Living trusts generally allow a smoother, more organized settlement of the estate than other probate-avoidance options.

Payable on death (POD) and transfer on death (TOD) accounts both offer a unique mechanism for streamlining the transfer of ...

Learn how to prevent your bank accounts from being frozen after death with smart estate planning tips that protect your money ...

A payable-on-death (POD) bank account simplifies and speeds up the process of transferring the assets in your bank or credit union accounts to one or more beneficiaries. Here’s a closer look at ...

Payable on death accounts don’t allow restrictions. Should you become incapacitated, the successor trustee of your living trust could access trust assets to pay for your care.

Payable on death accounts don’t allow restrictions. Should you become incapacitated, the successor trustee of your living trust could access trust assets to pay for your care.

If the account has a payable on death beneficiary, the bank account balance goes to the beneficiary after the last account owner dies. A beneficiary can claim bank account funds by contacting the ...

Payable on death accounts don’t allow restrictions. Should you become incapacitated, the successor trustee of your living trust could access trust assets to pay for your care.

Dear Liz: You recently wrote about the drawbacks of payable on death accounts, including that the funds go directly to the beneficiaries before the estate’s expenses are paid.