Complete Guide to Pour-Over Wills in Spencer
Pour-over wills are a planning tool used alongside a living trust to ensure any assets unintentionally left out of the trust are transferred into it at death. For Spencer residents, understanding how a pour-over will works helps avoid gaps in asset transfer and reduces the risk of property passing outside intended arrangements. The discussion below explains the role of a pour-over will within an overall estate plan, common scenarios where it is used, and how it interacts with probate, so you can decide whether this approach fits your needs and family circumstances.
A pour-over will is not a substitute for a living trust but works together with it to streamline estate administration. In Spencer and across Tennessee, a pour-over will captures residual assets and directs them to an existing trust, simplifying post-death management and helping preserve privacy for many estate items. This page outlines the benefits, typical elements, and practical steps involved in establishing a pour-over will, along with considerations specific to local laws and procedures so you and your family can put a dependable plan in place.
Why Pour-Over Wills Matter for Your Estate Plan
A pour-over will plays a key role in completing a trust-based estate plan by ensuring any assets not funded into the trust during life are directed into it after death. This approach reduces the likelihood that property will pass under intestacy rules or through more public probate procedures. For many families in Spencer, that means clearer instructions for distribution, fewer disputes among heirs, and a plan that meshes with other documents such as powers of attorney and advance healthcare directives. A properly drafted pour-over will complements a living trust and supports smoother post-death administration.
About Jay Johnson Law Firm and Our Approach to Pour-Over Wills
Jay Johnson Law Firm serves clients across Tennessee, including Spencer and Van Buren County, with estate planning and probate services designed to match each family’s circumstances. Our team focuses on providing clear explanations, practical document drafting, and careful coordination between wills and trusts to reduce the chance of estate administration delays. We emphasize plain-language guidance, personalized planning sessions, and attention to detail in document preparation. If you have a living trust or are planning one, a pour-over will can be drafted and reviewed to ensure it integrates properly with your other estate documents and local rules.
Understanding Pour-Over Wills and How They Work
A pour-over will functions as a safety net for a trust-centered estate plan. It names a personal representative to administer any assets not already moved into the trust and directs those assets into the named trust at death. In many cases, assets are easier to handle when held in a trust, but people sometimes forget to retitle bank accounts, transfer deeds, or update beneficiary designations. The pour-over will ensures that those assets will ultimately be treated according to the trust’s terms, which can prevent unintended distributions and streamline the executor’s work.
Although a pour-over will directs assets to a trust, it does not completely avoid probate for items that must be administered through the court. In Tennessee, the pour-over will must be probated to move assets into the trust properly, and that process follows state timelines and rules. The advantage lies in consolidating assets under the trust after probate and ensuring distribution follows the trust’s structure. Reviewing beneficiary forms, ownership titles, and trust funding during life reduces probate needs, but the pour-over will remains an important backstop for missing or overlooked assets.
Definition and How a Pour-Over Will Operates
A pour-over will is a testamentary document that ‘pours’ remaining probate assets into a living trust when the testator dies. It names the trust as a beneficiary of any property not previously transferred, and it typically appoints a personal representative to handle probate formalities. The pour-over will clarifies intent, helps gather assets for transfer to the trust, and supports distribution consistency with the trust terms. While not eliminating probate entirely for some items, it reduces the risk that assets will be distributed outside the decedent’s chosen trust structure.
Key Elements of a Pour-Over Will and the Related Process
Typical components include a statement identifying the living trust to receive assets, appointment of a personal representative, instructions on funeral or estate administration preferences, and signature and witness provisions that meet Tennessee formalities. The process normally involves signing the will with required witnesses, maintaining trust documents and beneficiary designations, and confirming titled ownership of major assets. If assets are discovered after death that were not funded to the trust, the personal representative will initiate probate to transfer those assets into the trust according to the pour-over direction.
Key Terms and Glossary for Pour-Over Wills
Understanding common terms helps you navigate estate planning conversations. This glossary explains phrases you are likely to encounter when considering a pour-over will alongside a living trust, including how probate, beneficiary designations, funding, and personal representative duties interact. Becoming familiar with these words empowers you to review documents with confidence, ask informed questions during planning sessions, and make sure that the pour-over will and trust function together as intended under Tennessee rules.
