The Trust Plan

Package Details:

Included ​Legal Documents: 
Living Trust
​Last Will and Testament
Powers of Attorney (Health Care)
​Powers of Attorney (Property)
Certification of Trust
Assignment of Personal Property
Deed in Trust

Attorney Consultations:
Attorney phone/zoom to discuss your questions or concerns; plus Emails with a Firm attorney to  answer your questions; plus personal consultations if within a reasonable distance from Firm.

Supplemental documents:
Description of Plan terms
Trust funding instructions
Next Step Instructions
​
What are the benefits of a Trust Plan?

WillCounsel's standard Trust Plan was created to address the last wishes of a large percentage of the firm's clients. The Firm's Trust Plan allows you to:
  • Allow your family to avoid the probate court process.
  • Set a logical distribution of your property (see below), overriding the State's default distribution rules.
  • Name a Guardian you trust to raise and care for your minor children (if any), so that a Judge does not choose for you.
  • Create rules to control and stretch out financial distributions to your children or other young beneficiaries.
  • ​Designate family or friends to assist with health care decisions in the event of your disability. 
  • Appoint trusted family or friends to assist with financial concerns (like paying bills from your bank accounts or signing a real estate deed) during your life.
  • Name a trusted family member, friend, or advisor to wind up your affairs.
 
What's the process?

WillCounsel's simple process allows our clients to finalize a Trust Plan in a few simple steps:
  • Complete a paper questionnaire and email with a Firm attorney to determine details and wishes.
  • We'll begin preparing your Trust Plan documents based on your responses, and offer you an attorney phone consultation to discuss any initial questions or concerns.
  • We'll send your customized draft Trust Plan documents to you via email, and offer you a second attorney phone or in person consultation to answer any final questions you might have about your documents, the signature process, or trust funding.
  • When you are satisfied with your documents, a signature meeting is set and the Trust Plan is finalized, printed and delivered to your home for a signature meeting.
  • To take full advantage of the benefits of your Trust Plan, you should also "fund" your Living Trust (e.g., retitling certain financial accounts, real estate, etc.) following the trust-funding instructions. Note* WillCounsel will draft and record your deed in trust but does not "fund" your Trust for you, but provides instructions on how to do so.

How would WillCounsel's standard Trust Plan distribute your property when you pass away?

The answer depends on your personal circumstances:
  • If you're married with children: your property would go to your spouse, if your spouse survives you, and if not, to your children in equal shares.
  • If you're unmarried with children: your property would go to your children in equal shares.
  • If you're married without children: your property would go to your spouse, if your spouse survives you, and if not, in equal shares to your "heirs" under state law (in general, an equation that identifies and shares your property among your closest living relatives; think parents, siblings, etc.) and your spouse's heirs.
  • If you're unmarried with no children: your property would go to your heirs.

Who should you appoint as Executor of your estate, Trustee of your Trust, and Guardian of your minor children (if applicable)?

Please see the Firm's Legal Representatives worksheet for helpful information to consider when deciding who to appoint as Executor, Trustee, and Guardian.
Note:  We try hard to honor this fee schedule for all Firm clients, but we’ll need to review your specific circumstances and wishes prior to committing to a fee. No worries, we'll be sure we're on the same page about fees and project scope before getting started.

I'd like someone to contact me to discuss my estate planning options: