A revocable living trust can help Taft residents protect assets, preserve privacy, and simplify the transfer of property upon incapacity or death. This guide explains how a revocable living trust functions, who benefits from one, and what documents commonly accompany a trust, such as a pour-over will, powers of attorney, and health care directives. Whether you own real estate, retirement accounts, or personal property, a well-drafted trust tailored to your circumstances can reduce the likelihood of probate and help your loved ones avoid lengthy court proceedings while maintaining careful control over distributions and successor trustee powers.
Establishing a revocable living trust involves choosing trustees, preparing supporting estate documents, and funding the trust by transferring assets into its name. This process often includes drafting a certification of trust, preparing assignments of assets to the trust, and coordinating beneficiary designations for retirement accounts and life insurance. In many cases, an attorney will also prepare related instruments such as a general power of attorney, financial power of attorney, HIPAA authorization, and advance health care directive. The goal is to create a coherent plan that protects your interests and provides clear directions for management and distribution if you become unable to act.
A revocable living trust offers several practical benefits for families in Taft, including the potential to avoid probate, maintain privacy, and provide a seamless transition of asset management in the event of incapacity. Trusts can be tailored to permit continuing management by a successor trustee, set conditions for distributions, and coordinate with other estate planning documents to ensure beneficiaries receive assets according to the grantor’s intentions. In addition, a trust can provide care instructions for minor children or those with special needs, protect assets from court delays, and clarify authority for those responsible for health care and financial decisions.
Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides clients with clear, client-centered estate planning services aimed at securing families’ financial futures and health care preferences. We focus on practical planning solutions like revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives. Our approach emphasizes careful listening, personalized plan design, and detailed document preparation so clients understand how their plan operates in everyday life and in unforeseen circumstances. We serve individuals and families across California, guiding them through funding the trust and coordinating it with other estate planning documents to reduce stress and confusion for loved ones.
A revocable living trust is a flexible estate planning tool that permits a person to transfer ownership of assets into a trust while retaining control during life and naming a successor trustee to manage the trust if they become incapacitated or pass away. The grantor can modify or revoke the trust as circumstances change, which makes it a popular choice for individuals wanting adaptable planning options. Importantly, a revocable trust does not by itself provide asset protection from creditors during the grantor’s lifetime, but it does streamline post-death administration and can minimize public court involvement compared to probate proceedings.
When setting up a revocable living trust, it is important to identify which assets should be transferred into the trust, such as real property, bank accounts, investment accounts that allow trust ownership, and personal property. Some items like retirement accounts or assets with designated beneficiaries require careful coordination to ensure beneficiary designations and trust terms work together. Funding the trust is a separate step from drafting the document and typically requires re-titling assets, preparing assignments to the trust, and ensuring continuity between the trust, pour-over will, and any required certifications or filings to confirm authority for successor trustees.
A revocable living trust is a written legal arrangement in which the grantor places assets into a trust and names themselves as trustee for life, with a successor trustee designated to take over management when needed. The trust document sets out how assets are to be managed, who receives distributions, and under what conditions distributions should be made. Because the grantor controls the trust during their lifetime, they can change beneficiaries, modify terms, or dissolve the trust entirely. Upon incapacity or death, the successor trustee steps in to manage or distribute trust assets according to the grantor’s instructions, often avoiding the delays and public nature of probate.
Establishing a revocable living trust involves several key steps including drafting the trust document, naming trustees and beneficiaries, preparing related estate documents, and funding the trust by transferring assets into its name. Additional steps often include preparing a pour-over will to catch any assets not transferred to the trust, drafting financial and health care powers of attorney, and completing a certification of trust so successor trustees can demonstrate authority. Properly funding the trust requires re-titling assets and coordinating beneficiary designations, which ensures that the trust functions as intended and that family members and trustees can follow clear instructions.
Understanding common terms helps you make informed choices when creating a revocable living trust. This section defines important concepts such as trustee duties, pour-over wills, funding, successor trustee, beneficiaries, and certification of trust, and explains how each part fits into an overall estate plan. Clear definitions reduce confusion about responsibilities, timelines, and the legal effect of each document. Reviewing these terms alongside your plan can help ensure that trustee powers, distribution timing, and health care directives align with your intentions and family circumstances.
