Most people should have a will, but a living trust can help keep your assets from going through probate. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Matthew F. Erskine is a trusts and estates attorney. Along with a Will and a Trust, the most common documents used in estate ...

Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and ...

When it comes to estate planning, two of the most common tools are living trusts and wills. Both help ensure your assets reach the right people after you’re gone, but they work differently and serve ...

Living trusts are legal documents that are important estate planning tools for many families. These documents are popular mainly for their flexibility, customization, and control. Living trusts can ...

Trust & Will is an online estate-planning platform that guides users through the will-making process through simple question-and-answer prompts. It provides state-specific instructions for wills and ...

Living trusts help you avoid the probate process, which can be time-consuming and costly. Details about a will become part of the public record. A living trust's creator can change or cancel it ...

Having a financial plan in place during your lifetime is an important step in achieving peace of mind. But what would happen to your finances if you were to die suddenly, or if you were no longer able ...

Q. I was told that unlike wills, a trust doesn’t require probate and is not taxable. My main asset is a house that I want to pass on to my son. Would a living trust help? — Planning A. We’re glad ...

Q: I’m a 60-year-old single woman who hopefully has all my finances in order. I have beneficiaries on all of my accounts and a will, but I don’t have a trust. Considering the cost of setting up a ...