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Taking Over Finances for Your Elderly Parents? This Checklist Can Help.

The Motley Fool

Gather financial accounts and legal documents First, you want to gather all your parents' financial accounts and relevant legal documents (if your parents are anything like mine, this is much easier said than done). Insurance, retirement accounts, investments, assets, and wills can complicate the process.

Finance 246
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Living Trust or Living Will? They're Not the Same Thing: Here's Why You Might Need Both

The Motley Fool

This article is intended for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. They're also both important legal documents that can go a long way to ensure your wishes are met when that time comes. The latter is a legal document in which you lay out how you want your assets distributed when you die.

Legal 246
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Is a Living Trust Really the Best Way to Pass an Inheritance to Your Family?

The Motley Fool

A living trust is a legal arrangement where a trustor (whoever creates the trust) places assets -- whether money, investments, real estate, or whatever -- in a trust to be managed by a trustee for their chosen beneficiaries. Probates are good for legal oversight, but they can be time-consuming, with many taking months or years to complete.

Legal 246
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3 Reasons to Seriously Consider Using a Living Trust to Pass Inheritance to Your Family

The Motley Fool

This article is intended for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. It can be complicated and fraught with legalities and emotional issues that can make even the most straightforward processes murky. Note that for a trust to qualify under section 501(c)(3) of the Code, its organizing document must contain certain language."

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3 Reasons to Seriously Consider Using a Living Trust to Pass Inheritance to Your Family

The Motley Fool

This article is intended for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Two out of three Americans have no estate planning document in place, according to a survey of 2,400 people conducted by YouGov for Caring.com's 2023 Wills and Estate Planning Study. Trusts are also, unlike a will, private documents.

Legal 245
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Is a Living Trust Really the Best Way to Pass Inheritance to Your Family?

The Motley Fool

This article is intended for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Some big advantages to a living trust Also known as a revocable trust , a living trust is a legal document that fulfills many of the same purposes as a traditional last will and testament. Image source: Getty Images. First is the initial cost.

Legal 246
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Is a Will Really the Best Way to Pass an Inheritance to Your Family?

The Motley Fool

This article is intended for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. A last will and testament is indeed a useful and binding legal document, long a traditional means for allocating assets, assigning guardianship for minor children, and specifying other last wishes. But is it the best way?

Legal 246