A trustee is the individual or entity responsible for managing the assets placed in a trust according to the terms set by the grantor. The trustee has legal authority to collect, invest, distribute, and account for trust assets, and must act in the beneficiaries’ best interests in line with the trust document. In a revocable living trust, the grantor typically serves as trustee during their life and appoints a successor trustee to step in if they become incapacitated or die. Choosing a reliable successor and documenting clear powers helps avoid disputes and ensures continuity of asset management.
A pour-over will works in tandem with a revocable living trust to capture any assets that were not properly transferred into the trust before the grantor’s death. The will directs that those assets be transferred, or poured over, into the trust so they can be distributed according to its terms. While a pour-over will typically still goes through probate for assets it controls at death, it serves as a safety net to ensure that your estate plan remains consistent and that assets intended for trust distribution ultimately reach the trust for administration under its instructions.
Funding the trust refers to the process of transferring ownership of assets from an individual into the name of the trust so that the trust can manage and distribute those assets as directed. Funding may involve re-titling real estate, changing account ownership or beneficiary designations where appropriate, and executing assignments for tangible property. Proper funding is essential because an unfunded trust cannot control assets at death or ensure avoidance of probate. A careful funding plan also addresses assets that cannot be easily retitled and coordinates beneficiary designations to prevent conflicts.
A certification of trust is a shortened version of the trust document that provides proof of the trust’s existence and identifies the trustee and successor trustee without revealing the trust’s full terms. Banks, title companies, and other institutions commonly request a certification of trust so a trustee can demonstrate authority to manage or transfer trust assets. This document streamlines interactions with financial institutions while preserving privacy, because it avoids disclosing details about beneficiaries or specific asset distributions contained in the full trust instrument.
When choosing between a revocable living trust and other estate planning tools such as a simple will, it is important to consider factors like privacy, probate avoidance, flexibility, and the nature of your assets. Wills are straightforward and useful for smaller estates but generally require probate to transfer property. A revocable trust often reduces or eliminates the need for probate while providing continued management in the event of incapacity. Each option carries unique procedural and administrative requirements, so evaluating your family structure, property types, and goals helps determine which combination of documents best meets your needs and minimizes future complications.
For individuals with modest asset pools and clear beneficiary designations, a limited approach using a will and basic powers of attorney may suffice. When assets are few and family relationships are uncomplicated, straightforward documents can efficiently direct distributions and name decision-makers without the need for more complex trust administration. However, even in these cases it is wise to consider how your assets are titled and whether beneficiary designations on retirement or insurance accounts align with your wishes, as unintended titles or designations can lead to results that differ from your intentions under a simple plan.
Some individuals choose a limited plan initially due to budget considerations, preferring to adopt more comprehensive arrangements later. Basic estate documents such as wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives are less costly upfront and provide immediate legal protection. It is important to recognize that a limited plan may require updates or additional documents over time, particularly if assets grow or family circumstances change. Planning to expand or revise your estate plan as circumstances evolve can help maintain alignment with long-term goals while managing initial costs prudently.
A comprehensive trust-based plan can reduce the need for probate administration and provide a clear mechanism for continuing asset management if you become incapacitated. Trusts allow successor trustees to step in quickly, manage assets, and carry out distribution instructions according to your terms. This continuity reduces court involvement and may lower stress for family members during difficult times. A full plan also typically includes financial and health care powers of attorney, HIPAA authorization, and clear trustee instructions, helping families handle both health care and financial decisions without repeated court petitions or delays.
If you own property in multiple states, have blended family dynamics, significant retirement accounts, or beneficiaries with special needs, a comprehensive plan built around a revocable living trust can address these complexities more elegantly than a simple will. Trusts offer flexible distribution schedules, conditions, and trustee authorities that can protect minor beneficiaries or those requiring long-term support. Coordinating a trust with an irrevocable life insurance trust or retirement plan trust, where appropriate, helps organize asset flows and reduce confusion, ensuring that your intentions are carried out with clarity and continuity.
A full trust-centered approach provides privacy, potential avoidance of probate, and a structured method for continuing asset management and distributions. It can protect your family from delays and public court proceedings while permitting you to control the terms of distributions and management. A comprehensive plan often includes supporting documents like a pour-over will, certification of trust, powers of attorney, health directives, and HIPAA authorizations, which together create a coordinated framework that covers financial, medical, and administrative contingencies in a consistent way.
