A retirement plan trust helps control what happens to your retirement accounts after you are gone and can reduce the administrative burdens placed on your loved ones. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, we assist residents in Lincoln and Placer County with clear, practical planning for retirement assets. This service focuses on structuring beneficiary designations, coordinating trust terms with account rules, and ensuring retirement funds are distributed with attention to tax consequences and family needs. Our goal is to present strategies that fit your situation and provide peace of mind for you and your family moving forward.
Many people assume retirement accounts automatically pass to named beneficiaries without further planning, but without the right trust arrangements those assets can create avoidable complications. A retirement plan trust can preserve benefits for heirs, manage distributions over time, and address unique family circumstances like blended families or beneficiaries with special needs. We explain options such as standalone retirement plan trusts or provisions within a broader living trust, helping you weigh which approach works best for retirement accounts like 401(k)s, IRAs, and pension plans while focusing on tax-efficient and practical outcomes for your estate.
A properly drafted retirement plan trust offers several benefits including directing retirement account distributions, protecting assets from creditors under some circumstances, and providing a framework for orderly inheritance. For account owners in Lincoln, integrating a retirement plan trust with a revocable living trust and related documents like a certification of trust or pour-over will can prevent gaps in administration. This structure also helps manage tax timing and beneficiary designations so that retirement funds are handled in a way that aligns with your broader financial and family goals. Clear documentation reduces conflicts and uncertainty for heirs during an already difficult time.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides estate planning services to clients throughout California, including Lincoln and the surrounding Placer County communities. Our approach focuses on practical, accessible advice and drafting documents such as revocable living trusts, retirement plan trusts, pour-over wills, advance health care directives, and powers of attorney. We emphasize clear communication and careful coordination of beneficiary designations with trust terms so that retirement assets transfer smoothly. Clients receive tailored planning that addresses tax considerations, family dynamics, and long-term goals while ensuring paperwork and account forms are aligned with the plan.
A retirement plan trust is a legal arrangement that holds retirement account assets for the benefit of named beneficiaries under terms you set, which can include distribution timing and conditions. Unlike a simple beneficiary designation, a trust can control payouts over time, provide protection for vulnerable beneficiaries, and coordinate with other estate planning documents. Establishing this trust requires careful attention to plan rules, tax implications, and required minimum distribution considerations. When properly drafted, the trust becomes the designated recipient or works alongside beneficiary designations to ensure retirement funds are managed and distributed according to your wishes.
Setting up a retirement plan trust involves drafting trust provisions that satisfy retirement plan administrators and current law while reflecting your objectives. Coordination is particularly important because retirement accounts are governed by federal tax rules and plan terms that affect distribution options and tax consequences. The trust must often be designed to permit required minimum distributions and to avoid unintended tax outcomes, while preserving the ability to delay or stagger payouts to beneficiaries. This planning typically includes reviewing account documents, beneficiary forms, and related estate planning instruments to achieve a cohesive plan that functions effectively when it matters most.
A retirement plan trust is a type of trust tailored to receive and manage retirement account benefits for beneficiaries. It differs from a general trust by addressing the unique tax and distribution rules that apply to retirement accounts, and it often contains provisions to preserve tax-advantaged treatment while controlling when and how beneficiaries access funds. People create one to manage large retirement balances, protect proceeds for minor or vulnerable beneficiaries, or coordinate benefits in complex family situations. The trust language must be clear and aligned with both the account document rules and federal distribution requirements to function as intended.
Important elements of a retirement plan trust include naming the trust as beneficiary, drafting distribution provisions to address required minimum distributions and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies, and including successor trustee provisions for administration. The practical process begins with inventorying retirement accounts and beneficiary forms, then drafting trust language that meets legal and plan requirements. You should also coordinate the trust with related estate planning documents such as a revocable living trust, pour-over will, financial power of attorney, and health care directive. Proper execution and notification to account administrators help ensure the trust will be recognized and followed.
Understanding the common terms related to retirement plan trusts helps you make informed decisions. This glossary covers essential concepts like beneficiary designation, required minimum distributions, trustee responsibilities, and portability of retirement benefits. A clear grasp of these terms prevents surprises and enables better coordination with other estate planning documents. It is also helpful when discussing options with plan administrators and financial advisors so that the trust language will be accepted and the account will be administered according to your intentions without unnecessary delay or tax consequences.
