Estate Planning For Dummies
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Trusts can be a great help in your estate planning — they can protect your property, save on estate taxes, and help you avoid probate. Sounds great, right? Well, before seriously considering a trust, you need to understand the basics of trusts and make a well-informed decision about setting up trusts right for you.

  • Some trusts are general-purpose; others focus on specific objectives, such as supporting your favorite charity or helping to pay for your children's or grandchildren's education.

  • A revocable living trust may be an ideal tool to protect your estate. But beware — everyone, it seems, is trying to sell you a revocable living trust. Watch out for the hype!

  • A bypass trust or a QTIP trust can help you and your spouse avoid unnecessary federal estate taxes. But you need to decide which type of trust works best in your situation.

  • Some trusts are revocable, meaning that you can change your mind. Other trusts are irrevocable — they can't be changed once you set them up. Make sure you understand the tradeoffs for your estate planning.

About This Article

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About the book authors:

N. Brian Caverly, Esq., is an attorney-at-law emphasizing estate planning and elder law. Jordan S. Simon is Vice President of Asset Management at Venture West, a Tucson-based investment firm.

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