In addition to probate avoidance and privacy, a comprehensive plan offers flexibility to adapt to life changes through trust amendment or revocation, and it provides clear instructions that reduce the risk of family disputes. Trusts can be designed to handle beneficiary needs, provide for management of assets over time, and preserve continuity for owned businesses or real estate holdings. When combined with routine plan reviews and updates, this approach helps ensure that documents reflect current laws and personal circumstances so your intentions remain practical and achievable.
One major benefit of a revocable living trust is the privacy it provides by allowing asset distribution outside the public probate record. Trust administration typically occurs without the same level of court oversight required for probate, which helps keep financial details and family affairs private. This privacy can be especially important for families with real estate holdings, business interests, or sensitive family circumstances. By handling distributions through a trust, successor trustees can implement your wishes discreetly and efficiently without the delays and publicity associated with probate court filings.
A revocable living trust enables a smooth transition of asset management if you become unable to make decisions yourself. By naming a successor trustee and providing clear instructions, the trust ensures that bills are paid, investments are managed, and distributions are made in line with your plan without a court-appointed conservator. This continuity helps preserve asset value and reduces stress for family members who would otherwise need to seek court intervention to obtain management authority. Including financial and health care powers of attorney further complements incapacity planning by addressing matters the trust may not cover directly.
Begin by creating a thorough inventory of your assets including real property, bank and investment accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance, and valuable personal property. Confirm how each asset is titled and whether beneficiary designations exist, since retitling or changing beneficiaries may be necessary to fund the trust properly. This inventory helps identify gaps so you can avoid unintentionally leaving important property outside the trust. A complete asset review also helps estimate potential administration needs for a successor trustee and simplifies funding tasks such as preparing assignments or re-recording deeds.
Choose a trustworthy successor trustee and at least one backup to ensure continuity if the primary designee cannot serve. Provide clear written instructions about management duties, distribution timing, and access to financial information. Also consider naming a professional or institutional trustee as an additional option when family dynamics are complicated or when assets require specialized administration. Documenting trustee powers and expectations in the trust helps reduce conflict and provides practical guidance for successors who will manage your affairs under potentially stressful circumstances.
There are several common reasons to establish a revocable living trust, including avoiding probate, providing for incapacity, preserving family privacy, and managing distributions for beneficiaries over time. Trusts can be tailored to meet the needs of blended families, minor children, or beneficiaries with special needs by setting distribution schedules and conditions. Additionally, when combined with supporting documents such as a pour-over will and powers of attorney, a trust-based plan creates a comprehensive framework for managing financial and health care matters with minimal court involvement and clear, written guidance for successor trustees.
Another important reason to consider a revocable living trust is to ease the administrative burden on your loved ones after an incapacitating event or death. Properly funded trusts minimize delays and reduce the need for court supervision, helping families access funds for immediate needs and maintain continuity in property management. By documenting your wishes about asset distribution, guardianship nominations for minors, and health care directives, a trust-centered plan can reduce uncertainty, provide clear instructions, and help avoid disputes or unintended outcomes among heirs.
A revocable living trust is often recommended when you own real estate, have significant or diverse assets, maintain accounts in multiple states, or wish to provide ongoing management for beneficiaries. It is also appropriate for those who want greater privacy than a will alone offers, or who prefer to avoid probate delays for heirs. Trusts can be particularly helpful when planning for minor children, supporting family members with disabilities through tailored distribution terms, or coordinating business succession where continuity and clear authority are essential.
If you own real estate in Taft or in other states, a trust can simplify post-death transfers and reduce the need for ancillary probate proceedings in other jurisdictions. Transferring property into the trust and preparing supporting documentation such as deeds and certifications helps enable successor trustees to manage or sell property efficiently when necessary. Taking steps to properly retitle real estate avoids delays and potential court involvement, making it easier for family members to access and manage property according to your wishes.
A trust allows you to set detailed instructions on how and when minor children or vulnerable beneficiaries receive support and inheritances. You can establish age-based distributions, set conditions for education or health expenses, and designate a trustee to manage funds responsibly until beneficiaries reach maturity or meet other milestones. Including guardianship nominations and guardianship guidance in your estate plan further clarifies caregiving intentions and ensures financial support aligns with the care arrangements you prefer for minors or dependents with special needs.
