Trust Protector – Defender of Trusts

A Trust Protector is a party other than a Trustee or a Beneficiary who has certain powers regarding the Trust and its administration.  These powers may be very broad or narrow as determined by the Trust instrument.  They may include the power to remove or replace trustees and beneficiaries, cure ambiguities, and modify terms and…

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Do It Yourself Estate Planning

Do It yourself Estate Planning

Do It Yourself Estate Planning. There is a time and place for do it yourself estate planning.  DIY documents are particularly well suited for the young, those just starting out, those with little to lose, and those that are going to stay that way.  For example, a DIY business entity is far better than no…

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Preventing Litigation

Preventing LItigation

Preventing Litigation Protecting assets requires us to assess what we are trying to protect the assets from.  Some risks are greater than others, both in their likelihood and in their capacity for damage.  In my experience, the single most destructive risk any family faces in protecting their assets is inter-family litigation.  Litigation is the nuclear…

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Your Business Entity and Estate Planning

Business Entity and Estate Planning

Your Business Entity and Estate Planning The larger the estate, the more likely there will be business entities involved.  A common mistake is for the business entities and the estate planning structures to be disconnected.  When an estate or business plan is “integrated” the parts will all be connected.  For example, a business entity will…

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