What is Estate Planning?

At its most basic, estate planning is preparing for the end of life. It is a difficult, but necessary topic. Estate planning typically involves creating a comprehensive plan that accounts for the following issues. Property Creating a plan to distribute property is the...

Missouri Asset Protection (“MAP”) Trusts

Missouri Asset Protection (“MAP”) trusts are a type of irrevocable trust. As the name suggests, a MAP trust is designed for asset protection. In sum, a MAP trust, like most irrevocable trusts, requires a settlor to sacrifice control in exchange for asset protection....

Testamentary Trusts

The testamentary trust is an estate planning device that is particularly attractive to young couples with young children, who often have limited assets. Typically, spouses are the legal and/or named beneficiaries of each other’s assets. If one spouse dies, the other...

Revocable Living Trusts

The revocable living trust is one of the most useful devices in estate planning. If your assets are significant and cannot be adequately distributed through the use of non-probate transfers for personal and real property, you should seriously consider a revocable...

Probate

Probate is the court process that validates your will (if you have one), pays your debts, and distributes your assets. If you die without a will or any other estate plan, you are said to die intestate. An individual who has died intestate is also subject to probate....