Creating a Trust Upon Death
It is not always necessary to create a trust prior to your death. In fact, it is quite common to stipulate that a trust will be created upon your death. There are several reasons for creating a trust, but generally the purpose of the trust is to protect your assets and to ensure continued use of your accumulated wealth for a specific purpose.
If the beneficiary of your estate is likely to have significant debts, the trust can help protect your assets from becoming part of collection efforts levied again the beneficiary.
If your beneficiary is a minor, has special needs, or is likely to waste the principle, a trust can ensure a life-long stream of income. You can protect the money while allowing your beneficiary to use any earned interest. Annuities are commonly used as an investment tool with a guaranteed monthly or annual payout.
You can also use your trust to stipulate the use of your assets. For example, you could set aside a specific amount of money to be used for education or a real estate purchase.
A trust is a significant tool for generational tax planning. When you have valuable cash assets and real estate, a series of trusts for the benefit of the entire family will ensure your great-grandchildren benefit from your assets.
Consult with your estate planner and discuss the possible use of your assets. And don’t forget to account for the growth of your wealth for the length of your life — however long that may be.
