Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California
My Aunt, who lives in California, wants to add some type of "Spendthrift" clause to her Will in order to protect her estate from potential creditors. How would such a clause be worded ?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Spendthrift clauses have nothing to do with protecting the estate from creditors. The creditors have a right to the estate ahead of the heirs. A spendthrift provision prevents the HEIRS from getting the estate all at once so they don't blow it.
A spendthrift provision prevents the creditor's of a beneficiary or heir from getting at the assets of a trust or estate before it has been distributd to the heir. It will not protect her estate from any lawful creditor of hers.
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