| Voting Trusts |
| The special purpose served with a voting trust is to transfer the right to vote shares of stock without losing control of the stock itself or any other rights associated with it, such as appreciation, dividends, or other distributions. The voting trust is most often used with closely held companies where it is deemed advisable to allow one or more specific individuals to vote the stock. It is the trustee of the voting trust who is entitled to vote the stock held in the trust, and thus the individuals who are to have the vote will be appointed as the trustees of the voting trust.More... |
| Will Substitutes |
| In many jurisdictions, trusts cannot be revoked unless the trustor expressly retains the right to revoke. Revocable living trusts allow a trustor to manage his assets, to plan for his incapacity, and to avoid probate. The beneficiary of the trust gains interest in the assets during the trustor's lifetime and gains possession upon the trustor's death.More... |
| Choosing a Financial Power of Attorney |
| You can create a valid power of attorney if you are at least 18 years old and mentally competent. Generally, you must understand what a durable power of attorney for finances does and that you are executing such a document.More... |
| Executors -- Settling the Assets |
| As executor, your first step in settling the decedent's estate is to find all of the decedent's assets. You must then figure out which assets belonged solely to the decedent so that you can protect them until they can be distributed either according to the decedent's will or state intestacy laws. Finding such assets can be a challenge.More... |
| Limited Inheritance in Unusual Circumstances |
| State statutes of descent and distribution are usually supplemented by other statutes or court rulings that limit or prohibit inheritance in unusual circumstances. This article discusses some of those unusual circumstances.More... |