Living Trust
A living trust is a private legal document that holds and manages assets during a person’s life and provides for distribution at death without the same level of court supervision as probate. Trusts can be revocable or irrevocable; in the context of a pour-over will, a revocable living trust is commonly used so the trust owner controls assets while alive. Properly funding the trust by retitling assets into the trust name reduces the need for probate, while a pour-over will captures any assets left out and ensures they are transferred into the trust after death.
Personal Representative
A personal representative is the individual appointed by a will to manage the estate through probate, gather assets, pay debts and taxes, and ensure distribution of remaining property according to the will. With a pour-over will, the personal representative plays the role of transferring any probate assets into the named trust after completing necessary administration steps. Choosing a trustworthy and capable personal representative is important since that person will handle estate affairs and coordination with the trust successor trustee if additional steps are required.
Funding a Trust
Funding a trust means transferring ownership of assets into the name of the trust during the grantor’s lifetime so the trust documents control those assets on incapacity or death. Proper funding minimizes the volume of assets that must pass through probate and ensures the trust’s directions are followed. Common actions include retitling real estate, changing account ownership, and designating the trust as beneficiary where allowed. A pour-over will remains useful to capture assets unintentionally left outside the trust despite efforts to fund it fully.
Probate
Probate is the court process for administering a deceased person’s estate, including authenticating a will, appointing a personal representative, paying liabilities and distributing assets. While trusts can reduce the assets handled through probate, some items still may require probate administration. A pour-over will is typically probated to transfer residual assets into a trust, after which trust terms govern final distribution. Knowing how probate operates in Tennessee helps plan for timelines and potential costs associated with estate settlement.
Comparing Options: Pour-Over Will vs. Other Estate Tools
When deciding among wills, trusts, or combined approaches, consider control, privacy, cost, and administration needs. A standalone will may be simpler initially but can lead to public probate and delays. A living trust provides greater privacy and continuity but requires proactive funding. The pour-over will combined with a living trust offers a balanced plan by providing an automatic mechanism for overlooked assets while preserving the trust’s distribution plan. Comparing these options in the context of your property types and family dynamics helps select the arrangement that best meets your objectives.
When a Simple Will May Be Adequate:
Small Estate and Clear Beneficiaries
A straightforward will may suffice when an estate is small, assets are few, and beneficiaries are clearly identified with no foreseeable disputes. If bank accounts have payable-on-death designations, retirement accounts name beneficiaries, and real estate is jointly owned with rights of survivorship, probate needs may be minimal. In such situations, the simplicity and lower upfront cost of a basic will can be appropriate. However, even with a simple estate, individuals should periodically review beneficiary designations and ownership to confirm that their overall plan still matches their intentions and family circumstances.
Low Complexity Estates
When family relationships are straightforward and assets are unlikely to trigger disputes, a limited approach can work well. For people with modest assets, no business interests, and adult beneficiaries who communicate well, a will that names an executor and distributes property may be efficient. Regular updates remain important to reflect life changes such as marriage, divorce, or births. Even in low complexity situations, considering coordination with beneficiary forms and property titles will help avoid unintended results and might reveal when adding a trust would be beneficial.
Reasons to Choose a Trust-Based Plan with a Pour-Over Will:
Avoiding Gaps and Protecting Privacy
A trust-based plan with a pour-over will reduces the chance that assets will be distributed outside your chosen plan and offers more privacy than probate, which is a public court process. For families with substantial property, multiple accounts, or privacy concerns, this approach centralizes distribution instructions in the trust and captures any overlooked assets through the pour-over mechanism. That combination supports consistent distribution, simplifies administration for surviving family, and can reduce exposure to public court filings for assets that move into the trust after probate.
Continuity and Incapacity Planning
A comprehensive estate plan often includes incapacity planning through durable powers of attorney and an advanced directive, along with a living trust and a pour-over will. These documents work together to ensure decision-making continuity if the trust owner becomes incapacitated and to manage asset distribution at death. The trust provides a path for ongoing management, and the pour-over will fills administrative gaps. For households wanting clear, ongoing care and financial management instructions, the combined approach offers stronger continuity than a will alone.
Benefits of Combining a Living Trust with a Pour-Over Will
Combining a living trust with a pour-over will creates a resilient plan that helps protect privacy, consolidates asset distribution, and provides mechanisms for managing affairs during incapacity. The trust controls distribution after death without exposing all details in public probate records, and the pour-over will ensures assets omitted during life still flow into the trust. This combination assists families by reducing administrative friction, clarifying successor roles, and aligning property transfers with long-term intentions for beneficiaries, including minors or those needing ongoing support.
