Curious about how to protect your assets while still being able to manage them?
Estate planning can be a complex process, but it is essential for ensuring that an individual’s assets are secure and distributed according to their wishes.
A revocable living trust is a popular estate planning tool that offers several benefits over traditional wills. Learn more about the benefits of a revocable living trust, how it can help individuals plan their estate, and how a Houston trust lawyer can help.
A revocable trust can be a valuable tool for managing and distributing assets during and after your lifetime.
One of the primary benefits of a revocable living trust is that it can help your loved ones avoid probate for your estate. Probate and the settlement process is complex and can be time-consuming and expensive to navigate. By transferring assets to a revocable living trust, you can avoid probate for the trust’s assets.
Probate proceedings, even when you have the help of an experienced probate lawyer, are a matter of public record. This means anyone can access information about your assets and how they are distributed.
You can maintain privacy for yourself and your heirs and keep your financial affairs private by using a revocable living trust.
As the trust’s grantor, you can name yourself the trustee and retain control over the trust’s assets. This allows you to maintain control of any assets placed in the trust.
The trust document can be amended or revoked anytime, allowing you to make changes as life’s circumstances change. For example, if you need to remove assets, add assets, or change beneficiaries on the trust, you can do so at any time.
Becoming incapacitated is scary to think about, but a revocable living trust can put your mind at ease. If you become incapacitated and cannot manage your affairs, the named successor trustee can step in and manage the trust’s assets. This can help ensure your affairs are handled according to your wishes, even if you cannot manage them yourself.
While a revocable living trust offers several benefits over a traditional will, it is important to understand the differences between the two estate planning tools. A will is a legal document outlining how your assets will be distributed after death. Even if you have a valid will, your estate may still have to go through probate.
Creating a revocable living trust typically involves working with an estate planning attorney. An attorney can help you draft the trust document and ensure it complies with state laws. As the grantor, you must name a trustee and beneficiaries and outline how the trust’s assets will be managed and distributed.
Funding a revocable living trust involves transferring assets to the trust. This can include bank accounts, real estate, investments, and other assets. It is important to ensure that all assets are properly titled in the name of the trust to ensure that they are protected and avoid probate.
It is important to periodically review and update a revocable living trust to ensure that it still reflects your wishes. Significant life changes, such as the birth of a child, marriage, divorce, or changes in state or tax laws, may require updates to the trust document.
While a revocable trust may not be the best option for everyone, it can be a powerful tool. Working with an experienced estate planning attorney can help you ensure that your trust is drafted properly and legally.
Contact us today at Your Legacy Legal Care, and we’ll review your situation to determine if a revocable living trust is your best estate planning document.
Kimberly Hegwood is the Managing Attorney of Your Legacy Legal Care, a Houston estate planning law firm. With more than 25 years of experience practicing law in Texas, she represents clients in a wide range of legal matters, including elder law, asset protection, estate planning, Medicaid crisis planning, probate, guardianship, and other estate planning practice areas.
Kimberly received her Juris Doctor from the South Texas College of Law and is a member of the State Bar of Texas.
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