Why Trustees Should Consider Including Detailed Instructions in Their Trusts? Creating an estate plan is an involved process in which you will outline your goals and make arrangements for the distribution of your assets to your loved ones. Using a living trust as part of your estate plan is an excellent way to include detailed guidelines that can continue for the life of the trust—in some cases many years after you have passed away. If you opt to use a trust as part of your new estate plan, consider leaving detailed instructions within your trust document.
Five Reasons to Leave Detailed Trustee Instructions in Your Living Trust
It is often a good idea to include detailed instructions within your living trust rather than leaving vague provisions with little guidance for your trustees. The following are five reasons why these trustee instructions are beneficial:
- Helps to ensure that your wishes are carried out as you would like them to be when you are no longer there to make decisions yourself.
- Gives trustees a sense of guidance when they are given discretionary decision-making powers.
- Provides clarity for beneficiaries who may question why a trustee is making certain decisions during the trust administration process.
- Reduces ambiguity about the goals and priorities that you had in mind for your estate.
- May provide creditor protection against the liabilities of your beneficiaries in certain circumstances, such as when a beneficiary faces a divorce, bankruptcy, or lawsuit.
Why Trustees Should Consider Including Detailed Instructions in Their Trusts? When it comes to creating an estate plan, there is always more to learn. Interested in staying up to date on the latest tips and news about creating an Anaheim estate plan? If so, we encourage you to sign up for our free newsletter today!