A beneficiary designation is the form or instruction that names who will receive retirement account assets upon the account owner’s death. These designations often take precedence over provisions in a will, so they must be coordinated with a trust if the trust is intended to receive retirement funds. Beneficiary designations should be reviewed regularly to reflect life changes such as marriage, divorce, births, or deaths. Ensuring consistency between beneficiary forms and trust language helps avoid unintended distributions and simplifies administration for account custodians and family members.
Required minimum distributions are the minimum amounts that certain retirement account beneficiaries or owners must withdraw each year once specified ages or triggering events occur. When a trust is the beneficiary, the trust provisions must permit required minimum distributions in a way that allows the account to retain favorable tax treatment where appropriate. Failure to address RMD rules can result in accelerated taxation or penalties. A properly drafted retirement plan trust will include language that accommodates RMD timing and preserves tax options for beneficiaries.
A trustee is the individual or institution responsible for administering the trust according to its terms, including managing assets, making distributions, and carrying out recordkeeping and tax filings. When a retirement plan trust is involved, the trustee’s duties often include working with account administrators to obtain distributions and following the trust instructions concerning timing and amount. Selecting a trustee who is willing and able to handle these tasks, and naming successor trustees, helps ensure continuity and that beneficiaries receive the trust benefits as intended.
A standalone retirement trust is a trust created specifically to receive retirement account benefits and tailored to the tax and distribution rules for such accounts. Unlike a general revocable trust that covers many types of property, a standalone retirement trust focuses on addressing the particular needs and complications of retirement accounts. This can include provisions for stretch distributions, protecting funds for vulnerable beneficiaries, and clear language to satisfy plan administrators. Choosing between a standalone trust and trust provisions within a broader plan depends on personal goals and the complexity of the estate.
There are several approaches to handling retirement accounts in estate planning, including direct beneficiary designations, integration with a revocable living trust, or creating a standalone retirement plan trust. Direct beneficiary designations are simple but offer limited control over timing and use. Trust-based solutions provide more control and protection but require careful drafting to align with tax rules and plan terms. We help clients compare these options by reviewing account types, family dynamics, tax implications, and the desired level of control, recommending the path that best balances simplicity, flexibility, and protection for heirs.
A straightforward beneficiary designation can be an appropriate choice when retirement account balances are modest, the intended beneficiaries are capable adults, and there are no special concerns such as creditor exposure or minor beneficiaries. In those scenarios, the simplicity of naming a spouse or adult child as a beneficiary reduces paperwork and administrative complexity. However, account owners should still review beneficiary forms periodically and ensure that any changes in family circumstances are reflected promptly so that the assets pass according to current wishes without creating avoidable tax or probate issues.
If an account owner wishes beneficiaries to have quick and direct access to retirement funds without trustee administration or staged distributions, using a direct beneficiary designation may be preferable. This approach can be appropriate for owners who trust beneficiaries to manage funds responsibly and who prioritize simplicity over ongoing control. It also reduces the need to coordinate complex trust provisions with the retirement plan’s rules. Still, it is important to confirm that beneficiary designations are up to date and consistent with other estate planning documents to avoid contradictions and unintended results.
When beneficiaries include minors, individuals with disabilities, or those who might face financial or legal exposure, a comprehensive plan that includes a retirement plan trust can provide important safeguards. Trust provisions can control timing, amount, and purpose of distributions to protect beneficiaries from mismanagement and outside claims while still providing for their needs. This type of arrangement allows the account owner to set clear instructions for the trustee to follow, offering a balance between providing for loved ones and ensuring funds are used responsibly when access is granted.
A more detailed plan helps manage tax consequences and align retirement account distributions with long-term legacy goals. Retirement plan trusts can be crafted to preserve favorable tax treatment when possible and to stagger distributions in a manner that reduces tax burdens for beneficiaries. They also allow account owners to set conditions that reflect charitable goals, education funding, or other priorities. This coordination ensures that retirement assets are distributed in a way that supports the owner’s broader estate plan and financial objectives for the family across generations.
