Articles
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How to Fund a Trust: What Asset Integration Actually Involves
Written by: Anne Harris Asset integration, or how to fund a trust, means legally connecting assets to the trust and coordinating how they will pass under the estate plan. For many assets, that means transferring or… Read “How to Fund a Trust: What Asset Integration Actually Involves”
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How to Create a Living Trust in Missouri: The Real Steps
Written by: Marcus Tecarro Creating a living trust in Missouri involves four real steps: designing the trust around your family, signing it correctly, naming the right people to administer it, and asset integration. You… Read “How to Create a Living Trust in Missouri: The Real Steps”
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How Much Do Lawyers Charge to Set Up a Trust? Why There’s No Single Number
If you’ve recently asked “How much do lawyers charge to set up a trust?” it’s important to know attorneys charge in different ways, and what your plan actually costs depends on your specific situation. Here’s how… Read “How Much Do Lawyers Charge to Set Up a Trust? Why There’s No Single Number”
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Six Mistakes That Can Undermine a Missouri Will
Written by: Attorney Scott Stork TL;DR Signing a document called a will doesn’t guarantee that a will is valid or that it will work as you intend.. In Missouri, a will has to meet specific requirements, and six common… Read “Six Mistakes That Can Undermine a Missouri Will”
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The Unfunded Trust Problem: Why So Many Missouri Living Trusts Don’t Actually Work
Written by: Attorney Raymond Chandler TL;DR A living trust only accomplishes its intended goals for assets it actually owns.. Many Missouri trusts were properly drafted and signed but never funded, meaning the home was… Read “The Unfunded Trust Problem: Why So Many Missouri Living Trusts Don’t Actually Work”
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Is a Living Trust Better Than a Will in Missouri?
Written by: Attorney Scott Stork TL;DR A living trust and a will each play an important role in estate planning, but they serve different purposes. A living trust can help properly funded assets avoid probate, provide… Read “Is a Living Trust Better Than a Will in Missouri?”
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What Kind of Trust Do You Actually Need in Missouri?
Written by: Attorney Anne Harris TL;DR Not all trusts do the same thing. A revocable living trust avoids probate but generally does not protect assets from Medicaid eligibility rules and may not protect assets from… Read “What Kind of Trust Do You Actually Need in Missouri?”
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What Happens to a St. Louis Family Home When Someone Dies Without a Trust
Written by: Attorney Scott Stork Most St. Louis families spend decades paying off a mortgage, maintaining a home, and building equity they plan to leave behind for their children. What many do not realize is that… Read “What Happens to a St. Louis Family Home When Someone Dies Without a Trust”
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Who Raises Your Children If You Die Tomorrow? The Estate Planning Question Most Parents Avoid
Written by: Attorney Anne Harris Nobody wants to think about it. Not really. You can acknowledge it intellectually, the way you acknowledge that car accidents happen or that people get sick without warning. But sitting… Read “Who Raises Your Children If You Die Tomorrow? The Estate Planning Question Most Parents Avoid”
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5 Reasons High-Earners in St. Louis Keep Putting Off Their Estate Plan
Written by: Attorney Scott Stork You are good at this. You built a career that most people would envy. You manage complexity at work every single day. You make hard decisions, meet deadlines, and provide for your family… Read “5 Reasons High-Earners in St. Louis Keep Putting Off Their Estate Plan”