An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) can be a powerful estate planning tool for individuals and families in Kettleman City seeking to manage life insurance proceeds, reduce potential estate tax exposure, and ensure clear distribution to beneficiaries. This overview explains what an ILIT does, how it interacts with other estate planning documents such as revocable living trusts and pour-over wills, and why someone might consider establishing one. We will outline typical components of an ILIT, responsibilities of trustees, and the steps involved in funding and administering the trust so you can decide if this approach fits your goals.
Choosing to create an ILIT involves important decisions about ownership of life insurance policies, trust terms, beneficiary designations, and coordination with retirement accounts and other assets. Properly drafted and funded ILITs can preserve more of a decedent’s legacy for intended recipients while providing creditor protection in many situations. This guide describes practical considerations, differences between limited and comprehensive planning approaches, and how a local attorney can help with drafting trust documents such as certification of trust, general assignment of assets, and related directives like HIPAA authorizations and guardianship nominations.
An ILIT removes life insurance proceeds from a taxable estate when properly structured, helping heirs receive funds with less delay and potential tax burden. Beyond tax considerations, an ILIT provides control over distributions, appoints a trustee to manage proceeds for beneficiaries’ needs, and can protect benefits from creditor claims in some circumstances. When created alongside documents like a revocable living trust, pour-over will, and powers of attorney, an ILIT helps create a coordinated plan that addresses incapacity, health care decisions, and the orderly transfer of assets, ensuring that life insurance proceeds fulfill their intended purpose.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman assists clients throughout California, including Kettleman City and surrounding communities, with estate planning services focused on clear, practical solutions. We emphasize personalized counsel, careful drafting of documents such as irrevocable life insurance trusts, trust certifications, and related instruments, and thoughtful coordination with retirement and insurance planning. Our approach prioritizes client goals, family dynamics, and long-term administration needs, helping clients make informed decisions about funding trusts, trustee selection, and integrating ILITs with existing estate plans to meet financial and legacy objectives.
An ILIT is a trust created to own and control life insurance policies outside of an individual’s taxable estate. Once ownership and incidents of control are transferred to the ILIT, the life insurance proceeds are generally paid to the trust at death rather than passing through probate, allowing beneficiaries to receive distributions according to the trust terms. Establishing an ILIT requires careful timing and documentation to avoid retained incidents of ownership, and typically involves preparing documents such as a trust agreement, trust certification, and often a general assignment of assets to trust to fund the policy properly and avoid unintended estate inclusion.
An effective ILIT requires selecting appropriate trustees and successor trustees who will carry out the trust’s provisions, manage policy premium payments, and distribute proceeds in line with the grantor’s intentions. Funding the ILIT can involve transferring existing policies to the trust or arranging for the trust to purchase new policies, and may include coordination with powers of attorney, HIPAA authorizations, and beneficiary designations for retirement accounts. Ongoing administration includes recordkeeping, premium management, and communicating with beneficiaries so the trust functions smoothly when benefits are payable.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a legal arrangement in which a grantor transfers ownership of life insurance policies into a trust that cannot be revoked or changed by the grantor without the consent of the trustee and beneficiaries under most circumstances. The trust document details who will manage the policy, who will receive distributions from proceeds, and under what terms those distributions should be made. Because the trust holds the policy, the proceeds typically pass outside probate and, when structured correctly, are excluded from the grantor’s estate for tax purposes, offering both administrative and potential tax benefits.
Key elements of an ILIT include the trust agreement, named trustee and successor trustees, clearly defined beneficiaries, policy ownership and assignment language, and instructions for premium payments and distributions. Processes involved in establishing an ILIT include drafting the trust document to meet legal requirements, executing a general assignment of an existing policy or arranging for the ILIT to apply for a new policy, and coordinating beneficiary designations and related estate planning documents. Careful implementation and monitoring are necessary to maintain the trust’s intended status and benefits over time.
