Living Trust
A Family Revocable Trust, also called a Living Trust, is a legal document that enables you to leave instructions for who you want to handle your final affairs and how you want your assets distributed after you die.
Family Revocable Trusts or Living Trusts look a lot like a will but, unlike a will, a Trust does not go through probate (providing privacy concerning assets included in the living trust), it prevents the court from controlling your assets if your are declared incompetent, and it gives you (not the court) control over the assets in the trust that you leave to your minor children and/or grandchildren.
Two Types of Trusts…
A Living Trust can be revocable or irrevocable (you cannot change it or take out assets that have been placed in it). When you establish or set up the trust, you are called the Grantor (sometimes Settlor or Trustor).
You will also name a Trustee to manage the assets you place in the trust. Many people name themselves, continuing to handle their affairs as they would have without the trust. Married couples often establish themselves as Co-Trustees. In case one of the Co-Trustees becomes incapacitated or dies, the other instantly has control, without court involvement, of the assets in the trust.
A Successor Trustee needs to be named in case you (or both of you in the case of Co-Trustees) becomes incapacitated or dies. This can be an individual (your adult children or dependable family friends) or a Corporate Trustee (a bank).
A Revocable Family Trust has advantages:
Advantages
- You see your trust work.
- You avoid probate and the trust can be used to avoid ancillary probate – that is probate of property in another state.
- You avoid the attendant publicity of probate.
- You will probably save your estate a substantial amount of fees and costs.
- You can provide for uninterrupted management in case of incapacity.
- You can avoid interruption of management at death.
- It’s a good way to pass property to charity and save taxes at death.
- You can change your mind.
A Family Revocable Trust, also called a Living Trust, is a legal document that prepares your estate for ease of transition after you die by establishing who you want to handle your final affairs and how your assets are to be distributed.
Family Revocable Trusts or Living Trusts are an alternative to a will. Unlike a will, a Trust avoids probate which provides privacy of one’s assets included in the living trust, prevents the court from controlling your assets if you’re declared incompetent, and it gives you, instead of the court, control over the assets in the trust that you leave to minors like children or grandchildren.
A Living Trust can be either revocable or irrevocable. While a Revocable Living Trust can be amended, an Irrevocable Living Trusts cannot be altered. When you establish or set up the trust, you are called the Grantor, sometimes known as Settlor or Trustor.
You will also get to name a Trustee to manage the assets that you place in the trust. People often name themselves as the Trustee and continue to handle their affairs as they would have without a Trust. In addition, Married couples frequently establish themselves as Co-Trustees. This option offers many benefits like if a Co-Trustee becomes incapacitated or dies, the other has instant control of the assets without court involvement.
A Living Trust also grants you the ability to name a Successor Trustee who will control your assets in case you or, both of you if you have a Co-Trustee, becomes incapacitated or dies.
A Revocable Family Trust has advantages such as:
- You see your trust in work
- Your assets and property avoid probate as well as ancillary probate (probate in another state)
- You avoid the attendant publicity of probate
- You will probably save your estate a substantial amount of fees and costs
- You can provide for uninterrupted management if there is a case of incapacity
- You can avoid interruption of management at death
- You have the option to pass property to charity and save taxes upon death
- You can change your mind