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Your Estate Plan Is Not Worth The Paper It Is Printed On……..

By October 5, 2011October 24th, 2018Estate Planning Blog, Robert Lamm

Robert Lamm

…Unless someone other than you knows that it exists.  I constantly remind my clients to keep their estate planning documents in a safe place, but not too safe.  Specifically, your executor and trustee will need to know where the documents are kept and how to gain access to them.

Also, they will need to know what assets should be in the estate and unless you provide them with a roadmap, you are setting them up for failure.  I recently read an article called “25 Documents You Need Before You Die” posted on Wall Street Journal Online (the link is posted below)

The article is a good primer on the steps you should take to keep your executor and trustee informed.  In addition, it is helpful to attach an exhibit to your trust listing all property that should be included and update it from time to time.  Not only will it make life easier for your trustee, in some cases it may very well end up preventing a probate of your estate.