In blended families, or when there are multiple marriages, second spouses, or children from prior relationships, a trust can provide precision in distributing assets to achieve fairness and to preserve long-term financial goals. Trusts can also coordinate with retirement plans, life insurance, and business interests to reduce ambiguity and maintain asset continuity. Clear directives in a comprehensive trust reduce the chances of disputes, streamline administration, and help reconcile competing interests while protecting the long-term financial security of your intended beneficiaries.
Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman is available to assist residents of Taft and Kern County with revocable living trusts and broader estate planning needs. Our firm helps clients identify which assets should be included in a trust, prepares necessary supporting documents, and guides clients through funding steps like re-titling property and coordinating beneficiary designations. We aim to provide practical, clear guidance to help families avoid common planning pitfalls and ensure that plans function smoothly when they are most needed, including during incapacity and at the time of administration after death.
Clients choose our firm for thoughtful, client-focused estate planning that balances legal clarity with practical solutions tailored to each family’s circumstances. We place emphasis on listening carefully to your goals, explaining options in plain language, and creating plans that provide both immediate legal protection and long-term continuity. Our team prepares all necessary documents for revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives, and we assist with the important step of funding trusts to ensure your plan operates as intended when the time comes.
We work with clients across a wide range of asset types and family structures, coordinating trust provisions with retirement accounts, life insurance arrangements, and business interests. Our process includes reviewing current asset titles and beneficiary designations, drafting clear trust instruments, and advising on practical trustee selection and beneficiary distribution terms. We also prepare related filings and certifications such as a certification of trust so successor trustees can act efficiently with financial institutions and title companies when necessary.
Beyond document preparation, we guide clients through periodic reviews and updates to reflect life changes like marriage, divorce, births, deaths, and new asset acquisitions. Regular plan maintenance helps prevent unintended outcomes and ensures your estate plan remains responsive to changes in law and family circumstances. We prioritize communication so clients understand how each document functions together, who will carry out duties, and how to reduce the administrative burden on loved ones during difficult times.
Our process begins with an intake meeting to learn about your family, assets, and goals, followed by preparation of a draft trust and accompanying documents for your review. Once the trust terms are finalized, we assist with signing formalities and the important funding steps, which may include preparing deeds, assignment documents, and beneficiary updates. We also provide clients with a certification of trust and guidance on record-keeping so successor trustees can demonstrate their authority and administer the trust without unnecessary delay or confusion.
The initial planning step focuses on identifying your goals, cataloging assets, and selecting trustees and beneficiaries. We review how your property is titled, list accounts that must be retitled, and identify beneficiary designations that may need updating. Based on this information we prepare a draft revocable living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, HIPAA authorization, and any other documents relevant to your situation. Our goal during drafting is to produce clear, coherent documents that reflect your wishes and support straightforward administration by successor trustees.
During the initial meeting we will gather detailed information about your assets, family relationships, and planning objectives. This includes discussing real estate holdings, bank and investment accounts, retirement plans, life insurance, and any business interests. We also talk through desired distribution outcomes, trusts for beneficiaries with special needs, and preferences for handling incapacity. A careful asset review helps identify which items should be transferred to the trust and highlights coordination needs for beneficiary designations and account ownership.
After gathering information, we prepare a set of tailored documents that match your goals, including the revocable living trust, pour-over will, financial power of attorney, and advance health care directive. Each document is drafted to work together with the rest, so that trustee powers, distribution terms, and appointment clauses are consistent. We provide clear explanations of the draft documents and recommend any funding steps or additional arrangements to ensure the trust is operational and aligns with the legal and practical needs of your family.
Once the documents are finalized, we coordinate execution, notarization, and witnessing where required, and we outline a funding plan to transfer assets into the trust. Funding often involves preparing deeds for real property, changing account ownership, and executing assignments for tangible assets. We provide clients with clear instructions for financial institutions and record-keeping to minimize administrative burdens. Completing these steps ensures the trust controls intended assets and reduces the potential for assets to be subject to probate or misalignment with the estate plan.
