Family Planning, Quick Input

Mom and Dad are setting up their estate plan. Before it goes to the lawyer, your honest take on the key calls. Each question has a one-line explanation so the legal terms make sense. Pick what feels right, then hit the button at the bottom to copy your answers and send them to Ace. No wrong answers.

1Structure

One joint trust holds both parents' assets together. Dad-only or separate trusts keep them apart, which can change taxes and who controls what.

Joint trust (both together) Dad's trust only Separate trust for each

2Who runs it

The trustee manages and distributes everything: properties, accounts, paperwork. It is a real job, and it does not have to be a person who inherits.

Ace alone Ace and Rahim together A son plus an independent professional Rahim alone

3First parent passes

Locking the deceased parent's half protects the kids' eventual inheritance from being redirected later. Full control gives the surviving parent maximum flexibility.

Lock it in a trust: survivor supported for life, remainder guaranteed to us three kids Everything to the survivor outright Broad control, but a minimum locked for the kids

4A sibling without children passes

This decides whether a sibling's unused share must stay in the family line, or can go to a spouse, charity, or anyone they choose.

Strict bloodline only: must go to the family's descendants, no other option Bloodline by default, but that sibling can choose to leave it elsewhere Fully that sibling's choice (anyone)

5If the lead trustee can't serve

A backup so the trust keeps running. A "trust protector" is a neutral person named in advance to handle exactly this kind of gap.

A neutral trust protector appoints one A professional or corporate trustee steps in The next sibling A sibling plus a corporate co-trustee

6The trust protector

A neutral party who can remove or replace the trustee. A built-in check that protects all the siblings. Works best if it is not someone who inherits.

A trusted professional (the estate attorney or CPA) An independent or corporate firm A family member who is not inheriting A small committee

7Grandchildren

Whether to carve out a separate long-term fund for the grandkids, on top of the equal shares to the three of you.

Yes, set aside a long-term pot for the grandkids No, just equal thirds to the three of us Unsure, let's discuss

8Strings attached

Whether inheritance comes with conditions: from strict requirements, to flexible guidance like staggered ages and values, to no conditions at all.

Rigid conditions, e.g. must hit milestones to get anything Flexible: staggered ages and values guidance, milestones as carrots not hard cutoffs No strings at all

+Anything you'd change or add (optional)

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