The Right Trust Software To Meet Your Clients’ Estate Needs

Only 4 in 10 Americans adults have an estate plan, according to a Caring.com survey. As an attorney, you know that estate planning is essential, no matter your client’s personal or financial situation.

Estate planning and trust software can help you manage the entire process for your clients. With so many choices, finding the right software can be a challenge. Beyond Counsel presents some guidelines to help you decide.

Why Everyone Needs an Estate Plan

It is a common misconception that only older adults need a will or living trust. It’s important for even young adults to plan their estate for a number of reasons. Young married couples and even some parents often neglect to make a plan, as well.

Doing so puts their families in jeopardy and it could lead to legal fights in probate court.

They fail to ask important questions:

  • What will happen to my assets after I’m gone?
  • Who will get control of my assets?
  • Who will get custody of my children?
  • What if my assets go to someone I don’t trust?
  • What happens if I’m unable to make health care decisions for myself?
  • Who will make decisions about my health care if I become incapacitated?
  • What end-of-life care do I want?

If your clients don’t have an estate plan, the state will decide how their assets should be distributed. The state will also decide who will be named the guardian of their minor children. Estate planning should be part of the plan for all of your clients, regardless of their personal or financial situation.

The right estate planning software for lawyers makes the process more efficient.

What to Include in an Estate Plan

An estate plan includes a number of legal documents. These documents are designed to protect wealth, direct assets, determine guardianship of children, and designate who should make health care decisions.

There are five elements to include in any estate plan.

1. Wills and Trusts

Will and trusts are the two centerpieces of any estate plan.

A will specifies how assets should be distributed.

A trust sets up a fiduciary relationship between a beneficiary and a third party trustee. They are designed to provide legal protection of assets and ensure they are distributed as specified.

2. Beneficiary Designations

Many assets will pass to direct heirs without a will. Designating beneficiaries guarantees that your client’s assets are distributed the way he or she wants. If no beneficiary is assigned, the court will make the decision.

Note: It is always a good idea to have a contingent beneficiary in case the main one is deceased or unable to serve.

3. Guardianship Designations

If your client has minor children, it is imperative that someone is chosen to be a guardian in case anything happens. Without such designations, the court will decide who gets custody of minor children.

4. Durable Power of Attorney

Accidents, illness, and mental conditions can render someone unable to make decisions about financial matters. A Durable Power of Attorney (POA) assigns someone to act on your client’s behalf in the event they can no longer do so.

5. Healthcare Power of Attorney

Related to a POA is the Healthcare Power of Attorney (HCPA). This document designates someone to make healthcare decisions in the event your client becomes incapacitated. The designee is often a spouse, parent or adult child, but your client could choose someone else he or she trusts.

Trust Software for Estate Planning Needs

Trust software for attorneys gives you powerful tools that make estate planning more efficient. Modern technology makes it easier than ever to draft legal documents, manage workflow, and improve communication.

In the end trust software will help you spend less time drafting documents and ensure client satisfaction.

How to Choose the Right Trust Software

If you are looking to add wills and trusts software for your practice, good luck. There are certainly many to choose from. To help you make the best decision, we offer a few guidelines.

3 Questions to Ask Regarding Trust Software

As you review different types of software or systems, there are three main things you need to determine.

1. What does the software include?

The best software should accomplish a few key things. It should be able to help you create accurate legal documents, automate your workflow process, and provide legal education.

2. How easy is the software to use?

Ease of use is important for you and your client. Cumbersome software that takes up even more of your time will only lead to frustration.

The language in the software should also be easy for your clients to understand as well. Nothing frustrates people more than complicated legalese. Beyond Counsel drafting software incorporates tools like Grammarly, which ensures that the language in every document is relatable and understandable.

You will spend less time explaining aspects of a will or beneficiary designations because everything is spelled out clearly.

3. Will the software keep you compliant?

Failure to understand or know the law can put your clients’ family and assets in jeopardy. It can also open up your firm to fines or lawsuits. Good trust software should include automatic updates and legal education, so you are always aware of changes in federal or state laws.

Demos Matters

Choose 3-4 different software systems and set up demos. This way you can test out each system to see which suits you best.

Use demos to analyze the following:

  • Ability to easily inventory client assets
  • Ability to determine family liabilities
  • Ease of outlining directives
  • Ability to easily designate or change beneficiaries
  • Automatic updates to reflect state and national laws

The software should give you the ability to draft:

  • Wills and Revocable Trusts
    • Including specific distributions, residuary, age requirements, fiduciaries, and miscellaneous provisions
  • General Durable Power of Attorney
  • Health Care Power of Attorney
  • Living Wills

For more information, look at our previous blog on the best estate planning software.

The Best Software for Your Estate Needs

Trust software can transform the way to handle estate planning for your clients. In the end, you will save time and money. Choosing the right software is key, but once you have a new system, you will be able to tackle the estate needs of your clients with complete confidence.

