This week, my message is a public service announcement. You can see on the screen behind me in the video that I have my friend’s website pulled up – Shoup Legal. Today’s topic of conversation is about having a family trust.
Do You Have a Trust to Avoid Probate?
If you own property and you do not have a trust: when you pass away in the future, that house is going through probate. This means that the state will take a bunch of fees and make a lot of decisions that you should have handled on your own.
Of course, it’s not free to set up a trust. But I cannot stress this enough: the importance of a trust is critical. Not only does it outline all of the important things that you want to happen with your assets (your life legacy). But it also helps to avoid probate.
A will doesn’t help you avoid probate. Even though it sounds good, you can’t just write things down on a napkin. Simply writing down your wishes randomly is not how it works.
So, if you own real estate, you should have a family trust. Go to ShoupLegal.com for help. They are always offering valuable information through live workshops and more. The team is great!
DIY vs Hiring the Experts
Another thing I want to say: there are many DIY options online through cheaper websites, but I warn against this option. Do you really want to put all of your assets in a legal situation when you don’t even know what you are doing? Sites like Legal Zoom have come a long way over the years and they ask a lot of questions. But what are they going to miss that could cause your assets to end up in probate in the end?
Please, do yourself a favor: if you don’t go with Shoup Legal, choose a well-known and experienced professional who can take care of your estate planning and trust. Millions of dollars in your estate could be on the line without a good strategy for your assets. You don’t want to have a situation that turns messy for your kids to handle after you are gone.
Big shoutout to Shoup Legal. These guys are great! Make sure that you are doing it right when it comes to handling your assets and preparing your trust for the future. This legal team can help you out.