Death is something no one wants to think about. Yet, one of the benefits of pre-death estate planning is the ability to direct how your assets will be distributed to your heirs after you are gone. Generally speaking, this may be done with either a will or a trust.

Without a will or a trust, the inheritance laws of your state will decide how your property will pass to your heirs. Often the state's rules for transferring assets to your heirs will not be what you would have chosen if you had done some planning. If you have no heirs that fit the state's formula, the assets will be taken by the state.

One of the best ways to control the distribution of your estate is to build a bridge to your heirs, otherwise known as a trust. This provides for the estate to be transferred according to your wishes, without the financial risks posed by probate, creditors, con-artists, lawsuits, liens judgments, lawyers, and death taxes. Learn more in our article Gifting Your Way to Estate Tax Savings.

To learn how R.B. Wiser & Associates can help you with estate planning, please call us at (800) 292-1472, (269) 372-1430 or complete the online contact form.