A few years ago, a couple came to our office to prepare an Estate Planning package. Let’s call them Bob and Suzie. Although Attorney Clark strongly advised them to set up Revocable Living Trusts, Bob and Suzie elected to go for a simple Will package, nominating each other to manage their estates.
Bob passed away months later, and we represented Suzie in the Probate proceedings with the Register of Wills. Bob’s Will made the Probate process much smoother than if he had passed without one, but Suzie spent the months after Bob’s death gathering paperwork and complying with the Probate Court’s requirements all while grieving the loss of her beloved husband. From getting appointed and approved as Personal Representative, to tracking down any and all of Bob’s assets and reporting every last penny to the Register of Wills, Suzie finally saw why we had suggested setting up the Trusts!
Many assets, including their home, could be transferred into a Revocable Living Trust. Distribution of assets in the Trust is performed privately, without court oversight (Probate)! Suzie soon realized that she would have to spend significantly more money and endure much more stress handling the estate than if they had initially set up Revocable Living Trusts.
While we were handling the Probate proceedings, Suzie wasted no time updating her own Estate Planning documents. Within a few weeks, we helped her set up her own Revocable Living Trust. Now, all her assets are either already in her Trust or will transfer to her Trust when she passes away. Suzie’s Trust will spare her loved ones the hassle of dealing with the long, strenuous, and expensive process of opening and administering an estate with the Register of Wills.
If you need help protecting your money and loved ones in the event of death or disability, call us at 301-696-0567 or self-schedule online at lenaclarklegal.com.