Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog

Dear Jonathan: I recently prepared a trust that includes very specific provisions regarding the beneficiaries that I want to receive certain assets when I die. Does my trust override who I named as my beneficiaries in the will I prepared several years ago and the beneficiary that I named to receive the proceeds from my life insurance policy and inherit my retirement accounts?

Jonathan: No, and your question is a very good one. Beneficiaries can be named in a will, a trust or pursuant to a beneficiary designation. Failure to properly coordinate the naming of your beneficiaries in those ...