Charitable trusts are most commonly used by donors who wish to set aside some of their assets for allocation or use by one or more nonprofit organizations. Charitable trusts are most easily divided into two different categories: a charitable lead trust (CLT) or charitable remainder trust (CRT). Both share some commonalities in that they direct […]
Melbourne Legal Blog
When facing legal issues regarding an estate, including trust litigation or the contesting of a will, often matters of undue influence come up. Whether you are alleging that undue influence occurred or battling against such accusations, it’s important to understand what actually constitutes undue influence over someone else. As humans, we often discuss our wishes […]
In the past, estate planning wasn’t much more complicated than leaving all of your belongings to your kids. In today’s world, though, experts note that people are giving to charities more and more often. Three questions you may want to ask if you’re considering this are: Who is responsible for the success you’ve had? For […]
The short answer is yes. Many states, including Florida, have adopted “pet trust statutes” which specifically allow people to name their pets as the beneficiaries of a trust. Prior to these lawsuits, there was some question on whether a pet could even be the beneficiary of a trust. The beneficiary of a trust owns an […]
When you die, what happens to your social media accounts? Are they deactivated? Are they turned into “memorials?” Are they turned over to your family? The answer is, yes. Due to inconsistent policies, some of your social media accounts might be deactivated, others may be turned over to family, and some may be indexed and […]
Trusts are a type of testamentary instrument that allows a grantor (the person who gives the stuff) to have some control over the disbursement and management of the assets. Trusts are separate legal entities, which means they can own property, sue, and be sued. Trusts are administered by Trustees, who are usually personal representatives appointed […]
The latest concerns about the President’s possible entanglements overseas through his businesses has revived the debate over blind trusts. There are many types of trusts; some are designed to accomplish discrete goals, for example, caring for family members or to invest a university endowment. Others are designed to relieve people of conflicts of interest, the […]
Many people, even in their 20s and 30s, are thinking about how to manage their wealth when they are gone. There are numerous options from wills, to gifts, to trusts. A popular tool is the “revocable trust.” A revocable trust is a separate legal entity that you create and manage during your life. When you […]
A spendthrift trust enables people to place their assets in a specialized trust that creditors cannot sue or attach in bankruptcy to seek satisfaction for their loans. But once the money is distributed, creditors are free to pursue it. Spendthrifts were invented to allow people to care for their family members and maintain control over […]
