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Home » Estate Planning » 4 Simple Ways to Help Your Trustee so Your Estate Plan Works

4 Simple Ways to Help Your Trustee so Your Estate Plan Works

March 9, 2011 by John Potter

When you design and implement your estate plan with the assistance of your estate planning attorney, you want your plan to work.  An estate plan works if it does what you think it will do.  Here are 4 simple ways to help your trustee so your estate plan works.

1.  Ask

You may take it for granted that your named trustee is willing to take on the responsibility of serving as your trustee.  Your assumption may be incorrect.

Simply, let those you’d like to name as trustee and successor trustees know that you are engaging in the estate planning process and ask if they’d be willing to serve as trustee should you become disabled and when you die.

2.  Introduce

Introduce your trustee to your estate planning attorney, CPA, and financial advisor so that when the time comes for your trustee to act, he is already comfortable with your professional team.

3.  Train

Take advantage of any trustee training or estate planning informational sessions that your estate planning attorney provides.  Attend with your trustee.

Some estate planning attorneys also offer a family meeting to discuss estate planning in general, your plan specifically, and trustee duties.

4.  Provide necessary information

Let your trustee know where you have stored your estate planning documents and other essential information.

Common places for document storage are a shelf or desk drawer in your home office, the bottom drawer of your refrigerator, a fire safe (if the combination is available to your trustee), or in your trustee’s home office.

Be sure to include:

  • Your estate planning documents
  • Your most recent investment account and bank statements
  • An up-to-date asset list
  • Contact information for your professional team
  • Contact information for family members and friends to be contacted in the event of your death.
  • A complete list of user IDs and passwords for all online and telephone accounts
  • Love letters to your family
  • Funeral instructions
  • Important certificates such as insurance policies; car titles; deeds; marriage, divorce, death, and adoptions certificates

If you have questions about naming a trustee or about helping your trustee, consult with a qualified estate planning attorney.

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Filed Under: Estate Planning Tagged With: Estate Planning, Trustee Training

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Overall The Potter Firm was very professional. They took what could of been a very complicated process and were able to break it down so it was a lot easier to understand. We are confident we now have made the right decisions in our estate planning. Good firm to work with.

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John Potter has been a real pleasure to work with. He is very knowledgeable and explains things in a very simplistic manner so the average person can understand how/why the laws are written. He is very attentive and asks questions in such a way that not only helps him understand your goals, but also helps you think about what type of goals and expectations you should be considering. Exemplary client service.

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My husband and I selected Ms. Potter to assist with our small business. She responsive and attentive every time I have a question or need assistance, and is extremely knowledgeable and able to answer any legal question I have had. I know I can count on Ms. Potter for all of my business legal needs and I would highly recommend her to anyone needing legal assistance with such.

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