Comprehensive Guide to Pour-Over Wills in Forest Hills
A pour-over will is an important component of a coordinated estate plan that works together with a living trust to ensure assets not in the trust at death are transferred into it. Residents of Forest Hills and surrounding Davidson County often choose a pour-over will to simplify probate and keep property aligned with their trust instructions. At Jay Johnson Law Firm, we assist clients with drafting pour-over wills that reflect their wishes and integrate with their overall estate planning and probate needs. If you want a clear pathway for assets to pass to your trust, a pour-over will can provide that structure.
Pour-over wills are commonly used when a trust holds the primary estate plan but some assets remain titled outside the trust. The will acts as a safety net to direct those assets into the trust so they are distributed according to the trust’s terms. In Forest Hills, clients benefit from planning that reduces confusion for survivors and helps preserve privacy where possible. Jay Johnson Law Firm can explain how a pour-over will works in tandem with durable powers and beneficiary designations to create a cohesive plan tailored to your family’s needs and objectives.
Why a Pour-Over Will Matters for Your Estate Plan
A pour-over will provides a fallback mechanism that captures assets inadvertently left outside a trust, ensuring they transfer to the trust at death and are handled consistently with your broader plan. This arrangement can reduce disputes over property distribution and centralize administration under the trust’s terms. For many families in Forest Hills, the pour-over will complements other estate planning steps, smoothing the probate process for beneficiaries and clarifying intent. Properly drafted, it can protect family harmony, promote orderly disposition of assets, and ensure that your wishes are carried out without leaving gaps in your plan.
About Jay Johnson Law Firm and Our Approach to Pour-Over Wills
Jay Johnson Law Firm provides practical, client-centered estate planning and probate services to families in Forest Hills and across Tennessee. Our approach emphasizes clear communication, careful document drafting, and attention to the details that make pour-over wills work effectively with trusts. We guide clients through choices about asset titling, beneficiary designations, and trustee selection so the pour-over will operates as intended. Our goal is to prepare documents that are straightforward to administer and that reflect each client’s personal and financial priorities while helping to minimize uncertainty for loved ones after a death.
Understanding Pour-Over Wills and How They Work
A pour-over will is a testamentary document that directs any probate assets to be transferred into an existing trust at the time of death. It does not replace a trust but acts as a complement to capture property that was not retitled into the trust during life. For Forest Hills residents, this can include newly acquired property, forgotten accounts, or items that were intentionally kept outside the trust for convenience. The pour-over will ensures those assets are administered according to the trust’s terms, facilitating cohesive distribution and providing a safety net to prevent unintended outcomes.
While pour-over wills are valuable, they do not avoid probate for the assets they cover; those assets must still pass through probate to be transferred to the trust. Planning that minimizes probate exposure often includes retitling major assets and using beneficiary designations where appropriate. Nevertheless, a pour-over will preserves the client’s intent when perfect titling is not practical. We work with clients to balance the administrative realities of probate with the benefits of centralized trust administration so families in Forest Hills have a clear, manageable estate plan.
What a Pour-Over Will Actually Does
A pour-over will serves as a mechanism to transfer any assets not already in a trust into that trust upon the testator’s death. It names the trust as the ultimate beneficiary of residual probate assets and typically nominates a personal representative to handle the probate process. The will may also include limited bequests and standard testamentary provisions. The primary function is to ensure that all assets are governed by the trust’s distribution plan, avoiding conflicting instructions and helping maintain consistency across the estate plan for survivors and fiduciaries in Forest Hills.
Key Components and Steps in Creating a Pour-Over Will
Drafting an effective pour-over will involves identifying the trust to receive the assets, naming a personal representative, and clarifying any specific bequests. It also requires coordination with the trust document, review of asset ownership, and consideration of beneficiary designations to minimize unintended probate. After execution, periodic review is important to reflect life changes such as new property, updated relationships, or changes in financial accounts. We assist clients with these steps so the pour-over will functions reliably as part of a cohesive estate plan for Forest Hills families.
Key Terms and Glossary for Pour-Over Wills
Understanding the terminology used in estate planning helps clients make informed decisions about pour-over wills and related documents. Familiarity with concepts like trust, probate, personal representative, and beneficiary designation clarifies the path assets will take at death. This glossary covers the common terms you will encounter when creating or reviewing a pour-over will with your estate plan. Knowing these definitions can reduce confusion during the planning process and when your plan is administered by family or fiduciaries after death.