A comprehensive approach also allows for coordinated tax, financial, and legacy planning while preserving flexibility in how assets are managed during life. Because trusts can include provisions for management, distribution timing, and safeguards for vulnerable beneficiaries, placing assets into a trust provides structured protection. The pour-over will supports the trust by catching residual assets, making the entire plan more complete. Periodic review keeps the plan up to date with changes in law, family circumstances, and financial accounts, helping to maintain effectiveness over time.
Privacy and Controlled Distribution
One principal benefit of a trust-centered plan is privacy. Unlike a will that becomes a public record in probate, a living trust remains largely private, and distributions under the trust are handled outside of court. The pour-over will supports that privacy by ensuring any overlooked assets move into the trust, keeping the ultimate distribution consistent with the trust’s terms. For families that value privacy and orderly transfers, this structure reduces public exposure of asset details and helps ensure the decedent’s intentions are carried out discreetly.
Reduced Administrative Burden for Loved Ones
When assets are consolidated in a trust, successor trustees can manage distributions without extended court involvement, often leading to faster and less costly settlement for beneficiaries. The pour-over will reduces the volume of assets stuck in probate by channeling residual property into the trust, which simplifies the duties of personal representatives and trustees. This reduction in administrative burden can ease the emotional and logistical strain on family members during a difficult time, making transitions smoother for beneficiaries and reducing time spent on court procedures.
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Practical Tips for Pour-Over Will Planning
Review and Update Trust Funding Regularly
Regularly reviewing trust funding reduces reliance on a pour-over will because assets properly titled to the trust will avoid probate entirely. Check deeds, bank and brokerage account registrations, and beneficiary designations on retirement and life insurance policies at least every few years or after major life events. Confirm that new purchases are titled correctly and that retirement accounts and insurance forms name the trust when appropriate. This diligence keeps your estate plan aligned with your intentions and decreases the volume of property that must be handled through probate upon death.
Coordinate Beneficiary Forms with Trust Documents
Keep Documents Accessible and Communicate Plans
Store your will, trust, and related documents in a secure but accessible location, and tell a trusted person where they can be found. Provide clear instructions to your personal representative and successor trustee about your intentions and any account locations. Open lines of communication with family members about the existence of a trust and pour-over will can reduce confusion at the time of need. While not every detail must be shared, making sure key decision-makers know where to find documents saves time and stress when formal administration begins.
Why Spencer Residents Choose a Pour-Over Will with a Trust
Residents in Spencer often prefer a pour-over will paired with a living trust because it creates a reliable plan for asset distribution while providing privacy and continuity. Many people appreciate that the pour-over will acts as a safety net for assets not properly retitled during life, while the trust contains the primary instructions for management and distribution. This approach is particularly appealing when there are concerns about keeping matters private, protecting young or vulnerable beneficiaries, or managing assets over time without repeated court involvement.
Another reason to consider this service is the peace of mind that comes from having redundancy built into your estate plan. Even with careful planning, life changes and oversights can leave assets outside a trust. The pour-over will captures those assets and directs them into the trust according to your wishes. Combined with incapacity documents and beneficiary reviews, this method supports a comprehensive plan that addresses both expected and unforeseen issues while minimizing confusion for loved ones during administration.
Common Situations Where a Pour-Over Will Helps
Circumstances that often make a pour-over will useful include recently created trusts that have not been fully funded, changes in asset ownership after trust creation, newly acquired property, or overlooked personal items. Life events such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, or relocating accounts between institutions can leave assets outside trust ownership. In these situations, the pour-over will ensures that any such assets will ultimately be treated consistently with the trust terms, avoiding accidental transfers under outdated instructions and preserving the intended distribution plan for beneficiaries.
Recently Created Living Trust
When a living trust is newly created, it often takes time to retitle all assets and confirm beneficiary designations. A pour-over will captures any items left outside the trust during that transition period, ensuring they are transferred to the trust at death. This buffer protects against accidental omissions and helps your successors follow a single distribution plan. Periodic reviews during the funding process help reduce reliance on pour-over transfers, but the will remains a practical backstop while you complete the funding steps.