Choosing a comprehensive approach to retirement asset planning provides greater control over distribution timing, protection for beneficiaries, and alignment with tax strategies. It reduces the risk of conflicting instructions between beneficiary forms and trust provisions, which can cause delays and disputes. By integrating a retirement plan trust with documents such as a revocable living trust, pour-over will, and certification of trust, owners create a cohesive plan that guides administrators and trustees. This clarity simplifies administration and helps preserve the intended use of retirement funds for future needs.
A carefully planned trust arrangement can also provide creditor protection in certain situations and protect retirement assets from misdirected distributions. It gives account owners flexibility to provide for unique family circumstances, including blended families and beneficiaries with special needs, through tailored distribution provisions. Having a single, comprehensive plan reduces the likelihood of costly probate proceedings and provides heirs with a clearer path to receiving benefits in a timely manner. The result is a smoother transition and a better chance that retirement funds fulfill the owner’s wishes.
A retirement plan trust lets you specify how and when beneficiaries receive funds, which is particularly helpful for preserving assets over time and avoiding large lump-sum distributions that may be quickly spent. Trust provisions can direct that distributions occur in stages, for particular purposes, or upon reaching certain life milestones, thereby encouraging financial stability for beneficiaries. This control also helps coordinate distributions with tax planning to avoid unnecessary tax consequences, and it makes the owner’s intentions clear to trustees and account custodians when administering retirement benefits.
By establishing rules for how retirement funds are used and by naming responsible trustees and successors, a retirement plan trust can reduce family conflict and ensure that beneficiaries receive support in a structured way. Trust provisions can prevent funds from being diverted for unintended purposes and can protect assets from certain creditor claims in the hands of beneficiaries. This structure also provides a mechanism for addressing delicate family situations, helping preserve relationships by setting transparent expectations and reducing the need for contested administration or litigation.
Regularly reviewing beneficiary designations ensures retirement account distributions match your current intentions and family circumstances. Life events such as marriage, divorce, births, and deaths can change who you want to receive retirement assets. Even if you have a trust in place, beneficiary forms on file with plan administrators must be consistent with your trust provisions to avoid conflicts. Periodic reviews also allow you to update contingent beneficiaries and confirm that account custodians have the most recent instructions, which prevents unintended outcomes and simplifies administration for loved ones.
Naming trustees who are willing and capable of administering a retirement plan trust is important for smooth management and distribution of assets. A trustee must be ready to work with account custodians, understand distribution timing, and maintain records and tax filings. Consider naming successor trustees in case a primary trustee is unable to serve. Clear instructions and accessible trust documents help trustees fulfill their duties effectively and reduce the administrative burden on family members during an already difficult time.
There are several strong reasons to include a retirement plan trust in your estate plan, including controlling beneficiary distributions, protecting vulnerable heirs, and aligning account distributions with broader legacy objectives. Trust provisions can avoid unintended consequences from direct beneficiary designations and help manage tax implications for beneficiaries. For account owners who wish to preserve assets over time, care for family members with special needs, or ensure proceeds are used for specific purposes like education or healthcare, a retirement plan trust offers a structured, long-term solution that complements other estate documents.
In addition to control and protection, a retirement plan trust can reduce administrative confusion by consolidating instructions and clarifying the roles of trustees and beneficiaries. It can also support intergenerational planning goals by specifying how funds should be handled over multiple generations. While not necessary for every account owner, those with complex family structures, substantial retirement balances, or concerns about creditor claims often find the added planning is worthwhile. As part of a comprehensive plan, a retirement plan trust can preserve the value and purpose of retirement savings for intended heirs.
Certain circumstances make a retirement plan trust especially useful, including having minor children, providing for a beneficiary with disabilities, navigating blended family dynamics, or holding sizable retirement assets that require tax-aware distribution planning. Business owners and those with significant creditor exposure may also use trusts to shield distributions in some contexts. When beneficiaries are not ready for immediate lump-sum distributions or when there are competing claims, a trust creates a controlled framework for distributing retirement funds in a manner consistent with the account owner’s intentions.
If minor children are named as beneficiaries of retirement accounts, a trust can manage distributions until beneficiaries reach an age or milestone where direct control is appropriate. Trust provisions can allocate funds for education, healthcare, and living expenses while preventing premature dissipation of assets. Naming a trustee to oversee these disbursements provides structure and oversight during formative years. This approach reduces the chances that young beneficiaries will receive large sums before they are ready to manage them responsibly, and it assures parents that funds will be used according to their priorities.