73 Comments

  • Hey there, You have done a fantastic job. I will certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I’m confident they’ll be benefited from this site.

    Reply
  • certainly like your website but you need to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to inform the reality nevertheless I will definitely come back again.

    Reply
  • By the way, thinking of making your URLs a bit shorter? Just swing by my spot at v.af! It’s super easy-peasy to make your links a breeze. Drop by now, and let’s see how surprisingly simple it can get!

    Reply
  • I loved even more than you will get done right here. The picture is nice, and your writing is stylish, but you seem to be rushing through it, and I think you should give it again soon. I’ll probably do that again and again if you protect this hike.

    Reply
  • With PromptScroll, experience the forefront of AI technology, offering the same sophisticated capabilities as ChatGPT for just $9 a month. It’s not just an AI solution; it’s an investment in endless possibilities.

    Reply
  • Thank you for the auspicious writeup It in fact was a amusement account it Look advanced to more added agreeable from you By the way how could we communicate

    Reply
  • upysm.com 是一個專業的社交媒體推廣平台,提供各種刷粉絲服務,讓您的Instagram、Facebook、Youtube等帳號快速增加人氣和影響力。無論您是個人創作者還是企業品牌,我們都可以為您量身定制最合適的方案,讓您在社交媒體上脫穎而出。

    Reply
  • I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this hike.

    Reply
  • For better conversation tracking and faster, more informed decision-making, businesses can leverage this. To further facilitate the discovery of relevant information, summarising technologies driven by artificial intelligence can also be employed to provide document summaries.The best AI summarize tool is summarizing tool.

    Reply
  • 💰△ggongta.com△꽁타💰안전한 토토사이트 이용과 꽁머니는 꽁타! 구글에서 검색 꽁타

    Reply
  • Hi Neat post Theres an issue together with your web site in internet explorer may test this IE still is the marketplace chief and a good component of people will pass over your fantastic writing due to this problem

    Reply
  • Hello Neat post Theres an issue together with your site in internet explorer would check this IE still is the marketplace chief and a large element of other folks will leave out your magnificent writing due to this problem

    Reply
  • Thank you for the auspicious writeup It in fact was a amusement account it Look advanced to more added agreeable from you By the way how could we communicate

    Reply
  • Wonderful beat I wish to apprentice while you amend your web site how could i subscribe for a blog web site The account aided me a acceptable deal I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea

    Reply
  • I do trust all the ideas youve presented in your post They are really convincing and will definitely work Nonetheless the posts are too short for newbies May just you please lengthen them a bit from next time Thank you for the post

    Reply
  • This article was incredibly insightful! I was captivated by the thoroughness of the information and the clear, engaging way it was delivered. The depth of research and expertise evident in this post is remarkable, significantly elevating the content’s quality. The insights in the opening and concluding sections were particularly compelling, sparking some ideas and questions I hope you will explore in future articles. If there are any additional resources for further exploration on this topic, I would love to delve into them. Thank you for sharing your expertise and enriching our understanding of this subject. I felt compelled to comment immediately after reading due to the exceptional quality of this piece. Keep up the fantastic work—I’ll definitely be returning for more updates. Your dedication to crafting such an excellent article is highly appreciated!

    Reply
  • Your piece was tremendously insightful! The comprehensiveness of the material and the engaging presentation captivated me. The extent of research and expertise apparent throughout substantially elevates the content’s caliber. The revelations in the opening and closing sections were particularly compelling, igniting novel ideas and queries that I hope you’ll investigate in future works. If there are supplementary resources for further exploration on this subject, I’d be delighted to immerse myself in them. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and enriching our grasp of this topic. The exceptional quality of this work prompted me to comment right after reading. Maintain the fantastic efforts—I’ll definitely revisit for more updates. Your commitment to crafting such an excellent article is greatly appreciated!

    Reply
  • Nice blog here Also your site loads up fast What host are you using Can I get your affiliate link to your host I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol

    Reply
  • This is an excellent article! I appreciate the depth and clarity with which you addressed the topic. Your insights are valuable and provide a lot of useful information for readers. It’s clear that you have a strong understanding of the subject matter, and I look forward to reading more of your work. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise.

    Reply
  • This is an excellent article! I appreciate the depth and clarity with which you addressed the topic. Your insights are valuable and provide a lot of useful information for readers. It’s clear that you have a strong understanding of the subject matter, and I look forward to reading more of your work. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise.

    Reply
  • Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit, but instead of that, this is fantastic blog. An excellent read. I will certainly be back.

    Reply
  • I was suggested this web site by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my trouble. You are incredible! Thanks!

    Reply
  • What a remarkable article! The way you’ve tackled the topic with such precision and depth is commendable. Readers are sure to gain a great deal from the wealth of knowledge and practical insights you’ve shared. Your profound understanding of the subject shines through every part of the piece. I’m eager to see more of your exceptional work. Thank you for offering your expertise and providing us with such enlightening and comprehensive content.