Acquiring New Assets After Trust Formation
If you acquire property or open new accounts after forming your trust, those assets may not automatically be placed into the trust. Until they are retitled or beneficiary forms are updated, a pour-over will serves as a mechanism to funnel those items into the trust upon death. This approach minimizes the risk that newly acquired assets will be distributed inconsistently with your overall plan. Regularly updating the trust and related documents after new acquisitions helps keep everything coordinated and reduces the need for probate handling later.
Overlooked or Miscellaneous Personal Property
Personal items, small accounts, or forgotten assets can be easily overlooked during trust funding, yet these items still need to be distributed according to your wishes. A pour-over will catches these miscellaneous assets and directs them into the trust for consistent distribution. While individual small items may seem insignificant, collectively they can create confusion for survivors. The pour-over will helps provide a clear path for handling miscellaneous property and ensures no assets fall outside your prepared plan.
Local Pour-Over Will Services in Spencer, Tennessee
Jay Johnson Law Firm provides pour-over will and trust planning services for Spencer and surrounding Van Buren County communities. We help clients evaluate whether a trust-based plan with a pour-over will meets their goals, draft documents that comply with Tennessee law, and review current asset titling and beneficiary designations. Our goal is to create practical plans that reflect your wishes and reduce uncertainty for your loved ones. If you want a thoughtful review of your documents or assistance preparing a pour-over will, we can help guide the process and prepare the necessary paperwork.
Why Choose Jay Johnson Law Firm for Pour-Over Wills
Jay Johnson Law Firm offers a straightforward, client-focused approach to estate planning that emphasizes clear communication and practical solutions. For Spencer residents, we offer planning sessions that assess your trust funding status, review beneficiary designations, and recommend steps to streamline asset transfer. Our approach centers on listening to your unique goals, explaining options in plain language, and preparing documents that reflect your intentions while adhering to Tennessee requirements, so your plan works effectively when it’s needed most.
We help clients create coordinated estate plans that include pour-over wills, living trusts, and incapacity documents to address both the transfer of assets and ongoing decision-making needs. Our team focuses on reducing administration burdens for families and organizing documents for easier access. By reviewing your current estate plan and proposing practical updates, we help ensure distribution aligns with your wishes and that your loved ones have a clear roadmap to follow during estate settlement and trust administration.
Clients appreciate the personal attention we provide throughout the planning and drafting process, including step-by-step guidance on signing requirements, witness arrangements, and coordinating with financial institutions to fund trusts. We also advise on best practices for maintaining records and periodically reviewing documents as life circumstances change. For those in Spencer and nearby areas, our firm offers a local resource to complete pour-over wills and trust documents so your estate plan functions smoothly and your intentions are preserved.
Get a Personalized Review of Your Pour-Over Will and Trust
How We Prepare and Implement a Pour-Over Will
Our process begins with an initial consultation to learn about your assets, family situation, and existing documents such as trusts and beneficiary designations. We review title documents and account registration, identify assets that should be transferred into the trust, and recommend practical steps to minimize probate. If a pour-over will is appropriate, we draft it to align with your living trust, explain the signing and witnessing requirements under Tennessee law, and provide guidance on safe storage and periodic review to keep the plan effective over time.
Step 1: Initial Consultation and Document Review
In the first step we conduct a thorough review of your current estate planning documents, asset titles, and beneficiary designations. This review identifies any gaps between your trust and actual ownership and finds assets that may require a pour-over will to capture. We discuss your goals for distribution, guardianship for minors if applicable, and any concerns about privacy or administration. Based on this conversation, we recommend specific drafting and funding actions to implement a coordinated estate plan.
Gathering Financial and Property Information
We assist you in compiling a clear list of accounts, deeds, titles, and beneficiary forms that impact your estate plan. This inventory helps identify assets already in the trust and those that may need retitling or beneficiary updates. A complete inventory makes it easier to determine which items a pour-over will should address and guides efficient coordination between the personal representative and trustee during administration. Accurate records reduce delays and foster smoother post-death transitions for your family.
Clarifying Objectives and Identifying Gaps
During the initial meeting we clarify your objectives for distribution, privacy, and ongoing management, then compare those goals with current document provisions and asset registrations. This step reveals whether additional funding, beneficiary changes, or a pour-over will is necessary to align actual ownership with your intentions. We explain the options in plain terms and outline a recommended plan of action, including the drafting of documents and steps to reduce future probate work.