Trust
A trust is a legal arrangement where one party, the trustee, holds title to assets for the benefit of another, the beneficiary, under terms set by the trust maker. Trusts allow property to be managed and distributed according to instructions that can avoid some aspects of probate and provide continuity of asset management. Trusts can be revocable during the maker’s life, allowing flexibility, or irrevocable with more fixed terms. A pour-over will directs residual probate property into the trust so those assets follow the trust’s distribution plan.
Personal Representative
The personal representative, sometimes called an executor, is the individual appointed by a will or by a court to administer the decedent’s estate in probate. This person gathers assets, pays debts and taxes, and distributes property according to the will. For a pour-over will, the personal representative’s role includes transferring probate assets into the named trust once administration is complete. Choosing a trustworthy and organized personal representative helps ensure the estate is administered efficiently and in line with the decedent’s stated intentions.
Probate
Probate is the legal process through which a decedent’s estate is administered under court supervision. It typically involves proving the validity of the will, inventorying assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing remaining property. Assets that pass by beneficiary designation, joint ownership, or trust ownership often avoid probate. Pour-over wills can cause certain assets to enter probate initially so they can be transferred into a trust, which then directs final distribution according to its terms.
Beneficiary Designation
A beneficiary designation is a named recipient of certain assets such as retirement accounts, life insurance proceeds, or payable-on-death accounts. These designations generally override instructions in a will or trust, so keeping them current is essential to ensure assets go where intended. When beneficiary designations are not updated or when assets lack a designation, a pour-over will can help by directing those assets to the trust for distribution, but the initial probate step may still be required to effect that transfer.
Comparing Limited Documents and a Comprehensive Trust-Based Approach
Clients can choose from limited documents like simple wills and powers of attorney or pursue a comprehensive trust-based plan that includes a pour-over will alongside a living trust. Limited documents may be sufficient for straightforward estates or when cost is the primary concern, but they can leave gaps that require probate and court involvement. A trust-based approach aims to centralize control, reduce administrative burdens for heirs, and create clearer instructions for asset management. We help assess which option aligns with a client’s family dynamics, asset types, and goals in Forest Hills.
When a Limited Will and Basic Documents May Be Enough:
Simple Estate and Few Assets
For individuals with modest estates, a simple will combined with powers of attorney and health care directives may provide adequate protection. If assets are limited and beneficiaries are clear and able to manage probate responsibilities, the added complexity of a trust may not be necessary. In such cases, a pour-over will may also be included as a fail-safe without creating a full trust administration. We help clients weigh the costs, time, and likely outcomes so that planning choices reflect both practical needs and peace of mind for families in Forest Hills.
Low Concern About Probate Delays or Costs
Families who are comfortable with probate or who anticipate minimal probate administration may prefer keeping documents simple. When heirs are cooperative and assets are straightforward to transfer, the benefits of a trust-based plan may not outweigh the setup and maintenance efforts. A limited approach can still include provisions to appoint guardians, name a personal representative, and direct distributions. Our firm discusses the likely probate process in Davidson County so clients can make informed decisions about whether a pour-over will or a full trust is the right fit.
When a Trust-Based, Comprehensive Plan Is Preferable:
Complex Assets or Privacy Concerns
Clients with diverse asset types, real estate, business interests, or a desire to maintain privacy after death often benefit from a comprehensive trust-based plan. Trusts can reduce public exposure of asset distribution and streamline the transfer of property outside probate. A pour-over will complements that plan by ensuring any lingering probate assets move into the trust for consistent administration. We assist clients in Forest Hills to analyze asset structure and privacy goals so the chosen plan aligns with their long-term wishes and family circumstances.
Blended Families or Special Distribution Goals
When family situations are complex, such as blended families or specific plans for grandchildren, a trust-based approach provides clearer control over distribution timing and conditions. Trusts can include provisions for ongoing management of assets and contingencies that a simple will cannot address as flexibly. A pour-over will serves as a backup to capture assets unintentionally left outside the trust. We help clients in Forest Hills create plans that reflect family dynamics and long-term intentions while reducing potential conflicts among beneficiaries.
