A pour-over will is a legal document used in estate planning that works in conjunction with a trust. It directs that any assets not already transferred to the trust during the individual’s lifetime be transferred to the trust upon their death. The pour-over will “pours” or transfers these assets into the trust, allowing them to be distributed according to the terms of the trust document. Pour-over wills are often used in conjunction with living trusts to ensure that all of an individual’s assets are included in the trust and administered according to their wishes, avoiding the probate process and providing privacy and flexibility in estate distribution.
A will that “pours over” property into a trust when the will-maker dies. Property left through the will must go through probate before it goes into the trust.
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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March, 2024.
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