Wills and trusts are both mechanisms that allow you to decide what happens to your property after you die. Some people use a will or trust exclusively, while others use both. However, it is possible to skip either document and write a letter to the state granting custody of your assets over to a designated individual. It might seem as though making one or the other is a no-brainer, but there are compelling reasons to use both.

For instance, if you’re married and own a home with a joint tenancy agreement with your spouse, you don’t need to opt for a trust. However, it would be best to have a will written up to specify what you want to be done with your share of the home should your spouse die before you.

A will may also include an executor of the estate, who carries out the wishes laid out in that will. Although, the executor is not personally responsible for upholding those wishes but acts as a middleman between the beneficiaries and the courts. A trustee and an executor are not always the same, but often they are, especially when a trust is designed to avoid probate. Conversely, the difference between wills and trusts is like night and day, but there are many crossovers, too. For example, an individual surrenders legal ownership of their property to the trust when it is created. However, the trustor still maintains the right to use and control their property until they die.

Let’s read further to explore the difference between wills and trusts:

Guardianship of Minor Children:

Another essential difference between wills and trusts involves the issue of children. A will designates guardians for minor children, but a trust can name a protector who steps in if the appointed guardian cannot handle all aspects of child-rearing.

A will can also name a property guardian to take care of the real estate for minors, but that’s where the similarities end. A trust can also designate caretakers for other kinds of assets, including money and different sorts of property.

Taxes:

A will allows you to designate beneficiaries for tax purposes. However, a trust does it better by specifying who pays the taxes, when, and how much. Trusts can also provide tax-free income to beneficiaries according to a preset formula.

Revocable or Irrevocable:

There are two main types of trust: The revocable living trust, which functions much like a will for your kids and pets, and the irrevocable trust, which is not something you want to set up unless you’ve exhausted every other alternative.

Irrevocable trusts work as tax shelters and offer protection against creditors. But, they also place significant restrictions on your ability to shift or sell assets and prohibit you from changing beneficiaries without court permission.

A revocable living trust, which is usually a better option for most users, is easy to set up. However, it can be altered whenever you want without involving the courts.

Gaining Control:

A Will is designed to give you control over what happens to your property. However, it can’t necessarily be implemented the way you want. The person who distributes your assets may refuse to honor your wishes, or a judge might step in and say no. A Trust protects you from meddling by anyone but yourself.

Accounting for Assets:

The trust can hold assets jointly, giving you the ability to shift them back and forth between you and your spouse for tax purposes.

As you can see, not all trusts are created equal. Undoubtedly, a will may protect you against the ravages of time and decay, but opting for a trust will come in handy for everything else. Trusts are more complicated than wills, and they’re not for everyone. However, once you figure out the difference between wills and trusts, you can use either to protect your children and heirs.

What’s the difference between a will and trust? It may seem that wills and trusts may seem strikingly similar. But there are significant differences that can affect your final wishes.

Both wills and trusts allow you to control what happens to your assets after you die, but they can also be used during your lifetime. A will can provide a clear roadmap of how you want to distribute property after death. But, it isn’t always enforceable because others can ignore your wishes. On the other hand, a trust is a legal arrangement that gives someone else the responsibility of managing and distributing your assets. The trust often names a trustee who is also known as the executor, but not always. In contrast, a will doesn’t allow you to designate a trustee.

A trust can provide you with more control over your assets, but it’s also more complicated and requires the help of an attorney. You can also choose to have more than one trust, but not more than one will.

The probate process helps the distribution of a will after you pass away, but it can get bogged down in legal red tape. Trusts don’t have to go through probate, and they’re exempt from some of the legal hassles associated with wills. You can also name a successor trustee who takes over if your original choice is unable or unwilling to continue in the position.

If you have a lot of assets, creating a trust is often preferable because it can protect your estate from taxes, potential creditors, and frivolous lawsuits. It’s also an excellent way to ensure that your assets are distributed as per your wishes.

Conclusion:

A trust can preserve your assets for years, but it won’t protect against the constraints of time. If you live a long life and want to leave a large estate behind, you’ll need to tighten up your will along the way. Revising a trust may be more complicated, and it might require help from an attorney, but it can help your heirs avoid legal hassles that often come with a will.

Wills are usually more straightforward, but they don’t always hold up from a legal standpoint. The will distribution process can be complicated, and it can take a long time to resolve any conflicts. On the other hand, a trust goes straight to your successor trustee, who takes over immediately. Trusts can also be changed whenever you see fit, allowing you to make last-minute changes if you think of something after your initial distribution.

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