    Reply
  • Hello i think that i saw you visited my weblog so i came to Return the favore Im trying to find things to improve my web siteI suppose its ok to use some of your ideas

    Reply
  • Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! However, how can we communicate?

    Reply
  • you are truly a just right webmaster The site loading speed is incredible It kind of feels that youre doing any distinctive trick In addition The contents are masterwork you have done a great activity in this matter

    Reply
  • I am not sure where youre getting your info but good topic I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more Thanks for magnificent info I was looking for this information for my mission

    Reply
  • Magnificent beat I would like to apprentice while you amend your site how can i subscribe for a blog web site The account helped me a acceptable deal I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea

    Reply
  • Hi my loved one I wish to say that this post is amazing nice written and include approximately all vital infos Id like to peer more posts like this

    Reply
  • I do agree with all the ideas you have introduced on your post They are very convincing and will definitely work Still the posts are very short for newbies May just you please prolong them a little from subsequent time Thank you for the post

    Reply
  • Hello i think that i saw you visited my weblog so i came to Return the favore Im trying to find things to improve my web siteI suppose its ok to use some of your ideas

    Reply
  • Ive read several just right stuff here Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting I wonder how a lot effort you place to create this kind of great informative website

    Reply
  • Its like you read my mind You appear to know so much about this like you wrote the book in it or something I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a little bit but instead of that this is excellent blog A fantastic read Ill certainly be back

    Reply
  • obviously like your website but you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to inform the reality on the other hand Ill certainly come back again

    Reply
  • Nice blog here Also your site loads up very fast What host are you using Can I get your affiliate link to your host I wish my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol

    Reply
  • Obrigado, há muito tempo que procuro informações sobre este assunto e a sua é a melhor que descobri até agora. Mas e em relação aos resultados financeiros Você tem certeza em relação ao fornecimento

    Reply
  • Uau, maravilhoso layout do blog Há quanto tempo você bloga para você fazer o blog parecer fácil A aparência geral do seu site é ótima, assim como o conteúdo

    Reply
  • helloI really like your writing so a lot share we keep up a correspondence extra approximately your post on AOL I need an expert in this house to unravel my problem May be that is you Taking a look ahead to see you

    Reply
  • What i dont understood is in reality how youre now not really a lot more smartlyfavored than you might be now Youre very intelligent You understand therefore significantly in terms of this topic produced me personally believe it from a lot of numerous angles Its like women and men are not interested except it is one thing to accomplish with Woman gaga Your own stuffs outstanding Always care for it up

    Reply
  • Meu irmão sugeriu que eu pudesse gostar deste blog Ele estava totalmente certo Este post realmente fez o meu dia Você não pode imaginar quanto tempo gastei com esta informação Obrigado

    Reply
  • Hello i think that i saw you visited my weblog so i came to Return the favore Im trying to find things to improve my web siteI suppose its ok to use some of your ideas

    Reply
  • My brother recommended I might like this web site He was totally right This post actually made my day You cannt imagine just how much time I had spent for this information Thanks

    Reply
  • Fantastic site A lot of helpful info here Im sending it to some buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious And naturally thanks on your sweat

    Reply
  • What i do not understood is in truth how you are not actually a lot more smartlyliked than you may be now You are very intelligent You realize therefore significantly in the case of this topic produced me individually imagine it from numerous numerous angles Its like men and women dont seem to be fascinated until it is one thing to do with Woman gaga Your own stuffs nice All the time care for it up

    Reply
  • Magnificent beat I would like to apprentice while you amend your site how can i subscribe for a blog web site The account helped me a acceptable deal I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea

    Reply
  • Hey there, You have done a fantastic job. I will certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I’m confident they’ll be benefited from this site.

    Reply
  • I was recommended this website by my cousin I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my difficulty You are wonderful Thanks

    Reply
  • Fantastic beat I would like to apprentice while you amend your web site how could i subscribe for a blog site The account helped me a acceptable deal I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept

    Reply
  • I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my difficulty. You are wonderful! Thanks!

    Reply
  • I do not even know how I ended up here but I thought this post was great I do not know who you are but certainly youre going to a famous blogger if you are not already Cheers

    Reply
  • Your blog is a constant source of inspiration for me. Your passion for your subject matter shines through in every post, and it’s clear that you genuinely care about making a positive impact on your readers.

    Reply
  • My brother suggested I might like this blog He was totally right This post actually made my day You can not imagine simply how much time I had spent for this info Thanks

    Reply
  • Nice blog here Also your site loads up fast What host are you using Can I get your affiliate link to your host I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol

    Reply
  • My firend suggested I might like this website. He was totally right. This post actually made my day. You cann’t imagine just how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!

    Reply
  • Simply desire to say your article is as surprising. The clearness in your post is simply excellent and i could assume you are an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission let me to grab your feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the gratifying work.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to kingymab Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *