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如果不想留財產給子女，應否在信託剔除子女的名字?

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Why You Might Just Need a Trust 為什麼你可能需要信託（中英對照）

“Everyone needs a will, but, increasingly, estate planners say people also could benefit from setting up a trust while they are alive. That step would help assure that their assets are distributed more quickly, their bills paid promptly and continuously and personal information about property and other assets are kept out of the public eye.”

You might think of a trust as something for wealthy people who want to dispose of high-end assets, like art work, collectible cars or businesses.  However, just like everyone needs an estate plan regardless of their asset level, says The New York Times in the article, “Life After Death? Here’s Why You Should Have a Trust,” many people who are not wealthy could benefit from having a trust.

There are many different kinds of trusts which serve different purposes. One is a revocable trust, which the owner can change. They are considered by many to be the “work horse” of modern estate planning. A revocable trust can avoid the need for a public probate court proceeding after the person dies, saving time and keeping money from being immediately available to heirs and executors alike.

Trusts are also useful for times when people become incapacitated and need someone else to take care of their finances. Because many more people are living longer and the number of people with dementia is increasing, there are more situations where trusts are useful to the family and caregivers.

A will is different than a trust and is a public document. The probate process requires a disclosure of assets, bank and other financial accounts and the names of beneficiaries. That information remains private with a revocable trust.

Other considerations regarding trusts:

• You should have any type of trust set up by an estate and trust attorney.
• A house, real property, bank or investment accounts can be placed into a trust.
• A revocable trust does not always end at the death of the original owner. How long it may last depends upon the laws of your state.
• People also use trusts to protect their assets from others or to assure the long-term care of someone who is disabled.
• You can have a professional manager, family member or friend as a trustee or co-trustee of a trust. Sometimes having a licensed professional who has federal reporting requirements can provide an extra layer of protection.

Speak with an estate planning attorney who can discuss the different types of trusts that are available and determine which one is best for your particular situation.

Reference: The New York Times (March 22, 2018) “Life After Death? Here’s Why You Should Have a Trust”

“每個人都需要遺囑，但越來越多的資產規劃律師表示，人們可以從他們還活著的時候建立信託中受益。這一步將有助於確保他們的資產更快地分配，他們的賬單迅速和持續地支付，並且有關財產和其他資產的個人信息會被排除在公眾視線之外。”

對於想要處理高端資產（如藝術品，收藏汽車或企業）的有錢人來說，信託是一個好主意。然而，就像每個人都需要一個資產計劃而不管他們的資產水平，“紐約時報”在文章中說“Life After Death? Here’s Why You Should Have a Trust,” (死後的生活？這就是為什麼你應該有信託) 許多不有錢的人可以從信任中受益。

有許多不同類型的信託為不同的目的。一個是生前信託，所有者可以更改。他們被許多人認為是現代資產規劃的“工作馬”。生前信託可以避免在該人死亡後進行公共遺囑認證法庭程序，從而節省時間並使資金不會立即給繼承人和遺囑執行人使用如果這是你的意願。

當人們變得無行動力並需要其他人來照顧他們的財務時，信託也是有用的。由於更多人的壽命更長，癡呆症患者人數不斷增加，因此信託對家庭和照顧者有更多有用的情況。

遺囑與信託不同，是公共文件。遺囑認證過程要求公開資產，銀行和其他金融賬戶以及受益人的姓名。但生前信託卻不需要公開這些信息。

關於信託的其他考慮因素:

• 您應該擁有資產和信託規劃律師設立的任何類型的信託。
• 房屋，房地產，銀行或投資賬戶可以存入信託。
• 生前信託並不總是在原所有者死亡時結束。它可以持續多久取決於你所在州的法律。
• 人們還使用信託來保護他們的資產免受他人侵害，或確保對殘疾人士的長期照顧。
• 您可以聘請職業經理人，家庭成員或朋友作為信託的受託人或共同受託人。有時符合聯邦要求的持牌專業人員可以提供額外的保護。

與資產計劃律師交談，跟他可以討論應該用哪個類型的信託，並確定哪種信託最適合您的特定情況。

參考: The New York Times (March 22, 2018) “Life After Death? Here’s Why You Should Have a Trust”