Understanding common terms used in ILIT planning helps clients make informed decisions and communicate effectively with trustees, insurers, and legal counsel. This glossary clarifies phrases you will encounter when creating and administering an ILIT, including trust funding, incidents of ownership, summary trust instruments such as certifications of trust, and related probate-avoidance documents. Familiarity with these terms aids in structuring the trust so that it functions as intended and aligns with other estate planning documents like wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives.
An irrevocable trust is a trust arrangement that generally cannot be changed, amended, or revoked by the person who created it after it has been executed and funded. Once property, including life insurance policies, is transferred into an irrevocable trust, it is managed according to the trust terms by the trustee for the benefit of named beneficiaries. The nature of irrevocable trusts can provide advantages such as asset protection and potential removal of assets from the grantor’s taxable estate, but they require careful planning because control over the assets is relinquished.
A certification of trust is a shortened document that verifies the existence and basic terms of a trust without disclosing the full trust instrument. It is often used when a trustee must prove authority to act for the trust in dealings with financial institutions, insurance carriers, or third parties. The certification provides essential details such as the trust name, date, identity of trustees, and confirmation of trustee powers while protecting the privacy of sensitive provisions contained in the full trust agreement.
Incidents of ownership are the legal rights and controls over a life insurance policy that, if retained by the insured, can cause the policy’s proceeds to be included in the insured’s taxable estate. Examples include the right to change beneficiaries, surrender the policy for cash, or borrow against it. To exclude life insurance proceeds from an estate, these incidents must be transferred to the ILIT, and timing rules such as the three-year lookback for transfers must be observed to avoid estate inclusion.
A pour-over will is a will designed to transfer any assets left outside a trust into that trust upon the testator’s death. When used with revocable living trusts and irrevocable trusts like ILITs, a pour-over will helps ensure that stray assets are captured by the primary estate plan rather than remaining subject to probate. It does not, however, avoid the probate process for assets that pass under the will itself, so coordination with trust funding strategies is important.
Comparing legal approaches helps you choose whether a limited, narrowly tailored action or a comprehensive estate plan better suits your needs. A limited approach might address a single issue such as transferring an existing policy into a trust, while a comprehensive approach coordinates life insurance planning with a broad suite of documents including revocable trusts, pour-over wills, powers of attorney, HIPAA authorizations, and trust modifications. Evaluating your family situation, asset mix, and long-term goals will determine which path provides the most appropriate balance of protection and flexibility.
A limited approach can be appropriate when the primary need is to transfer ownership of one or more existing life insurance policies into an ILIT without overhauling an entire estate plan. This path focuses on preparing the trust agreement, executing a general assignment of assets to trust, updating beneficiary designations where appropriate, and ensuring timing requirements are met to avoid unintended estate inclusion. For those whose other planning documents are current and aligned with their goals, targeted action on the policy itself can deliver meaningful benefits with minimal disruption.
Individuals with straightforward asset ownership and clear beneficiary designations may only need an ILIT to address the particular issue of life insurance proceeds rather than a full trust revision. When assets are limited and family relationships uncomplicated, a targeted ILIT can protect life insurance benefits and simplify distribution without requiring wide-ranging changes to wills, powers of attorney, or trust structures. This option often reduces cost and administrative time while achieving the core objective of removing insurance proceeds from probate and shaping their use.
A comprehensive approach is warranted when clients have complex asset portfolios, multiple insurance policies, retirement plans, or business interests that require coordinated planning. Integrating an ILIT with revocable living trusts, retirement plan trusts, and irrevocable life insurance trust provisions ensures beneficiary designations, retirement distributions, and trust terms work harmoniously. Careful coordination reduces the risk of unintended tax consequences, overlapping beneficiary designations, or conflicts between documents, and it helps achieve a consistent plan for disposition of assets across different vehicles and ownership forms.
When family circumstances include blended families, minor beneficiaries, or beneficiaries with special needs, a full planning review can create tailored solutions that use ILIT proceeds responsibly over time. A comprehensive plan addresses guardianship nominations, special needs trust coordination, and provisions to manage distributions for beneficiaries who may require ongoing support. This approach allows for clearly defined trustee powers and distribution criteria that align with long-term goals and provide a structured framework for handling life insurance proceeds in a way that reflects the grantor’s priorities.