Benefits of a Comprehensive Trust-and-Pour-Over-Will Strategy
A combined trust and pour-over will approach centralizes decision-making and streamlines administration by ensuring that most assets pass under the trust’s terms. This can reduce the need for multiple probate proceedings, provide continuity of management, and offer clearer instructions for fiduciaries. For Forest Hills clients, the comprehensive approach can protect beneficiaries from uncertainty, make distribution logistics simpler, and provide flexibility for changing circumstances through trust provisions that can be adjusted when allowed by law.
In addition to administrative benefits, a comprehensive plan helps preserve family relationships by reducing ambiguity about the decedent’s wishes and minimizing occasions for disputes. Trusts can include mechanisms for staged distributions, asset protection measures, and tailored instructions that reflect a client’s values and priorities. When combined with a pour-over will, the plan reduces the likelihood that mistakenly untitled assets will disrupt the intended distribution, giving families in Forest Hills a more predictable and orderly transfer of their estate.
Centralized Asset Administration
Centralized administration through a trust with a pour-over will helps ensure that assets are managed and distributed consistently, reducing administrative duplication and minimizing confusion among heirs and fiduciaries. This approach collects residual probate assets into the trust for unified handling under one set of instructions. For clients in Forest Hills, this means easier management after death and a single framework to follow, which can save time and reduce stress for family members tasked with settling the estate.
Greater Control Over Distribution and Timing
Trusts allow for precise control over when and how beneficiaries receive assets, including staged distributions or conditions tied to life events. Paired with a pour-over will, the strategy captures assets that would otherwise fall outside the trust’s reach and brings them under the same distribution rules. This consistency helps preserve intended outcomes for Forest Hills families and can protect beneficiaries who may not be prepared to manage a large inheritance immediately.
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Practical Tips for Using a Pour-Over Will
Keep Asset Titles and Beneficiaries Updated
One of the most common issues that undermines estate plans is inconsistent or outdated asset titling and beneficiary designations. Regularly review account titles, retirement plan beneficiaries, and life insurance designations to ensure they align with your trust and pour-over will. If a retirement account names an unintended beneficiary, that asset may bypass your trust and create distribution outcomes you did not intend. Periodic reviews—especially after major life events—help maintain consistency and reduce the need for probate to resolve conflicts or oversights.
Coordinate the Will with the Trust Document
Review Your Plan After Major Life Changes
Life events such as marriage, divorce, birth, death, or significant changes in assets can affect whether your pour-over will and trust still reflect your wishes. After any significant change, review the entire estate plan to confirm it still accomplishes your goals. Updating documents when circumstances change prevents unintended distributions and reduces the burden on survivors. Regular check-ins with your planner or attorney help catch issues early so the pour-over will remains an effective component of a resilient estate plan for your family.
Why Consider a Pour-Over Will as Part of Your Plan
A pour-over will is particularly valuable when you want most assets controlled by a trust but also need a safety net for items not retitled before death. It helps ensure small or overlooked assets do not derail an otherwise carefully constructed estate plan and provides a clear path for those items to be distributed according to trust terms. For many clients in Forest Hills, the pour-over will reduces administrative confusion and helps align probate outcomes with the overall goals set out in the trust document.
Additionally, pour-over wills can simplify decision-making for family members and fiduciaries by funneling residual probate property into the trust rather than creating separate distributions. This consolidation helps preserve privacy and can reduce friction among beneficiaries since the trust’s instructions govern the ultimate distribution. Discussing these benefits in the context of your assets, family situation, and long-term objectives helps determine whether a pour-over will is a worthwhile part of your estate plan.
Common Situations Where a Pour-Over Will Is Helpful
Situations that commonly prompt clients to use a pour-over will include the acquisition of property after the trust was funded, failure to transfer smaller accounts into the trust, changed family circumstances, and oversight of beneficiary designations. It is also useful when coordinating multiple planning documents to avoid conflicting instructions. In these scenarios, the pour-over will works as a backstop to capture assets intended to be part of the trust and helps create a smoother administration process for heirs and fiduciaries.
Newly Acquired Assets Not Retitled
If you obtain property or accounts after creating a trust and do not retitle those assets into the trust, those items could pass through probate and potentially be distributed differently than you intended. A pour-over will catches such assets and directs them into the trust at death, aligning final distribution with the trust’s instructions. Regularly reviewing asset titles and updating the trust or retitling assets reduces reliance on probate and ensures a more seamless transfer of property according to your plan.
