Earlier today I came across this new Associated Press article on the differences between a will and a trust. Candice Choi, the article’s author, points out that after Michael Jackson death, questions about his will have sparked thousands of questions about wills and trusts in general. Choi provide several helpful answers to some of these common questions, and I highly recommend anyone confused about Wills check it out.
One of the big mysteries in the chaotic days following Michael Jackson's death was whether he left behind a will.
After initially stating the entertainer likely died without one, the superstar's family reversed course and produced a 7-year-old will this week.
The five-page document filed in court simply transferred Jackson's estate into a family trust, leaving a slew of questions unanswered about the King of Pop's finances.
The setup is common in California and numerous other states, where trusts are used in place of wills partly as a way to avoid court proceedings and keep financial matters private. There are other reasons to set up a trust rather than a will.
A will generally spells out a one-time distribution of assets, while a trust can stipulate that assets are distributed over time. So if you have young children, a trust could see that they get their inheritance in installments upon certain milestones, such as a birthday, graduating college or marriage.
Once the document you pick is drawn up, be sure to let family members or those named in the trust or will know where to find it. Anybody who has possession of your will — often your attorney — is obliged to file it in court upon your death.