Execution formalities usually require signing the trust and related documents in the presence of a notary and, when applicable, witnesses. We advise on the specific execution requirements and provide the necessary certificates to ensure the documents are enforceable. Proper execution also includes preparing a certification of trust for use with banks or title companies and ensuring that powers of attorney and health care directives are in effect if immediate incapacity planning is needed. Attention to these formalities helps prevent later disputes or challenges to validity.
Funding often involves re-titling assets, which can be time-consuming and require tailored paperwork for each institution or asset type. We provide step-by-step guidance and sample language for deeds, account change requests, and beneficiary updates. We also follow up to confirm funding tasks are completed and advise on record-keeping best practices so successor trustees can access account information and manage assets when necessary. Completing funding is essential to ensure the trust functions as intended and that assets are distributed according to your plan.
After establishing a revocable living trust, periodic review is important to ensure the plan remains up to date with life events, changes in assets, or new laws. We recommend reviewing estate planning documents after major milestones such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, significant asset changes, or relocation. If modifications are needed, a trust amendment or, in some circumstances, a trust restatement can be prepared to update terms without creating a new trust. Regular reviews help ensure the trust continues to reflect your intentions and remains administratively effective.
Regular plan reviews allow you to confirm beneficiary designations, verify that assets remain properly titled, and update trustee appointments when appropriate. Life changes can create inconsistencies if documents are not aligned, and periodic reviews help prevent unintended consequences. During a review we assess whether distribution terms still reflect current wishes, whether guardianship nominations remain suitable, and whether any additional protective measures are advisable in light of evolving family dynamics or changes in law.
When changes are necessary, trusts can often be amended to update provisions such as beneficiaries, trustee appointments, or distribution terms without rewriting the entire instrument. In some cases a restatement that consolidates several amendments into one document is preferable for clarity. We prepare amendment and restatement documents and advise on the administrative steps needed to ensure the revised trust remains effective, including updating funding records and communicating changes to successor trustees to reduce uncertainty in future administration.
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement in which the grantor transfers assets into a trust during life and retains the ability to manage, amend, or revoke that trust as circumstances change. The trust names a successor trustee to assume management if the grantor becomes incapacitated or dies, and it provides instructions for how assets should be distributed. Unlike a will, which generally only takes effect at death and often requires probate, a properly funded revocable trust can provide continuity of asset management during incapacity and reduce the need for probate administration after death. A will remains an important document even when a trust is in place, because a pour-over will can direct any assets not transferred into the trust to be moved to it at death. This ensures that assets inadvertently left out of the trust are still distributed according to the trust’s terms. Together, a trust and pour-over will create a coordinated plan that addresses both immediate management needs and final distribution instructions in a consistent manner.
A revocable living trust can help avoid probate for assets that have been properly transferred into the trust during the grantor’s lifetime. Assets titled in the name of the trust typically pass according to the trust terms without the need for probate court administration, which can save time and maintain privacy for beneficiaries. However, assets that are not funded into the trust or that have conflicting beneficiary designations may still be subject to probate, so proper funding and coordination with account holders and title companies are essential to achieve probate avoidance. It is also important to remember that certain assets like some retirement accounts may have specific beneficiary designation rules that need to be coordinated with the trust plan. Where beneficiary designations are used, careful planning is required to ensure designations and trust terms do not unintentionally override each other, which can lead to probate or distributions that differ from your intentions. Reviewing accounts and retitling assets as necessary helps ensure the trust functions as intended.
Funding a revocable living trust involves transferring ownership of assets from your personal name into the name of the trust. This can include re-recording deeds to real property in the trust’s name, changing titles for bank and investment accounts, and completing assignment documents for tangible personal property. Each institution or asset type may require specific paperwork, so a careful checklist and step-by-step approach are typically used to ensure nothing is overlooked and that assets are properly aligned with the trust. Some assets, such as retirement accounts and life insurance policies with beneficiary designations, may not be appropriate to retitle in the trust. In such cases, coordination of beneficiary designations with the trust plan is necessary so that the intended results are achieved. Completing funding is an important administrative step that determines whether the trust will control the assets at the appropriate time and avoid probate for those assets.