Overlooked Accounts or Personal Property
Small accounts, sentimental personal property, and items with unclear ownership are often overlooked when funding a trust. A pour-over will helps gather these residual assets into the trust so they are distributed consistently. Addressing these items during planning or after major changes prevents surprises during probate and spares family members unnecessary decision-making. Taking inventory of assets and documenting intentions for personal items can work together with a pour-over will to provide clarity for survivors.
Unintended Beneficiary Designations
If beneficiary designations are outdated or inconsistent with your trust, assets may not follow the trust’s instructions. A pour-over will does not override most beneficiary designations, but it can help in situations where assets are otherwise intestate or lack a designated recipient. Reviewing and updating beneficiary forms and aligning them with the trust document reduces the likelihood of assets bypassing the trust and ensures that intended distributions are carried out more predictably.
Forest Hills Estate Planning and Probate Assistance
Jay Johnson Law Firm offers guidance to Forest Hills residents on integrating pour-over wills with trust-based planning to achieve a cohesive estate plan. Our services focus on clear drafting, document coordination, and practical advice about asset titling and beneficiary choices. Whether you are creating a new plan or updating an existing one, we help you identify potential gaps and provide straightforward solutions so your plan reflects current wishes and is ready to be administered when needed.
Why Choose Jay Johnson Law Firm for Pour-Over Wills
Clients choose Jay Johnson Law Firm for attentive service and practical guidance through the estate planning process. We prioritize listening to family goals and concerns so documents reflect individual priorities. Our work includes drafting pour-over wills that coordinate with trusts and advising on steps to minimize unnecessary probate. We aim to make planning approachable and to produce documents that are clear for those who will manage your affairs in the future.
We place emphasis on thoroughness and on explaining how each part of an estate plan interacts, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations. This helps clients in Forest Hills anticipate what will happen to different types of assets and how the pour-over will functions within the overall plan. Our process is designed to identify and address common oversights so that the final documents accomplish the client’s intended outcomes.
Communication with family members and fiduciaries is part of our planning philosophy; we provide clear instructions and guidance to help trustees and personal representatives carry out their duties effectively. We also recommend periodic reviews to keep documents up to date after life changes. If you are in Davidson County and considering a trust-based plan with a pour-over will, we can discuss practical options and tailor a plan that fits your circumstances and priorities.
Contact Jay Johnson Law Firm to Discuss Your Pour-Over Will
How We Handle Pour-Over Wills and Trust Coordination
Our process begins with an intake meeting to understand your family, assets, and objectives. We review existing documents, identify gaps, and recommend whether a pour-over will, trust, or combination best suits your needs. Drafting follows with careful cross-referencing between documents, and we explain signing, notarization, and storage procedures. Finally, we advise on steps to keep the plan current, including retitling significant assets and updating beneficiary forms as necessary to support smooth administration in the future.
Step 1: Initial Consultation and Document Review
The initial consultation focuses on gathering information about your assets, family relationships, and planning goals. We review existing wills, trusts, account titles, and beneficiary designations to identify inconsistencies or items that may require special attention. This comprehensive review helps determine whether a pour-over will alone is sufficient or if a coordinated trust-based plan is preferable. We also discuss practical concerns about probate, timing, and the responsibilities of a personal representative and trustee.
Assessing Asset Ownership and Beneficiary Forms
A careful assessment of how assets are titled and which accounts have beneficiary designations is essential. We examine deeds, bank accounts, retirement plans, and insurance policies to understand which items will bypass probate and which will not. This review identifies assets that should be retitled into a trust, assets that can remain as is, and those that a pour-over will should capture. The goal is to create a predictable plan that aligns asset flow with your stated intentions.
Identifying Family Objectives and Distribution Priorities
We discuss family dynamics, care for minor children, support needs for survivors, and any special distribution preferences. Understanding these priorities informs whether staged distributions, guardianship provisions, or trust terms are appropriate. This conversation helps shape the pour-over will and any trust provisions so the final documents reflect both practical and personal objectives. Clear articulation of these priorities reduces ambiguity for those administering the plan after death.
Step 2: Drafting Documents and Coordinating the Plan
After gathering information and confirming objectives, we draft the pour-over will and, if applicable, the trust and supporting documents. Drafting includes precise identification of the trust, nomination of fiduciaries, and any specific bequests. We coordinate language across documents to prevent conflicting instructions and provide instructions for execution, witnessing, and storage. The draft stage allows client review and adjustments to ensure accuracy and alignment with the desired outcomes for asset distribution and administration.
