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Why Use A Trust For Your Estate Planning Needs?

When you pass along estate gifts to heirs and beneficiaries, it is easy for the value of those assets to be lost to estate taxes. Simply giving anyone a lump sum of money or handing over the title to property can come back and haunt that person later because of the financial responsibilities he or she will have as a result of the transfer.

A trust is a valuable tool for preserving assets and managing assets for others who may be underage or vulnerable to the mismanagement of finances. When you set up a trust, a trustee is responsible for managing and distributing financial assets. Heirs and beneficiaries then have access to those funds for specific purposes, such as only for education. Furthermore, placing assets in a trust protects the beneficiary’s right to receive government benefits (i.e., Social Security or Disability benefits).

Types Of Trusts

At Maitland & Stiffler Law Firm, PLLC, we handle the full scope of estate law, trust preparation and trust administration issues for clients throughout Chapel Hill and the surrounding areas of North Carolina, including those related to:

  • Irrevocable trusts
  • Revocable trusts
  • Special needs trusts
  • Educational trusts

Responsibilities As A Trustee

Trustees take on a great deal of responsibility when they handle the financial affairs for trust beneficiaries. They are legally bound to act in the best interests of all beneficiaries and to ensure that the trust is administered correctly. The trustee could be held liable for damages the beneficiaries suffered when an error is made or when certain expectations are not met, even if those errors were made accidentally without ill will.

As a trustee, your best chance for personal protection and a well-administered trust is a reliable representation from an experienced trust attorney.

Talk Through Your Trust Options With Us

We are available to answer questions and be your go-to advisors on all matters related to estate and trust administration. Call our office at 919-944-4757 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We handle cases in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Durham, Research Triangle Park and the surrounding communities.