If there is a will, the estate will go through probate, a court procedure that determines how assets will be distributed. Trusts are agreements that determine how assets will be managed in life, and by whom, and how they will be distributed after death. Trusts do not go through probate. Estate planning means creation and conservation of an estate, post-death estate administration, and disposition and distribution of the estate to beneficiaries. It can also mean deciding who will get property, avoiding probate and reducing taxes if the assets are substantial.
Different states have different laws.
Consult an elder law attorney for details. Information about house maintenance, contracts, utilities, etc. Know, also, that if your elder has Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, for example, or other existing health problems likely to result in the need for long-term care, he or she may not be able to buy a policy. Catastrophic events last longer, and have longer benefit periods and higher costs. All rights reserved.