Wills, Trusts& Dying Intestate: How they Differ

Most people understand that having some sort of an estate plan is a good thing. However, many of us do not take the first steps to get that estate plan in place because we do not understand the nuances between a will and trust – and dying without either.

Here is what will generally happen if you die, intestate (without a will or trust), with a will, and with a revocable living trust (hereinafter trust). For this example, we are assuming you have two children, but no spouse:

Trusts and Estate Planning

1. Intestate. If you die intestate, your accounts and property will go through probate and all

the world will know what you owned, what you owed, and who got what. Your mortgage

company, car loan company, and credit card companies will all seek payment on balances

you owed at the time of your death.

Keep in mind that since your death has been published to alert valid creditors, it is not

uncommon for predators (fake creditors) to come forth and make demands for payment –

even if they are not owed anything.

After that, state law will decide who gets what and when.

● For example, if your only heirs are your two children and you have not provided

any instructions, state law will mandate divvying up proceeds equally.

● Your older child will get their share immediately if they have attained adulthood

(18 or 21 years, depending on state law).

● But, the court will appoint a guardian to manage the money for your minor child

until that child becomes an adult.

● Shockingly, that guardian can charge a lot of money for their services and be a

total stranger.

● If you die without a valid will, the court, not you, will decide who raises your

minor child.

The bottom line? Dying intestate allows state law and the court to make all the decisions

on your behalf – regardless of what your intent might have been. Publicity is guaranteed.

2. Will. If you die with a valid will, your accounts and property will still go through the

probate process. However, after creditors have been paid, the remaining accounts and

property will go to whom you have named in your will.

● So, if you want to leave money to your children and name a guardian for the

minor, the court will usually abide by your wishes.

● The same holds true if you specified that you wanted to give money to a charity,

your Aunt Betty, or your neighbor.

● Keep in mind that predatory creditors are still an issue as your death has been

publicized. Even with a will, probate is still a public process.

The bottom line? While a court oversees the process, having a will allows you to tell the court exactly how you want your affairs to be handled. But, a public probate is still guaranteed.

3. Trust. If you have created a trust, you have taken control of your estate plan and your

accounts and property. Accounts and property owned by the trust are not subject to the

probate process and one of the most important benefits of a trust is that the details and

process of transferring accounts and property to the intended individuals is private.

In the trust, you will have named a trusted individual (trustee) to manage your affairs

with specific instructions on how your accounts and property should be dispersed and

when.

● One word of caution – a trust must be properly funded in order to bypass probate.

● Funding means that ownership of your accounts and property has been changed

from your name individually to the name of your trust.

● Think of your trust as a bushel basket. You must put the apples into the basket

just like you must put your accounts and property into the trust for either to have

real value.

You do still need a will (pour-over will) to get any accounts or property inadvertently or

intentionally left out of your trust into the name of the trust. You will also still need a will

to name guardians for a minor child.

The bottom line? A trust allows you to maintain control of your accounts and property

through your chosen trustee, avoid probate, and leave specific instructions so that your

children are taken care of – without receiving a lump sum of money at an age where they

are more likely to squander it or have it seized from them.

Do not let the will versus trust controversy slow you down. Call Wolfe Law, PLLC today at (757) 741-8695; we will put together an estate plan that works for you and your loved ones whether it be a will, trust, or both.

We are available for in-person and virtual consultations.