Now Serving
NC · MD · VA
Choosing this service helps preserve privacy, speed asset transfers, and minimize court involvement after death. A well drafted revocable trust can avoid probate for many assets, provide clear instructions for trustees, and support incapacity planning through durable powers of attorney.
A comprehensive approach reduces the likelihood of failed transfers, minimizes family conflict, and clarifies roles for successions, executors, and trustees across generations. This clarity helps everyone act confidently during transitions.
We provide practical guidance, transparent pricing, and structured documents designed for North Carolina residents. Our approach emphasizes clear communication, timely filings, and respectful collaboration with loved ones throughout the process.
We outline ongoing duties, annual reviews, and how to address changes in laws, family circumstances, or asset portfolios to stay aligned.
A revocable living trust is a flexible arrangement you control during life. You can modify it or revoke it, and assets placed into the trust avoid probate while you are alive. A will directs asset distribution after death and is typically subject to probate, while a trust can provide privacy and smoother transfers; both tools can work together in a comprehensive plan.
Revocable trusts offer privacy and probate avoidance, but they do not shield assets from creditors while you are alive. Asset protection within an estate plan typically requires additional tools, and advice from a qualified attorney is essential to balance protection with liquidity and control.
Yes. In a revocable living trust you can serve as the initial trustee, maintaining control over assets and decisions during your lifetime. You should appoint a successor trustee to take over if you become unable to manage the trust, ensuring continuity and privacy.
Common funded assets include real estate, bank accounts, investments, and business interests; titling them in the trust helps align ownership with your instructions. Non-funded items may remain outside the trust, so thorough asset review with your attorney is important to avoid gaps.
The timeline varies with complexity, but a typical setup can take a few weeks, depending on asset types, funding readiness, and client review. Starting with a clear plan and prompt responses from you helps move the process efficiently while ensuring accuracy.
Yes, if assets are funded, a revocable living trust can avoid probate for those assets, reducing court costs and delays. Funding is a critical step; we help identify assets and transfer ownership to align with your wishes efficiently and accurately.
State law shapes how trusts are administered, including requirements for validity, discovery during probate, and the ability to nominate a trustee in line with local rules. Our firm keeps up to date with North Carolina law to ensure plans comply and remain effective as regulations evolve.
Unfunded assets stay outside the trust and pass through the will or intestate process, potentially triggering probate, which defeats privacy and speed goals. Funding is a critical step; we help identify assets and transfer ownership to align with your wishes efficiently and accurately.
Yes, many plans appoint a durable power of attorney and a biomedical power to manage finances and health decisions if you cannot. This setup provides continuity and privacy while allowing you to adapt to changing needs over time.
Select a trustee who is organized, trustworthy, and capable of managing investments and distributions in line with your plan. Consider a successor and a backup, and consult with us to ensure alignment with your assets and family dynamics before finalizing.