When a beneficiary has a disability or special needs, a retirement plan trust can preserve eligibility for public benefits while providing supplemental support. Properly drafted trust provisions can direct funds for medical care, therapies, housing, and other needs without interfering with government programs. The trust can include distribution guidelines that prioritize the beneficiary’s quality of life and long-term security. Coordinating this trust with other planning tools helps families provide for a loved one in a way that balances immediate care and long-term financial stability.
Blended families often require careful planning to ensure that retirement assets benefit both a surviving spouse and children from prior relationships. A retirement plan trust can provide for a surviving spouse’s needs while protecting assets for children or other beneficiaries after the spouse’s lifetime. Trust language can specify income or limited distributions to a surviving spouse and preserve principal for other heirs. This type of arrangement reduces the potential for disputes and helps maintain family harmony by clearly documenting intentions for retirement funds.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves Lincoln and Placer County with estate planning services tailored to local needs. Our firm assists with retirement plan trusts, revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, financial powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. We work with clients to inventory accounts, coordinate beneficiary designations, and draft trust language that aligns with retirement plan rules and personal objectives. If you live in Lincoln and want to ensure retirement assets are protected and distributed according to your wishes, our team is available to guide the planning process and prepare the necessary documents.
Clients choose the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman for clear communication, practical planning, and careful coordination of estate documents. Our approach emphasizes understanding each client’s family and financial circumstances to design retirement plan trust provisions that accomplish specific goals while complying with plan rules. We help clients inventory assets, prepare beneficiary designations, and integrate trust terms with related documents like pour-over wills and advance directives. The result is a cohesive estate plan that reflects your wishes and reduces administrative friction for loved ones.
At our firm we focus on providing straightforward guidance and thorough document preparation so that retirement accounts and trusts work together as intended. We review each retirement account’s rules and tax considerations to draft trust language that allows trustees to administer funds responsibly. Our service includes preparing supporting documents such as certifications of trust and trust modification petitions when circumstances change. This comprehensive attention to detail helps avoid conflicting instructions, minimizes delays, and provides a reliable framework for carrying out your estate plan.
We prioritize accessibility and responsiveness, helping clients in Lincoln and throughout California understand their options and make informed choices. From initial consultation through final document signing, we explain the implications of different strategies and tailor plans to meet family needs and legacy goals. Our goal is to provide clients with confidence that retirement assets will be managed and distributed according to their wishes, while reducing the burden on heirs and supporting long-term financial security for beneficiaries.
Our process begins with a thorough review of retirement accounts, beneficiary designations, and existing estate planning documents, followed by a discussion of your goals and family circumstances. We then draft trust provisions tailored to account types and distribution objectives, prepare supporting documents such as certifications of trust and pour-over wills, and coordinate with account custodians when necessary. After executing documents, we provide guidance for updating beneficiary forms and maintaining the plan over time. This methodical approach reduces surprises and ensures a cohesive plan that functions when needed.
The first step involves compiling a detailed inventory of retirement accounts, beneficiary designations, and any existing trust or estate documents you already have. We review plan rules, potential tax issues, and family dynamics to identify potential conflicts and opportunities for coordination. This review helps determine whether a standalone retirement plan trust is appropriate or whether trust provisions within an existing revocable living trust will suffice. The goal is to understand the full landscape so that the drafting phase addresses all relevant concerns and aligns with your intentions.
Gathering account statements and beneficiary forms is essential to accurate planning. We request recent plan documents, account statements, and any beneficiary designation forms already filed with custodians. This information clarifies current designations, account values, and plan-specific distribution rules. With this full picture, we can draft trust language that plan administrators will accept and that will achieve your distribution objectives. Accurate documentation also prevents surprises during administration and helps trustees know their responsibilities from the outset.
Reviewing any existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives helps ensure consistency across your estate plan. We look for conflicts between beneficiary designations and trust provisions and identify necessary modifications to align documents. This review often uncovers opportunities to streamline or update language for clarity and to reduce administrative friction. Ensuring that each document supports the overall plan protects your wishes and helps relatives and trustees carry out tasks with confidence and minimal delay.
