The law of trusts and estates is generally considered the body of law which governs the management of personal affairs and the disposition of property of an individual in anticipation of the event of such person's incapacity or death, also known as the law of successions in civil law. Its techniques are also used to fulfil the wishes of philanthropic bequests or gifts through the creation, maintenance and supervison of charitable trusts. In some jurisdictions, such as the United States, it overlaps with the area that has come to be known as elder law that deals not only with estate planning but other issues that face the elderly, such as home care, long term care insurance or social security or disability benefits.

What is an estate?

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At common law, an estate was comprised of the tangible assets of real and personal property which belong to a natural person. More recently, the concept of an estate has been expanded to encompass any thing of value to which the deceased person was or might have been entitled to claim during his or her lifetime. The property of the estate must either be beqeathed through a will or transferred through the laws of intestacy if there is no will. A will is the most commonly used legal instrument for the distribution of the tangible assets of a deceased person. Before property can be disposed of pursuant to the terms of a will, the will must be submitted to a probate court having jurisdiction of the estate of the deceased. Probate is often considered a relatively lengthy and expensive process, albeit one which may provide greater safeguards with regard to the rights of a deceased person's beneficiaries, though probate often is contested by creditors or disgruntled members of the family of the deceased who feel they have not received their fair share of the deceased's property.

Uses of trusts

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More on [ Trusts and estates ]

Trusts and Estates - Twitter Search

Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog: Pauly Shore Files Lawsuit ...: Comedy store Actor and Comedian Pauly Sho.. http://bit.ly/5E5sFl
movie_matt (Movie_Matt) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:59:33 -0000
Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog: Pauly Shore Files Lawsuit ...: Comedy store Actor and Comedian Pauly Sho.. http://bit.ly/5E5sFl
I'd like to die hard, but NOT with a vengeance. Should I call a trusts and estates attorney? (via @BillCorbett)
The_CBJ (Christian Jessen) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:21:27 -0000
I'd like to die hard, but NOT with a vengeance. Should I call a trusts and estates attorney? (via @BillCorbett)
RT @BillCorbett: I'd like to die hard, but NOT with a vengeance. Should I call a trusts and estates attorney?
DJShay12 (DJShay12) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:52:21 -0000
RT @BillCorbett: I'd like to die hard, but NOT with a vengeance. Should I call a trusts and estates attorney?
RT @BillCorbett: I'd like to die hard, but NOT with a vengeance. Should I call a trusts and estates attorney?
lilianavonk (Precious Lillywhite) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:47:43 -0000
RT @BillCorbett: I'd like to die hard, but NOT with a vengeance. Should I call a trusts and estates attorney?
@BillCorbett I believe Die Hard With a Trusts and Estates Attorny is the next movie in the franchise, actually.
tehdingo (Neil Persson) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:42:41 -0000
@BillCorbett I believe Die Hard With a Trusts and Estates Attorny is the next movie in the franchise, actually.
RT @BillCorbett: I'd like to die hard, but NOT with a vengeance. Should I call a trusts and estates attorney?
effeandelle (Fear And Loathing) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:39:28 -0000
RT @BillCorbett: I'd like to die hard, but NOT with a vengeance. Should I call a trusts and estates attorney?

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