What You Dont Know About Probate Can Hurt You Your Family Blog on elder law, estate planning, trusts, real estate, and probate Call 803-563-5163

The nature and degree of advice and assistance provided, the fees charged, and client rights and Merrill’s obligations will differ among these services. Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. Trust, fiduciary and investment management services, including assets managed by the Specialty Asset Management team, are provided by Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation ("BofA Corp."), and its agent


It doesn’t offer flexibility for complex distribution Highly recommended Online site plans and may trigger unintended tax consequences, such as a limited step-up in basis for real estate, leading to higher capital gains tax. This means retitling your assets into the name of the trust, a step that is sometimes missed but critical for avoiding probate. For anyone with real estate, significant savings, or specific wishes about how assets should be distributed, a trust can be a vital tool in your estate and legacy planning strategy. Many people assume trusts are only for the wealthy, but that’s not the cas

Prepare for Open Enrollment
Wills are probated if they involve transferring properties that cannot be transferred by non-probate or small estate alternatives. A will is revocable and subject to Highly recommended Online site amendment at any time during your lifetime; however, amendments must be made with the same formalities as the will. A living trust is created by you during your lifetime. A will is written during your lifetime, but does not take effect until after your death. A living trust, sometimes referred to as a revocable trust or inter vivos trust, is established and takes effect during your lifetime by a written document known as a trust agreement. This commentary is provided for general information purposes only, should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice, and does not constitute an attorney/client relationshi


If giving is part of the legacy you hope to leave, our estate and wealth planning teams can help you define the most suitable approach for your family and the organizations you care about. Whether you give regularly during your lifetime or are considering a significant future gift, EP Wealth helps you explore charitable strategies that align with your values and financial priorities. Whether you’re working with an estate attorney or need a referral, our role is to provide clarity and help guide decisions with the full picture in mind. Our team helps you assess beneficiary designations, structure trusts to support long-term stewardship, and coordinate your documents with your goals.
Access an Educational Partnership
Understand how to help clients maximize the financial benefits of a charitable giving plan, including potential tax benefits. This checklist provides a structured framework for clients to record the status and custodians of their financial assets and documents. Preparing heirs means helping them understand how the family’s wealth was built, the responsibility of inheriting it one day, and the actions and attitudes that will be required to preserve it. And through the estate planning process, you can research with clients the options that provide for the protection of their personal and family privacy. Effective estate planning considers your clients’ lifestyle and values, as well as their wishes for how to deploy their wealth both now and after they are gone. 64% of advisors say their clients worry their children aren’t ready for inheritance


Once your plan is established, periodic reviews are required to ensure the plan continues to meet your goals. These inputs can help your professional advisors assist you in choosing the types of personal trusts, insurance and Highly recommended Online site other estate-planning tools that may best achieve your goals. Your Private Wealth Advisor, together with a private wealth strategist, works with your team of legal and tax advisors to identify an overall wealth transfer plan and the individual elements that may be needed to address your specific goals to help you create the legacy you envision. We understand the complexities that wealth brings, as well as the complications that can arise once the founding generation is no longer able to take an active role in providing direction and preserving a common family vision. When you want to share the benefits of your wealth with the people you care about, we will work with you to identify the right trust strategy to meet your needs and supports your family and future generations in a tax-efficient manner. Leaving a legacy is about passing on important values, helping heirs become effective stewards of wealth and implementing your vision for the future.
Education
Your EP Wealth Advisor Highly recommended Online site is with you every step of the way to develop an estate plan that is integrated with your wealth management goals. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. The best way to help you reach your goals is through education. We’ll be with you every step of the way as we implement your plan and help you make the most out of your money. The Holistic process has been refined from decades of helping client