Standard Estate Plans

Standard estate planning packages contain the following documents:

• Wills with testamentary trust provisions to protect assets for youthful beneficiaries, with guardianship nominations for minor children where needed

• Powers of attorney for finances

• Powers of attorney for health care, with included advance medical directives for end of life decisions if requested

• Childcare powers of attorney upon request

Standard plans can be created for individuals, for married couples or for partnered couples who wish to plan together, and for blended families.

Standard plans also include guidance for comprehensive asset planning, including information and advice for beneficiary account management (life insurance, retirement accounts, etc.), and an overall review of financial account titling to assist with effective passage of all assets.

Revocable Trust Packages

If your planning and distribution scenario is better served with an active, inter vivos (living) trust, Arbor can develop a full revocable trust package which includes one or more trust instruments, a will that works in conjunction with the trust while also nominating guardians and other back-up fiduciaries, and all accompanying documents included in a standard package. Trust packages also contain a transfer deed for your primary residence and funding guidance for self-titled assets.

Trusts are a great vehicle to hold title to real estate located in other states to avoid multiple ancillary probate processes, and are often used to protect certain assets in blended family scenarios or to ease the probate process. Trusts are also frequently used by clients facing a future disability diagnosis, to avoid costly and embarrassing court proceedings to establish a financial guardian to manage client assets during times of incapacity.

*If you have an existing revocable trust and would like to discuss amendments to the management or distribution articles, with creation of updated wills and powers of attorney, Arbor can assist with amendment and/or restatement planning packages as well.

In Every Package:

No matter which type of document supports the best outcome for your overall planning needs, Arbor provides information and additional forms for comprehensive planning, including guidance for beneficiary account management, and interactive fillable PDF forms:

• List of Accounts & Passwords for surviving spouses and executors

• Tangible Personal Property List to guide distribution of individual personal items, such as artwork, jewelry, or family heirlooms

• Information for Guardians Form for parents of minor children, with instructions for creation of detailed letters of guidance for guardians and trustees

• Burial & Final Arrangements Form

Arbor provides a detailed closing letter and checklist to assist clients with current and future management of their estate plan, including an operation guide for reassigning life insurance proceeds or retirement accounts into appropriate trusts. All informational forms are provided to clients on a personal drive, which can be used for future management of assets and for dissemination of information to survivors and beneficiaries.