It’s the season of love; Even after Valentine’s Day there’s still plenty of leftover decorations to go around. However, you don’t just spell love “L-O-V-E”; there’s another way to spell it: T-R-U-S-T.

We’re talking about estate planning. While setting up a trust for your kids, grandkids, and relatives might not be as flashy of a gift as a new Ferrari, it actually will have even more value in the long run. There are some common misconceptions about trusts—or, rather, about last wills being better than trusts—so, in this article, we will clarify what a trust is and why it’s beneficial.

What is a trust?

A trust is a three-party relationship. The relationship consists of the trustor, trustee, and beneficiary. The trustor, also known as a donor, conveys property or assets to the trustee. The trustee acts as a receiver. After the property is transferred to the trustee, the trustee acts as a nominal owner of the assets. At the moment the trustor specifies (usually upon said trustor’s death), the trustee conveys the property to the beneficiary, who then becomes the property’s owner.

Lastly, you should know what the term “trust agreement” means. A trust agreement specifies the rules of the trust and manner in which the trust should be followed. There are also federal and state law rules that must be followed in conjunction with the provisions of the trust agreement.

There are many different reasons to get a trust, including reducing your estate tax, protecting your assets after you die, and avoiding probate court. There are many different types of trusts, so consult with your estate planner to find out which one is best for your circumstances.

Why not just get a last will and testament?

A last will and testament goes into effect after you die. It also must go through probate court, and you are often subject to more taxes than you would be with a trust. Probate court is a long, arduous process, and your beneficiaries do not receive their gifts immediately. Though a will is cheaper to set up, it does not pay off as well in the long run.

What are the benefits of a trust?

There are several benefits of a trust. First, you can avoid probate court, as stated above. Second, a trust is effectively immediately and can be changed if something happens. When you set up your trust, it is known as an inter vivos trust. You then decide if it is revocable or irrevocable. Revocable trusts allow you to change your mind. This flexibility is beneficial. Thirdly, you can shield your estate from certain taxes through a trust, and, lastly, you are able to decide the manner in which your assets are distributed, as well as the timing. These four benefits are just some of the many that make a trust a great idea.

Because of the safety and reliability a trust provides, it’s clear that there’s more than just one way to spell “love.”

As the saying goes around this office, “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Michael Wild in a baby carriage!”

While estate planning might not seem romantic, and you probably don’t usually finish that rhyme with Michael Wild, there is something to be said for estate planning as a romantic gesture. It certainly indicates a lot of commitment to your spouse, family, and the people who mean the most to you. No Valentine? No problem. Estate planning is still vitally important for you, even if you’re a bachelor or bachelorette.

Estate Planning & Marriage

If you’re getting married or are currently married, you should definitely be creating or updating your estate plan. An estate plan decides where your assets will be transferred when you die. Here are some things to consider when including your spouse in your future.

• Marital property. Marital property is jointly owned between you and your spouse. It is property that you purchased using marital assets. You and your spouse will have to decide where you want it to go in the event of your death. Because it is marital property, it needs to be a decision made that involves the two of you.
• If you die, you will probably want to make your spouse a beneficiary of at least some of your assets. In an estate plan, you can specify your spouse as the beneficiary through a living trust, which sets up a three-party relationship whereby the trustee grants your spouse the assets upon your death. You can also make your spouse the trustee for your children, who you can make beneficiaries.
• Decision-making in emergencies. An advance directive allows you to delineate the healthcare choices you want in case you sink into a coma or are otherwise too incapacitated to make these decisions. You can also name your spouse as a decisionmaker, if you choose. You can name them Power of Attorney, which gives them the authority to make financial decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make them yourself.
• Money is pretty romantic, and the tax cuts that estate planning can get you and your spouse will be pretty significant, particularly since the estate tax will soon be dissipating in a few years’ time.

Don’t Forget the Kids

Your “baby carriage” probably won’t have Michael Wild in it, but he definitely can help you figure out how to best take care of your kids via estate planning. If you have minor children, you definitely need to make sure that you assign guardianship to them in the event of your death. You can also put aside money for your kids’ colleges and name them as beneficiaries or your Power of Attorney. Your children will benefit highly from your estate plan.

No Kids, No Spouse, No Problem

If you’re single and childless, you should still have an estate plan. You likely have assets and property and, if you die, you don’t want to drag your relatives through probate court. Estate planning can divide up your property and transfer it quickly, with as little hassle as possible.

This Valentine’s Day, show your loved ones commitment and care by creating an estate plan or updating a currently existing one. No matter what your status in life, everyone can benefit from estate planning.

February isn’t just the month of Valentines, it’s also a month where you acknowledge your physical heart too. February is American Heart Month, recognizing the fact that heart disease, stroke, and similar ailments are huge problems in America. For a not-so-fun fact, heart disease is actually the leading cause of death for both men and women. So, don’t just take care of your heart by sending Valentines—make sure you’re going to the doctor and checking on your physical health as well.

Have a heart in another way too—write a will. If you want to give the best Valentine to your loved ones, you can help them prepare for the future.

What is a will?

A will isn’t exactly wrapped with a red bow with candy hearts attached to it, but it is sentimental in its own way. There are two types of wills you should know about: a living will and a last will and testament. Chances are, you probably have heard of the second one more than the first.

A living will is a document that details what you want to do in the event you become incapacitated (you’re in a coma or so sick you cannot make your own decisions with a clear head). The living will is effective once you’re unable to communicate. It tells doctors and nurses what they should do in terms of your medical care. It is all about medical care—usually refusing or requesting medical treatment. If you’re unconscious and have no living will, hospitals may perform procedures they consider legally obligatory. If you don’t want that, you should specify that in your will. A living will is also known as an advance directive.

Your last will and testament provides instructions on what to do with your property, assets, and guardianship after you pass away. It is legally effective upon your death. You can name your kids’ guardian if something happens to you, making this an extremely important document for parents of minor children. The person who carries out your last will is your executor. If you die without a will, you are considered intestate, and the state’s intestacy laws will control how your assets are divided.

Which should you get?

You should always have a living will, as you never know if something will happen. Secondly, a last will and testament isn’t the be-all, end-all of estate planning. A living trust is actually preferable to a last will. A living trust constructs a three-party fiduciary relationship. It is legally effective immediately and can be changed easily, if you want to change your beneficiary.

A last will requires your executor to go through probate court, a long, arduous process that takes up time and resources. A living trust doesn’t require that court visit, making it easier to have than a last will. Schedule an estate planning consultation today to help you decide.