, ...

Can you name yourself as trustee of a trust?

You can choose anyone or even a corporation as your trustee if you prefer. If you name yourself, you will need to name a successor trustee who can step up to manage the trust after your death.

What is a revocable trust?

A revocable trust (one that can be altered during your lifetime) does not avoid estate taxes that are applied by your state or the federal government. A special kind of living trust called an AB trust passes assets directly from one spouse to another and avoids estate tax. Living trusts do not pass through probate, ...

Do you need a power of attorney for a living trust?

Living trusts have all of your assets already placed in the ownership and management of a trust, so that should you become incapacitated, they are already being handled for you. Most attorneys do recommend you also draw up a power of attorney which will authorize someone else to make legal and financial decisions on your behalf ...

Should I have a will?

Should I Also Have a Will? Most attorneys agree that if you create a living trust, you should also have a will. This will, sometimes called a pour over will, is your insurance. In case there are any assets left out of your trust, the will directs that those assets be placed into the trust.

What information do you need to include in a will?

Further, if you designate a trustee or representative or if you designate a temporary or permanent guardian for your children in your will, you must include their name, address, and other contact information .

How to distribute property in a will?

The entire purpose of a will is to distribute your assets to the people you wish to inherit your property. This is done by first identifying the property you have (referred to as assets) and then designating the people you choose as beneficiaries to inherit these assets. Consequently, you need to bring copies of any and all paperwork related to your assets to your lawyer visit. Common assets people leave to others in their will include the following: 1 Deeds to any and all real estate 2 The titles of any vehicles 3 Checking account statements 4 Savings account statements 5 Money market account statements 6 Stocks 7 Bonds 8 Retirement accounts 9 Other investments 10 Jewelry 11 Art 12 Timeshares

What is the purpose of a will?

The entire purpose of a will is to distribute your assets to the people you wish to inherit your property. This is done by first identifying the property you have (referred to as assets) and then designating the people you choose as beneficiaries to inherit these assets.

Do you need a list of debts to provide an attorney?

In addition to providing a detailed list of assets in a manner that allows them to be easily identified and located, an individual must provide their attorney with a list of debts. Debts that you should provide documentation of include, but are not limited to, the following:

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How Should I Act During The Meeting with The Lawyer?

  • Treat your first meeting as a business consultation. While you are trying to develop a friendly rapport with your lawyer, you also want him or her to see you as a serious client with serious needs. 1. Be prompt. Lawyers value their time, since they generally bill by the hour. Showing up t…
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Get An Understanding of The Attorney's Fee Structure and Related Costs

  • As part of your initial meeting with your attorney, it's important to understand the anticipated cost of the representation and how this will be calculated. Different lawyers bill their clients differently. Some charge by the hour; some charge by the project, on a flat-fee or contingency basis. In the case of lawyers who charge hourly, some start out by charging a retainer, which is an initial up-fr…
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Clarify What Will Happen After The Meeting

  • Be clear on what will happen next, and then be sure to follow through on whatever you're asked to do by your new attorney. The attorney will need cooperation from your end. Commonly, a lawyer will ask you to send additional documents or information pertaining to your case so that he or she can review it in detail. If it's not clearly spelled out in your representation agreement, ask the law…
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Questions For Your Attorney

  1. How long have you practiced in this area of law?
  2. How many cases have you handled that are like mine?
  3. What was the outcome in those cases?
  4. How long does it typically take to resolve cases like mine?
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