Both organizations are focused on helping families secure their legacies.

Trust & Will is an online resource for creating and managing your estate documents. It’s a cost-effective way to create your will and/or trust without having to find your own attorney. Trust & Will is the leading online estate planning platform in the US.

CU Trust provides valuable trust products and services, directed by your estate documents. Depending on your needs, the CU Trust team can serve as a professional trustee or co-trustee, manage your assets and distributions, assist with bill paying and tax filing on behalf of your trust, and much more, while you are alive and/or after you pass away. CU Trust was formed by Honor Credit Union and other Michigan CUs to better support credit union members.

Wills and trusts have a lot of overlap, but also a lot of difference.

Wills are simpler documents that let you name guardians for kids and pets, designate where assets go, and specify final arrangements.  The simplicity of a will does come with some drawbacks: a will offers more limited control over the distribution of assets and often has to go through a probate process after death.

Like a will, a trust also controls the disposition of assets but provides greater control over when and how your assets are distributed.  Trusts only apply to assets held in the trust, so you will need to transfer assets to the trust.  This makes a trust a little more complex to set up, but it brings major benefit.  Trusts are also often used to minimize or avoid probate entirely, which can be a huge draw for many and justifies the additional work upfront needed to create a trust. 

Both are ways to say who will receive your assets.  Each just has a different way of distributing those assets, as well as different advantages and disadvantages.

Most people complete a will in 15 minutes and a trust in 20 minutes.  All of your answers are saved as you go, so feel free to pause and come back to pick up where you left off at any time!

• Store the documents in a safe place
• Notify loved ones of the location
• Review and update your documents every year
  
  

Having a discussion about your estate plan can be a great way to share your wishes and prevent conflict.  Even if you’re hesitant to share details, you should consider letting your family, executors or successor trustees, and loved ones know that you have an estate plan and where the original signed document is located. 

Selecting a trustee is not as simple as you might imagine. You need someone who is qualified, knowledgeable, and committed—their actions will have a lasting impact. Many individuals choose a family member, thinking that it’s an honor, but it can be a burden. Or you can select a trustee (like CU Trust) that has been professionally trained for this role. 

To consider these options, you can find out more information by clicking here.