Step 2: Drafting the Pour-Over Will and Trust Coordination
Once the plan is agreed upon, we prepare a pour-over will tailored to your trust and local legal requirements. The draft will name the trust to receive any residuary probate assets, appoint a personal representative, and include standard provisions required by Tennessee law. We coordinate the will with the trust document to ensure consistent language and distribution methods. After drafting, we review the documents together and make any adjustments needed to reflect your wishes before final execution.
Document Preparation and Review
We prepare clear, precise documents and conduct a careful review with you to confirm that the pour-over will and trust reflect the desired distribution plan. This includes checking identifying information for the trust, the names of appointed individuals, and alignment with related documents like powers of attorney. We explain the consequences of the language used and provide recommendations to avoid common drafting pitfalls that could create conflicts or unintended results in future administration.
Execution and Witnessing Guidance
We provide step-by-step instructions for executing the pour-over will to meet Tennessee’s witnessing and signature requirements. Proper execution is essential for the will to be accepted by the probate court, so we outline how many witnesses are needed, how to sign, and where to store the original. We also advise on notifying your chosen personal representative and successor trustee so they understand their roles and know where to find the documents when needed.
Step 3: Funding the Trust and Ongoing Maintenance
After executing documents, we assist with practical steps to fund the trust where appropriate, update account registrations when feasible, and confirm beneficiary forms align with your plan. We recommend a schedule for periodic reviews and advise on record keeping to help ensure the plan remains current with life changes. Ongoing maintenance reduces reliance on the pour-over will and helps your successor fiduciaries administer affairs smoothly when the time comes.
Funding Actions and Institutional Coordination
We can help prepare instructions and form language to request retitling of property and update account registrations with banks, brokers, and other institutions. Coordinating with financial institutions and drafting deeds or transfer documents when needed helps ensure key assets are held in the trust and avoid unnecessary probate. Clear communication and documentation streamline the transition of assets and reduce administrative burdens for your personal representative and trustee after death.
Periodic Review and Document Updates
Life events such as births, deaths, marriage, divorce, or major asset purchases can make updates necessary. We recommend a periodic review cycle to verify the trust and pour-over will remain aligned with your wishes and local law changes. During these reviews we confirm beneficiary designations, retitle new assets if appropriate, and make amendments when needed to reflect changed circumstances. Regular maintenance keeps the plan functioning as intended and reduces potential complications for your family.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pour-Over Wills
What is a pour-over will and why might I need one?
A pour-over will is a will that directs assets not already held in a living trust to be transferred into that trust upon death. It names a personal representative to administer probate and collects any residual property so it can be ‘poured’ into the trust for distribution according to the trust terms. This document acts as a safety net to capture overlooked assets, ensuring that the trust’s distribution plan is followed even if some items were not retitled during life.You might need a pour-over will if you have established a living trust but worry that some property could remain outside the trust due to oversights, newly acquired assets, or documentation delays. The pour-over will complements your trust by providing a clear legal path for those assets to become part of the trust after probate, which helps maintain consistency in how your estate is ultimately administered and distributed.
Does a pour-over will avoid probate entirely?
A pour-over will does not avoid probate for the assets it addresses; it typically must be probated to transfer those assets into the trust properly. Probate is the court-supervised process for validating the will, appointing a personal representative, and facilitating asset transfer. For many assets already titled to the trust or with payable-on-death designations, probate is unnecessary, but residual assets named in the pour-over will commonly go through probate first.The main benefit of a pour-over will is that it consolidates leftover assets into the trust after probate so distribution follows the trust terms, which can simplify later administration and preserve privacy for trust-controlled assets. Efforts to fund the trust during life reduce the need to rely on the pour-over will and minimize probate administration overall.
How does a pour-over will work with my living trust?
A pour-over will and a living trust are designed to work together. The living trust typically contains the primary instructions for asset management and distribution, while the pour-over will serves as a backup to capture any assets not moved into the trust prior to death. After the will is probated, the personal representative transfers the residual probate assets into the trust so the trust’s successor trustee can follow its provisions.Coordination between the two documents is important: the trust should be clearly identified in the will, and both documents should use consistent names and terms to avoid ambiguity. Regularly reviewing funding and beneficiary designations helps ensure most assets bypass probate and are controlled directly by the trust.
