Wills & Trusts

Will

A Will is a document in which the will maker specifies who is to receive his or her property at death and names an executor. You can also use your will to name a guardian for your young children.

Trust

An arrangement under which one person, a trustee, manages property for a beneficiary. The person who creates the trust is called the settlor, trustor, or grantor. There are many kinds of trusts, some created during the settlor's lifetime and some at death. Trusts are used for, among other things, avoiding probate court proceedings, saving on estate tax, providing quality management of assets, and keeping money out of the hands of improvident beneficiaries.  

Living Trust

A trust that is set up during a person's life. Living trusts are a common and excellent way to avoid probate at death and may also reduce federal estate tax.

Durable Power of Attorney for Finances

A document that gives another person legal authority to act on your behalf. If you create such a document, you are called the principal, and the person to whom you give this authority is called your agent or attorney-in-fact. If you make a durable power of attorney, the document will continue in effect even if you become incapacitated. 

Health Care Directive

A legal document in which you state your wishes about the types of medical care you do or do not want if you are unable to speak for yourself. 

Final Arrangements

A document that details your wishes to your loved ones for burial/cremation, funeral organ donation, obituary and other services to be performed.

Revocation of Legal Documents

Cancelling or annulling legal documents such as a will, trust or power of attorney.

Probate

The court-supervised process following a person's death that includes