Preparing the Pour-Over Will and Related Documents
The pour-over will is prepared to name the trust as beneficiary of residual probate property and to nominate a personal representative. We ensure the will’s provisions are consistent with trust terms and that specific bequests are clear. Supporting documents like powers of attorney and health care directives are also prepared or updated to complete the estate plan. These documents together create a comprehensive framework for managing affairs during life and distributing assets after death.
Client Review, Revisions, and Execution
Clients review drafts and suggest revisions until the documents reflect final intentions. We explain signing requirements and coordinate notarization and witness procedures to ensure validity under Tennessee law. After execution, we advise on safe storage and provide guidance on how to inform key people about the plan. Post-execution steps often include retitling assets into the trust where appropriate and confirming beneficiary designations are aligned with the overall plan.
Step 3: Post-Execution Maintenance and Administration
After documents are executed, periodic maintenance is important to keep the plan current. We recommend reviews after major life events and can assist with retitling assets, updating beneficiary designations, and making amendments when necessary. If probate becomes necessary, our firm can support the personal representative in administering the estate and transferring probate assets into the trust according to the pour-over will. This ongoing support helps ensure the plan functions as intended over time.
Ongoing Reviews and Document Updates
Regular reviews help identify changes in family circumstances, finances, or law that might require updates to the trust or pour-over will. We encourage clients to schedule reviews every few years or after significant events such as marriage, divorce, births, or major financial transactions. These updates preserve the plan’s effectiveness and reduce surprises during administration, ensuring the pour-over will continues to serve as a reliable backup for residual assets.
Assistance with Probate and Trust Funding
If probate is required to transfer assets into the trust under the pour-over will, we can assist the personal representative with filing necessary documents and fulfilling fiduciary duties. Our involvement helps ensure proper accounting, creditor notice, and transfer of assets into the trust for final distribution. When the process is complete, the trust then governs the disposition of those assets according to the decedent’s instructions, providing continuity and clarity for beneficiaries in Forest Hills.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pour-Over Wills
What is the difference between a pour-over will and a regular will?
A pour-over will differs from a traditional will primarily in its purpose and relationship to a trust. A traditional will sets out how to distribute assets directly to beneficiaries and can include detailed bequests and guardianship provisions. A pour-over will, by contrast, is intended to funnel residual probate assets into an existing trust so that those assets will ultimately be distributed according to the trust’s terms. It acts as a safety net for items not retitled into the trust during life, ensuring the trust remains the primary vehicle for distribution.Both documents can include similar administrative provisions like appointing a personal representative and specifying how debts should be paid, but the pour-over will’s main role is to capture leftover assets for the trust. Because the pour-over will typically results in probate for those assets, it does not eliminate probate for the captured property, but it does promote consistency by bringing assets under the trust’s distribution rules once probate is complete.
Will a pour-over will avoid probate entirely?
No, a pour-over will does not avoid probate for the assets it covers. Assets named in the pour-over will as residual probate property generally must go through probate before they can be transferred into the trust. The trust then controls the final distribution of those assets according to its terms. The pour-over will functions as a conduit, but the probate process is still necessary for transferring title of the assets that were not previously placed in the trust.To reduce the assets that must pass through probate, clients can retitle significant property into the trust during life and maintain current beneficiary designations where appropriate. This proactive funding minimizes probate exposure and limits the number of assets that the pour-over will needs to address at death.
How do I make sure my assets go into my trust?
To increase the likelihood that assets will go into your trust without requiring probate, you should retitle real estate, bank and investment accounts, and other transferable assets in the trust’s name when appropriate. For accounts that permit a payable-on-death or transfer-on-death designation, naming the trust or an appropriate beneficiary can also help. Regularly reviewing asset titles and beneficiary forms ensures consistency with the trust and reduces the chance that something will be left out of the trust.Some assets, such as retirement accounts or life insurance, often pass by beneficiary designation and do not become trust property unless specifically directed. For such items, coordinating beneficiary designations with your trust document is key. If an asset remains outside the trust, a pour-over will can capture it, but that typically requires probate administration to move the asset into the trust for final distribution.
