When creating a trust, determining who you want to serve as trustee(s) and benefit from the trust as beneficiaries are decisions that need to be made for every trust. The role of “trust protector” may not be as commonly known...more
The recent case of Richard Simmons, the beloved and iconic fitness guru, is a notable example of the conflicts that can arise when co-trustees are appointed to manage an estate. Co-trustees need to work together in order to...more
The Cayman Islands is one of the leading jurisdictions for the establishment and management of trusts. It has a sophisticated professional trust sector, modern trusts legislation and an effective judicial system. There is a...more
Recently, much has been written about Rupert Murdoch’s petition to amend his Nevada irrevocable trust to grant his eldest son, Lachlan, voting control over News Corp and Fox Corporation. While the battle between family...more
Most US homeowners and business owners understand the importance of an estate plan; they just never seem to get around to completing the task. What do you need to know about a trust? Why are trusts a central component of any...more
Family Offices that serve high-net-worth individuals have been in recent global headlines as governments target them in an effort to tax corporate and individual gains....more
House Democrats recently released additional legislative proposals that, if passed, would affect several commonly used estate planning techniques. Among those proposals are three that would significantly impact some of the...more
Being asked to serve as the trustee of the trust of a family member is a great honor. It means that the family member trusts your judgment and is willing to put the welfare of the beneficiary or beneficiaries in your hands. ...more
Many clients create an estate plan, then put the documents safely away, until they are needed. However, they have forgotten to complete one final important step. Trust funding is the most overlooked estate planning tool....more
The death of a loved one or close friend is a traumatic experience. In addition to the emotional anguish, those who are charged with dealing with the decedent’s personal and financial affairs following death are often left...more
In Courtade v. Estrada, Estrada created an inter vivos irrevocable trust and deeded real estate into the trust. No. 02-14-00295-CV, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 3105 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth March 24, 2016, no pet. history). Two days...more
A trust is a versatile estate planning tool. But no matter how well it’s designed and drafted, a trust won’t reach its full potential unless all of the stakeholders — grantor, trustee and beneficiaries — understand the...more