This service helps families preserve privacy, expedite asset distribution, avoid probate, maintain control, and adapt to changing circumstances. By funding the trust, you ensure a smoother transfer of assets to heirs while retaining the power to modify or revoke the trust when needed.
Enhanced privacy, better control, and more predictable outcomes for heirs help reduce disputes and streamline transfers across generations.
We focus on clear communication, practical planning, and respect for your family’s values. Our approach emphasizes collaborative decision-making, accessible language, and step-by-step guidance, helping you feel confident about the path forward.
We provide secure storage for originals and digital copies, plus easy access for authorized individuals. We also document your instructions for trustee continuity and minimize miscommunication during transitions for families.
A Revocable Living Trust provides a flexible estate planning framework that allows asset management during life and orderly distribution after death. You retain control and can modify or revoke the trust at any time. It works best when paired with a will for non-trust assets. Funding is essential for effectiveness; otherwise, probate may still occur for those items. We coordinate funding steps to ensure the trust functions as intended.
People who value privacy, control over distributions, and ease of management during incapacity should consider a Revocable Living Trust. It can also help blended families, those with real estate in multiple states, or individuals seeking coordinated wealth transfer strategies and clear instructions for trustees and heirs.
Most probate assets can be placed in the trust, including real estate, bank accounts, investments, and business interests. Personal property can also be included with schedules and descriptions, providing clarity for heirs. We also discuss non-titled assets and how to document them for inclusion in the plan.
Funding involves transferring ownership of assets into the trust, including retitling real estate, changing ownership of accounts, and updating beneficiary designations. Without funding, the trust may not provide the intended benefits during incapacity or after death. We guide you through the steps and coordinate with professionals to ensure assets are properly titled in the trust.
After death, the trust typically becomes irrevocable, and the successor trustee administers distributions according to the settlor’s instructions. This process avoids probate for assets held in the trust and can provide privacy and efficiency for heirs. The successor trustee will handle asset transfers, pay debts, and distribute property while following tax and legal considerations.
A Revocable Living Trust by itself does not reduce estate taxes because the grantor maintains control and assets remain part of the taxable estate. It can, however, coordinate with other plans and exemptions under careful tax planning. We advise consulting with a tax professional to integrate the trust with gifting strategies, charitable giving, and business succession planning to maximize benefits and ensure compliance.
The trustee can be you, a trusted family member, a friend, or a professional entity such as a bank or law firm. The key is selecting someone reliable who understands fiduciary duties and can manage finances in line with your objectives. We help you name alternates and prepare documentation that outlines powers, limitations, and removal procedures to prevent disputes during transitions for families.
A successor trustee is the person or institution designated to take over management of the trust when the grantor dies or becomes incapacitated. Their duties include managing assets, paying debts and taxes, maintaining records, and distributing assets to beneficiaries according to the trust terms. We discuss considerations for co-trustees, ongoing communication with beneficiaries, and the steps to replace a trustee to maintain continuity and minimize disruption in complex estates for families.
No. A trust and a will are different documents serving related roles. A trust manages assets during life and after death, avoiding probate for trust assets. A will provides instructions for assets not placed in the trust and handles guardianship matters. Many clients use both to ensure comprehensive coverage, with a pour-over will directing any non-trust assets into the trust upon death. This provides a safety net while keeping matters organized.
Start by contacting our Beltsville office to schedule an initial consultation. We will discuss your goals, gather basic asset information, and outline the steps required to draft and fund a Revocable Living Trust. We tailor the plan to your situation and guide you through funding the trust, updating beneficiary designations, and reviewing documents periodically to reflect life changes.
