Free Living Trust - "One Size" Does Not Fit All
December 23, 2004
By Kathy Curtis
What type of trust do you need? Can your needs fit
into a free living trust? Only you and your
attorney know those answers for certain. While you
can get a free form online and then file those documents
for no fee, you are likely taking more risks than
you know.
Many online sites offer free living trusts. These
one-size-fits-all documents are more like general
outlines that need fine tweaks here and there. If
your life affairs and possessions are even slightly
complicated, those no cost trusts may be less effective
than you're banking on.
In fact, many of the sources that provide free trusts are based
on the site's terms and must be filed "as is". "As
is" is not very flexible. Also, "as is" may be a
scam or not upheld by your state laws.
Who's Who
The who's who list of free service is rather large. Some states
post warnings against these services for good reason. Many living
trust mills push their packets onto seniors, who end up paying in
the long run. The main reason a person enacts a trust is to hold
off probate on their trusted assets' worth. Many of these documents
are worthless against this action. Also, many seniors fail to understand
how to make these living trusts active.
Just because you can get a free trust, you cannot rely on that
trust to fit all of your needs. No cost living trust forms are available
online and filing those documents can be accomplished for free.
Still, you have no assurance your decisions won't cost your benefactors
and trustee more fees in the end.
Online providers of these often-necessary forms are happy to give
you the form at no cost. Some will even transfer titles for no fee
as well. A few of the more popular online living trust specialists
include Xdrive.com, WebTradeCenter-Legal-Forms.com, FreeBusinessForms.com,
and LegalZoom.com. The advice a trustworthy estate planner or state
attorney is necessary to ensure your document's best interest.
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