Who should I name as personal representative for my pour-over will?
The personal representative should be someone trustworthy, organized, and capable of handling administrative tasks and communication with beneficiaries. This person is responsible for initiating probate, collecting assets, paying debts and taxes, and transferring probate property into the trust per the pour-over will. Many people choose a spouse, adult child, close friend, or professional fiduciary depending on family dynamics and the complexity of the estate.Selecting an appropriate personal representative also involves considering potential conflicts of interest and the nominee’s willingness to serve. We recommend discussing the role with the person you plan to name so they understand the obligations involved. If the named individual cannot serve, courts will appoint an alternative, which may complicate and lengthen administration.
Can I change my pour-over will after I sign it?
Yes, a pour-over will can be changed while you are alive as long as you have the capacity required by law to amend or revoke your will. Typical methods of change include executing a new will that revokes the prior document or adding a codicil that modifies certain provisions. It is important to follow Tennessee’s formalities for signing and witnessing to ensure any changes are valid and enforceable at death.Additionally, the trust to which the pour-over will directs assets can often be amended if it is a revocable trust, allowing you to update distribution terms, fiduciary appointments, and other provisions. Periodic reviews ensure both the will and the trust continue to reflect current wishes and changes in your family or financial situation.
Do beneficiary designations override a pour-over will?
Beneficiary designations commonly override instructions in a will or trust for accounts that pass directly to named beneficiaries, such as most retirement plans and life insurance policies. This means that if a beneficiary designation names someone other than the trust, that asset will typically pass outside of the trust despite a pour-over will. Keeping beneficiary forms consistent with the trust and estate plan is essential to ensure assets are distributed as intended.When beneficiary designations are outdated or absent, assets may become part of the probate estate and be captured by the pour-over will. Regular coordination of beneficiary forms, account titles, and trust provisions reduces the risk of unintended distribution and helps align all components of your estate plan.
How often should I review my pour-over will and trust?
It is wise to review your pour-over will and trust every few years and after significant life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or major changes in assets. These reviews ensure that documents remain current, that fiduciary appointments are still appropriate, and that beneficiary designations and asset titling continue to reflect your intentions. A routine review prevents surprises and helps maintain a reliable plan that operates as expected when needed.Additionally, changes in law or tax rules may affect estate planning strategies, so periodic consultations provide an opportunity to adjust your plan in light of shifting legal landscapes. We recommend scheduling reviews and updates as part of ongoing estate maintenance to preserve clarity and effectiveness.
What happens if I forget to fund my trust during life?
If you forget to fund your trust during life, a pour-over will provides a mechanism to transfer those assets into the trust through the probate process. Although this ensures the assets will eventually be distributed under the trust’s terms, it does not avoid the probate procedures required to transfer title. Probate can add time, expense, and public disclosure, which is why funding the trust during life is generally recommended when possible.We assist clients in identifying assets that should be retitled into the trust and guide them through the funding process. For assets that cannot be retitled for practical reasons, the pour-over will still provides peace of mind by capturing these items for trust administration after death, creating consistency in final distribution.
Are pour-over wills only for large estates?
Pour-over wills are not only for large estates; they are useful for anyone who uses a trust as the primary distribution vehicle but wants a safety net for assets remaining outside the trust. Even modest estates can benefit from coordination between a trust and a pour-over will to ensure that all property is handled under a single plan. The size of the estate does not negate the value of consistent, clear instructions for survivors and fiduciaries.Whether an estate is large or small, the planning decision depends on factors such as asset types, family structure, and preferences for probate avoidance and privacy. We help clients evaluate whether a trust with a pour-over will offers the right balance of benefits for their particular circumstances in Forest Hills.
How does a pour-over will work with life insurance or retirement accounts?
Life insurance proceeds and retirement accounts usually pass according to beneficiary designations and therefore may not be captured by a pour-over will unless the trust is specifically named as the beneficiary. Naming the trust as beneficiary can direct those proceeds into the trust, but this choice has tax and administration implications that should be considered carefully. If the trust is not the beneficiary, those assets typically transfer outside probate and are governed by the beneficiary form.Coordinating beneficiary designations with your trust and overall plan is important to achieve intended outcomes. We review the impact of naming a trust as beneficiary and help structure designations so they align with distribution goals while considering tax consequences and administrative practicalities for survivors in Forest Hills.