Article: If you are married, you should decide whether you want to create an individual or joint trust. An individual trust includes only your property, while a joint or shared trust includes all property that belongs to you and your spouse. While you and your spouse can create two individual trusts, this can cause complications with shared assets. A joint trust, however, can dispose of both individual and shared property. You can use your list to decide how you want to distribute the assets you place in your trust. Keep in mind that you don't necessarily want to have all of your property in your trust. If you have retirement or investment accounts that allow you to designate a beneficiary, leave these out of your trust. Including them or designating your trust as the beneficiary only adds an unnecessary layer of complication. Use your list as you work on your trust so you have a good picture of your total estate and can figure out how you want it distributed. You will need information such as account numbers and locations to transfer title in your assets from yourself to the trust. You also want to make sure that you have accurate information about your property in your trust documents. The people you want to inherit your assets when you die will become beneficiaries of your trust. If you've included children as beneficiaries, you also should name someone to manage that property for them until they reach adulthood. You also should consider naming alternate or back-up beneficiaries in case your primary beneficiary is either unavailable or refuses to take the trust property. While you are alive, you will be the trustee of your trust. However, someone else will have to take over after you die to distribute the trust's assets. Most people choose a spouse or adult child as their successor trustee. You also may want to choose a back-up in case the person you've chosen as a successor has predeceased you or is otherwise unavailable or incapable of taking on the trustee's duties. Talk to the person you choose before you draft your documents, and make sure he or she is able and willing to be your successor trustee. You may want to name an additional alternate successor in case the person you name is unavailable or incapable of acting as trustee. You can name a bank or trust company to manage your trust after your death as well, but keep in mind there probably will be fees involved. Unlike with a will, your successor trustee doesn't have to live in the same state as you, or the state where your real property is located. For this reason, trusts often are preferred if you want a friend or relative who lives out of state to distribute your property after your death.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Determine what type of trust you want to create. Make a list of your assets. Gather paperwork for your assets. Decide who will inherit your trust property. Choose a successor trustee.