Who should I name as my personal representative and successor trustee?
The personal representative is the person named in your will to handle probate administration, whereas the successor trustee manages trust assets. Good candidates are trustworthy adults who can handle administrative tasks, communicate with family, and carry out your wishes responsibly. Consider someone with organizational skills, availability, and a temperament suited to decision-making and potential conflict resolution.It is common to name different people for these roles, but some choose the same individual if appropriate. You should also name successor individuals in case the first choice cannot serve. Discuss the responsibilities with the proposed appointees so they understand the duties and location of important documents before an emergency arises.
Can I name my living trust as a beneficiary on financial accounts instead of using a pour-over will?
Naming a trust as beneficiary on certain financial accounts is an effective way to move assets directly into the trust and avoid probate for those accounts. Some institutions allow the trust to be named directly, while others may have limits or tax considerations. Where possible, retitling accounts or updating beneficiary forms to align with the trust reduces reliance on a pour-over will and streamlines administration.However, not all asset types can be titled to a trust easily, and mistakes happen. That is why a pour-over will remains useful as a safety net to catch accounts or property that cannot or were not transferred during life. Consulting with your fiduciaries and financial institutions helps determine the best approach for each asset.
How often should I review my pour-over will and trust documents?
You should review your pour-over will and trust documents whenever major life changes occur—such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, death of a beneficiary, or significant asset purchases. It is also wise to review documents every few years to confirm beneficiary designations, account titles, and that new assets are properly funded to the trust. This routine helps prevent surprises and reduces the need to rely on the pour-over will for many items.Periodic reviews also allow you to adjust for changes in law or financial situations that could affect the plan’s functioning. Keeping a current inventory of assets and updating forms as needed ensures that your estate plan continues to reflect your intentions and practical realities.
What happens to small or forgotten assets under a pour-over will?
Small or forgotten assets can create administrative complications if they are not accounted for in your estate plan. A pour-over will helps by directing those items into your trust so they ultimately receive the same distribution treatment as other assets. While individually small, aggregated forgotten items can create disputes or delays, and the pour-over will provides a clear legal path for bringing them into the trust framework.To minimize occurrences of overlooked assets, maintain an updated list of accounts and property, review statements regularly, and confirm whether small accounts should be consolidated or retitled. Clear record-keeping and periodic reviews reduce surprises and streamline estate administration for your loved ones.
Is a pour-over will different from a pour-over provision in a will?
A pour-over will is a will whose primary purpose is to transfer residual probate assets into a named trust at death. A ‘pour-over provision’ might also refer more generally to language in a will that accomplishes the same thing, but typically the term pour-over will denotes a standalone will designed for this specific backup role alongside a trust. The practical effect is the same: capturing leftover property and directing it to the trust.Understanding the distinction is mostly a drafting and organizational matter. Whether implemented as a dedicated pour-over will or a comparable provision, the key requirement is clear drafting, proper execution, and coordination with the trust to avoid ambiguity during probate and transfer.
Will a pour-over will affect my taxes?
A pour-over will itself does not typically change your federal or state income tax situation at the time of death because it primarily affects who receives assets and how they are administered. Estate and inheritance tax implications depend on the total value of your estate and applicable thresholds. Trusts can have different tax consequences depending on their structure, but for many individuals a revocable living trust and associated pour-over will do not change immediate income tax outcomes for beneficiaries.It is advisable to consult a tax advisor for detailed guidance on estate tax, generation-skipping transfer tax, or other tax consequences that may apply to larger estates. Coordinating estate planning with tax planning helps ensure your distribution goals are met while addressing any potential tax impacts.
How do I get started creating a pour-over will in Spencer, Tennessee?
To begin creating a pour-over will in Spencer, Tennessee, gather relevant documents such as existing wills, trust instruments, deeds, account statements, and beneficiary forms. Contact a law firm experienced in estate planning to schedule a consultation where you can discuss your goals and provide the necessary information for document preparation. During that meeting the attorney will review asset ownership, suggest funding steps, and draft the pour-over will and any related documents needed to coordinate with your trust.After drafting, you will sign the will with the required witnesses under Tennessee law, and the firm can advise on safe storage and steps for completing trust funding. Regular follow-up reviews and coordination with financial institutions ensure the plan remains current and effective over time.