A plan for your family and your future
A revocable living trust brings your wishes for your property into one coordinated plan. You decide who will manage the assets held in the trust and how they should be distributed to your beneficiaries. It can be especially helpful when you want continuity during your lifetime and a clear path for your family afterward.
A plan that can grow with your life
You may be thinking about your children, a home you worked hard to buy, or who would help if you could no longer manage things yourself. We begin with those priorities, then discuss how a living trust could fit into your estate plan.
What a living trust can help you accomplish
The right structure depends on your family and property. A conversation about your goals helps identify the choices that matter.
Plan for a smoother transfer
Assets properly held in the trust can pass to beneficiaries without going through probate. Funding the trust is an essential part of making that plan work.
Choose who steps in
A successor trustee can manage trust assets when you can no longer do so, following the terms you put in place.
Give your inheritance a structure
Discuss who should benefit, when they should receive their inheritance, and who should manage it in the meantime.
Keep room for change
A revocable trust can generally be amended or revoked while you have capacity, so it can evolve as your wishes change.
Who may benefit from a living trust?
A trust may be worth discussing if you own real estate, want to coordinate several assets, have children from different relationships, or want an inheritance managed over time. It is also useful to consider when choosing who will help with trust property during incapacity. You do not need to know whether a trust is right for you before reaching out.
Your documents should work together
A trust plan involves more than the trust agreement. We help you understand the role of a certificate of trust, a pour-over will, and any deeds needed to transfer appropriate property into the trust. We also discuss how your plan relates to account ownership and beneficiary designations.
From your first conversation to your next steps
We start by learning about your family, property, and goals. Next, we discuss your trustee choices and the instructions you want your plan to reflect. You can review the proposed documents, ask questions in English or Spanish, and understand the signing and property-transfer steps before moving forward.
Your questions, answered
Do I give up control of my property?
Many people serve as the initial trustee of their own revocable trust. The arrangement can let you continue managing trust assets, with the trust’s terms defining your authority and who succeeds you.
Does a living trust replace a will?
A pour-over will often complements a trust by directing certain probate assets to it after death. It is a backup part of the plan, and assets passing through that will can still require probate.
What does funding the trust mean?
It means coordinating assets with the trust, which may involve changing ownership or beneficiary arrangements. Real estate generally needs an appropriate deed. We explain the steps relevant to the property being included.
Is a living trust the same as a Lady Bird deed?
They serve different planning needs. A Lady Bird deed addresses a particular property, while a living trust can provide a broader set of instructions for multiple assets and their management. We can help you compare the options.
Can my spouse and I plan together?
Yes. We can discuss planning for both spouses and the appropriate structure based on your ownership, family circumstances, and wishes.
What should I prepare for a consultation?
A general overview of your property and accounts, the people you want to benefit, your preferred trustee and backup, and copies of any existing estate planning documents are a helpful starting point.