In the drafting phase we prepare trust provisions tailored to your retirement accounts and family circumstances, including language to handle distributions, trustee authority, and tax considerations. We coordinate the drafted trust with beneficiary forms and other estate documents, and prepare supporting instruments such as a certification of trust or pour-over will when needed. We also provide guidance on naming trustees and successors and include instructions for handling required minimum distributions and tax obligations so trustees can administer funds properly and beneficiaries receive the intended benefits.
Drafting appropriate trust provisions requires attention to how retirement plans operate and the tax consequences of distributions. We prepare language that allows trustees to receive distributions and manage timing to align with tax planning and beneficiary needs. Provisions may address staggered payouts, allowable uses, and mechanisms for required minimum distributions. The drafting process focuses on clarity so plan administrators will accept the trust as a beneficiary and trustees will have clear direction for managing and distributing funds in accordance with your goals.
Coordination with account administrators is often necessary to confirm acceptance of trust language and to ensure beneficiary designations and account records reflect the plan. We assist clients in completing beneficiary forms, submitting necessary trust documentation, and communicating with custodians when questions arise. Confirming acceptance prevents administrative delays or refusals later and ensures that the trust will be honored upon the owner’s passing. Clear communication with administrators also helps trustees access funds promptly according to the trust terms.
After drafting and review, we guide you through formal execution of trust documents and any related wills or powers of attorney. We assist in providing necessary certifications or filings to account custodians and advise clients on updating beneficiary forms. Ongoing maintenance includes periodic reviews to account for changes in law, account balances, and family circumstances. Regular updates keep the plan effective and prevent conflicts, ensuring the retirement plan trust continues to fulfill its purpose across changing circumstances and life events.
Formal execution of documents is conducted in accordance with state requirements and may include notarization and witness signatures where applicable. We provide clear instructions for signing, deliver finalized documents to clients, and prepare any necessary certifications for account custodians. Delivering the appropriate trust certifications and beneficiary forms helps ensure retirement plan administrators recognize the trust and follow its provisions when distributing assets. Proper execution reduces the risk of administration disputes and clarifies the duties of trustees.
Estate plans should be reviewed periodically to reflect life changes and updates in law, and retirement plan trusts are no exception. We recommend periodic reviews after major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, or changes in financial circumstances. During these reviews we confirm beneficiary designations, update trust provisions if needed, and prepare trust modification petitions when appropriate. Ongoing attention keeps the plan aligned with your goals and helps prevent unintended consequences or conflicts that can complicate administration.
A retirement plan trust is a trust designed specifically to receive and manage retirement account benefits in accordance with federal tax rules and plan terms. Unlike a simple beneficiary designation, a trust can impose terms on distributions, control timing, and provide protections that direct designations cannot. Trusts are often used to manage funds for minors, vulnerable beneficiaries, or to coordinate distributions over time. Because retirement accounts have unique tax and distribution rules, the trust language must be carefully drafted to ensure that the plan administrator will recognize and honor the trust’s status as beneficiary. This difference matters because beneficiary designations filed with account custodians typically control who receives retirement assets, and they may override terms in a will. A properly structured retirement plan trust aligns beneficiary forms with trust provisions so that the trust receives distributions and trustees can manage funds according to your stated goals. Coordination with account custodians and attention to required distribution rules are essential to preserve tax advantages and ensure the trust functions as intended when it is needed.
Consider creating a standalone retirement plan trust if you have sizable retirement balances, complex family dynamics, or beneficiaries who need protection or managed distributions. A standalone trust can be tailored to address required minimum distribution rules, tax planning, and specific directives for how funds should be used over time. It is particularly useful when you want to maintain control over timing and purpose of distributions or when you wish to preserve benefits for children or other heirs after a surviving spouse’s lifetime. A legal professional can review your accounts and family circumstances to determine whether a standalone retirement trust or provisions in a broader revocable trust are the better fit. The decision often depends on the size and type of accounts, the goals for your estate, and the need to coordinate trust terms with plan administrators to avoid unintended tax or administrative complications.
Required minimum distributions influence trust design because the trust must be drafted to allow beneficiaries to take distributions in a manner that satisfies federal tax rules while preserving favorable tax treatment where possible. If the trust language does not permit required distributions or conflicts with plan rules, beneficiaries may lose options that would otherwise reduce tax burdens. Drafting must consider distribution timing and how beneficiaries will be treated for RMD purposes to avoid accelerated taxation or penalties. To address RMDs effectively, trust provisions may include clauses that allow beneficiaries to receive required distributions in a timely manner and define how those distributions should be calculated and distributed. Coordination with financial advisors and account custodians ensures the trust’s provisions align with both tax obligations and the practical administration of retirement accounts.
