151: Is an AB Trust Right for You? Essential Insights for Married Couples

Absolute Trust Talk

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Married couples, is your AB trust still serving your needs, or has it outstayed its welcome? In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert take a closer look at AB trusts, a once-standard estate planning tool. They discuss when an AB trust makes sense and when it might just add unnecessary complexity and cost. Tune in as they explain the key benefits of asset control after death, while also considering the downsides, such as tax filing requirements and maintenance expenses. Whether you're revisiting an existing trust or planning for the future, this episode offers practical advice to help you make informed decisions.

Time-stamped Show Notes:

0:00 Introduction

1:07 What exactly is an AB Trust? We break it down here.

2:47 Understanding how an AB Trust works. You may have heard it called something else.

4:18 Why might a surviving spouse want control over the decedent’s trust? Here's how AB Trusts make that possible.

5:35 The downsides of an AB Trust: from annual tax returns to high maintenance costs.

6:29 Could there be a simpler alternative? We discuss potential options.

138 episodes