Trustee's Legal Companion, The: A Step-by-Step Guide to Administering a Living Trust, 7th Edition

You’re the trustee. Now what? Living trusts are popular estate planning tools, but when you’re chosen to serve as a trustee, you might wonder where to begin. The Trustee’s Legal Companion has everything you need to get organized, get started, and get the job done. You’ll learn how to: decide whether to take on the job of trustee set up ongoing trusts for surviving spouses, children, or beneficiaries with special needs invest trust assets get help from lawyers, financial planners, and other experts handle taxes and prepare accountings work effectively with beneficiaries, and distribute trust property. The authors—attorneys who have helped many a bewildered trustee—show you, step by step, how to administer a living trust with confidence. "This guide shows the reader how to administer a living trust step by step. It discusses how to: decide whether to take on the job of trustee; set up ongoing trusts for surviving spouses, children, or beneficiaries with special needs; invest trust assets; get help from lawyers, financial planners, and other experts; handle taxes and prepare accountings; work effectively with beneficiaries; and distribute trust property. Includes summaries of state laws and a sample trust"-- Provided by publisher Table of Contents The Trustee’s Companion Should You Serve as Trustee? Thinking Like a Trustee Working With Beneficiaries The First Few Months Assets That Should Be in the Trust—But Aren’t Life Insurance, Retirement Plans, and Other Assets Outside the Trust Getting Help When You Need It Managing Ongoing Trusts Investing Trust Assets Dealing With Taxes Trust Accountings Terminating the Trust Glossary State Information