Yes, a retirement plan trust can be structured to help protect funds for a beneficiary with disabilities without jeopardizing eligibility for public benefits. Properly drafted trust provisions direct distributions for supplemental needs such as medical care, therapies, housing, or educational expenses while preserving access to government support programs. The trust should include clear language that allows for discretion in providing supplemental benefits without substituting for public benefits. Coordination with other planning documents and consultation regarding benefit rules are important to ensure that the trust supports the beneficiary’s overall well-being. Establishing a trust with tailored distribution guidelines provides a flexible resource to supplement care while safeguarding access to essential services and support programs.
Naming a trust as beneficiary does not inherently increase taxes for heirs if the trust is properly drafted to permit appropriate distribution options and to comply with tax rules. Poorly drafted trust language, however, can limit tax-efficient distribution strategies and result in higher immediate taxation. Key considerations include ensuring that required minimum distributions are handled correctly and that tax-deferral opportunities are preserved when possible. Working through drafting details with a legal professional helps avoid common pitfalls that can trigger unfavorable tax results. By coordinating trust terms with retirement plan rules and tax planning, the trust can support tax-conscious distribution strategies that align with your estate objectives and benefit heirs effectively.
To ensure plan administrators accept your trust as beneficiary, the trust document must contain specific provisions and language that meet the administrative and legal standards of retirement plans. This often includes identifying trustees, providing distribution instructions that work with plan rules, and ensuring the trust is valid under state law. Providing a certification of trust and completing any required forms helps custodians confirm the trust’s authority without reviewing the entire trust instrument. Proactive communication with account custodians and reviewers is recommended. Submitting certified trust documents and confirming acceptance reduces the risk of administrators refusing the trust or requesting changes, and it helps facilitate smooth administration and timely access to funds by trustees and beneficiaries when necessary.
Whether to place retirement accounts inside a revocable living trust or use a separate retirement plan trust depends on goals, account types, and family dynamics. Many revocable trusts are not ideal recipients of retirement accounts without additional language because retirement plans have unique tax rules that the general trust provisions may not address. A separate retirement trust may be preferable when specialized distribution control or beneficiary protection is needed. A tailored review helps determine the best structure for aligning beneficiary forms and trust provisions. In some cases, adding particular provisions to an existing revocable trust will suffice; in others, a standalone retirement plan trust provides clearer and more precise treatment of retirement assets to preserve tax options and meet distribution objectives.
When you create a retirement plan trust, update beneficiary designations on each retirement account and provide account custodians with the necessary trust certifications or documentation. Also review and update complementary documents such as your revocable living trust, pour-over will, financial power of attorney, and advance health care directive to ensure consistency across your estate plan. Coordination among these documents prevents conflicting instructions and simplifies administration for trustees and heirs. It is also wise to inform trustees and key family members of the plan’s existence and location of documents while maintaining privacy. Periodic reviews after major life events keep designations current and maintain alignment between trust provisions and account records.
Beneficiary designations and trust provisions should be reviewed periodically, particularly after major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or significant changes in finances. Routine reviews every few years are also recommended to ensure that changes in law or account rules do not create unintended consequences. These regular check-ins allow you to update forms, revise trust language, and confirm that account custodians have current documentation and instructions. Keeping documents up to date reduces the risk of conflicts, administrative delays, and unintended distributions. It also helps beneficiaries avoid disputes and ensures that the retirement plan trust continues to operate as intended throughout changing family and financial circumstances.
A pour-over will works with trust-based planning by directing any assets that were not previously transferred into a trust during the account owner’s lifetime to the trust upon death. For retirement accounts, beneficiary designations generally control, but a pour-over will serves as a safety net for other assets and helps consolidate administration in the trust. It ensures that assets not already titled in the trust ultimately come under the trust’s administration for distribution according to your plan. Relying solely on a pour-over will for retirement accounts is not sufficient because beneficiary forms usually govern retirement account transfers. It is important to coordinate beneficiary designations for retirement accounts with the trust and to use a pour-over will as a complement to ensure that any non-retirement assets also pass into the trust for unified administration.
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