Yes, a revocable living trust may generally be amended or revoked at any time while the grantor retains capacity, allowing the plan to adapt to new family circumstances, changes in assets, or evolving preferences. Amendments can modify particular provisions, beneficiaries, or trustee appointments, while a complete revocation dissolves the trust. Because revocable trusts are flexible, they are commonly used by individuals who want the ability to change their plan without creating a new estate plan entirely. When significant changes accumulate, some people choose to restate the trust, which consolidates amendments into a single, updated document for clarity. It is also important to confirm that any amendments or restatements are properly executed in accordance with legal formalities and that funding records are updated if assets are added, removed, or retitled, so that the trust continues to operate effectively.
A pour-over will complements a revocable living trust by directing any assets left in your individual name at death to be transferred, or poured over, into the trust. This serves as a safety net to capture property that was not retitled or otherwise transferred into the trust during life. Although property passing under a pour-over will may still be subject to probate for transfer, the will ensures that outstanding assets are ultimately administered under your trust’s terms for distribution to beneficiaries. Preparing a pour-over will together with active efforts to fund the trust during life helps minimize the amount of property that needs probate and ensures that distributions remain consistent with the trust’s intentions. The pour-over will also names any guardians for minor children if needed and provides an additional layer of continuity by aligning fallback arrangements with the trust-based plan.
A successor trustee should be someone trustworthy and capable of handling financial matters, or an institution that can manage assets professionally if family dynamics are complex. The successor trustee will step in to manage trust assets in the event of the grantor’s incapacity or death, pay debts and expenses, maintain property, and distribute assets following the trust terms. Naming at least one backup successor ensures continuity if the primary choice is unable or unwilling to serve when the time comes. Clear written instructions for the successor trustee regarding access to accounts, distribution timing, and record-keeping reduce ambiguity and potential conflict. Providing a certification of trust and organizing important documents makes it easier for the trustee to demonstrate authority to banks and title companies, helping to avoid delays and ensure efficient management for the benefit of beneficiaries.
A revocable living trust helps during incapacity by naming a successor trustee who can immediately assume management of trust assets without the need for court-appointed conservatorship. This arrangement allows bills to be paid, property to be maintained, and financial affairs to continue under the grantor’s predetermined instructions. Having a trust in place can reduce stress for family members and ensure continuity of care by providing a legal mechanism for managing assets during a period of temporary or permanent incapacity. To complement a trust, financial and health care powers of attorney are often prepared to address matters that may fall outside of trust ownership, such as contracts or accounts that require a specific agent’s authority. Together with a HIPAA authorization and advance health care directive, these documents create a comprehensive incapacity plan so decision-makers have the authority and information needed to act in the grantor’s best interest.
A revocable living trust does not typically provide protection from creditors or legal judgments during the grantor’s lifetime because the grantor retains control and access to trust assets. Creditors may still have claims against the grantor’s assets held in a revocable trust. For individuals seeking creditor protection, other planning tools may be necessary, but those options should be carefully considered in light of legal and tax implications and the grantor’s overall goals. That said, a trust can provide long-term management and distribution controls that may help preserve assets for heirs and reduce the chance of dissipation through mismanagement after the grantor’s death. For creditor protection strategies, consult on options that comply with applicable laws and consider the timing and intent behind transfers to avoid unintended tax or legal consequences.
You should review your trust and estate plan after major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or significant changes in assets, and at regular intervals to confirm that beneficiary designations, trustee appointments, and funding remain aligned with your goals. Laws and personal circumstances evolve, and periodic reviews ensure the plan continues to work as intended. Checking documents every few years or whenever there is a major change helps prevent unintended results and keeps records current for successor trustees. During a review we assess whether your distribution provisions still reflect your wishes, whether any assets need retitling, and whether guardian nominations and powers of attorney remain appropriate. Updating the trust, beneficiary designations, and related documents keeps the plan administratively effective and consistent with your current family and financial situation.
Common supporting documents for a revocable living trust include a pour-over will, financial power of attorney, advance health care directive, HIPAA authorization, general assignment of assets to the trust, certification of trust, and various petitions such as trust modification or Heggstad petitions if post-death modifications or clarifications are necessary. These documents complement the trust by addressing health care decisions, incapacity management, and administrative requirements that the trust alone might not cover. Additional documents may include irrevocable life insurance trusts, retirement plan trusts, special needs trusts, and pet trusts where appropriate to meet particular family goals. Preparing a coordinated set of documents helps ensure that assets and authorities are organized and that successor trustees and loved ones can manage affairs smoothly according to the grantor’s instructions.
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