A comprehensive approach can produce greater certainty about how life insurance proceeds will be used and distributed, reduce the likelihood of probate delays, and align insurance planning with retirement account distributions and trust arrangements. By combining an ILIT with revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, and appropriate healthcare and financial powers, clients create a cohesive plan that addresses incapacity, end-of-life decisions, and legacy objectives. This integration helps minimize gaps that might otherwise lead to disputes or unintended outcomes for beneficiaries, and preserves the grantor’s intent across multiple asset types.
In addition to administrative benefits, a coordinated plan can support more efficient tax planning and asset protection strategies. Properly structured trusts and beneficiary designations may reduce estate tax exposure and improve creditor protection for certain assets. A comprehensive review also identifies opportunities to consolidate or modify policies, update designations, and document trustee authorities so that premium payments and distributions proceed smoothly when the time comes. This level of planning provides family members and trustees clear guidance during difficult times.
One primary benefit of a comprehensive approach is that it allows the grantor to set precise distribution terms for life insurance proceeds, including staggered distributions, age-based releases, or uses tied to education, health, or support needs. Clear trust language reduces ambiguity and helps trustees administer the funds in line with the donor’s wishes. By specifying conditions and successor trustee authority, the plan reduces conflict risk among beneficiaries and provides a roadmap for trustees to follow, preserving the intended purpose of the life insurance proceeds over time.
Coordinating an ILIT with wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives ensures consistent directions across all documents. This coordination helps avoid competing beneficiary designations, conflicting trustee instructions, and unintended estate inclusion. When all documents are reviewed and aligned, the estate plan functions as a single, integrated system that accounts for incapacity planning, guardianship nominations, and any special needs considerations, thereby providing cohesive and practical protection for heirs and loved ones.
When transferring an existing life insurance policy into an ILIT, confirm that ownership is correctly assigned and that any timing rules that could affect estate inclusion are observed. Understand the implications of transfers made within the applicable lookback period and how premium payments are handled after transfer. Maintaining accurate records of assignments, trustee actions, and premium payments helps preserve the trust’s intended status and avoids unintended tax or probate consequences. Early coordination with the insurance carrier and clear documentation are essential elements of a smooth transfer process.
Selecting trustees who are willing and able to manage trust administration, premium payments, and beneficiary communications is an important practical decision. Provide trustees with clear written instructions, copies of relevant trust documents, and guidance on whom to contact for financial or tax questions. Regular communication with successors and beneficiaries about the trust’s purpose and procedures can reduce confusion during administration and help ensure the grantor’s intentions are respected. Consider naming successor trustees and alternate contacts to handle continuity.
Many individuals consider an ILIT when they want life insurance proceeds to be managed outside their probate estate, to support beneficiaries without immediate lump-sum distributions, or to coordinate complicated asset mixes with retirement plans and trusts. An ILIT can help secure liquidity to pay estate-related expenses, provide stable funds for minor children or family members with special needs, and establish clear guidelines for trustees to manage proceeds according to the grantor’s intentions. For those focused on legacy planning, an ILIT offers structured control over how proceeds are used by heirs.
Other reasons to consider establishing an ILIT include preserving wealth for future generations, mitigating potential estate tax exposure when applicable, and protecting insurance proceeds from certain creditor claims under applicable law. An ILIT can be part of a broader strategy that includes powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and guardian nominations to ensure a comprehensive plan for incapacity and death. Early planning and thoughtful funding strategies maximize the likelihood that an ILIT will achieve the intended protective and distribution outcomes.
Common circumstances prompting consideration of an ILIT include owning high-value life insurance policies, facing potential estate tax exposure, planning for minor or dependent beneficiaries, or wanting to avoid probate delays and provide liquidity at death. Business owners, blended families, and individuals with retirement plans that require careful beneficiary coordination also frequently use ILITs as part of their overall planning. Each situation benefits from a tailored evaluation to determine whether an ILIT aligns with the client’s objectives and how it should be funded and structured.
When life insurance policies represent a significant portion of an estate’s value, placing those policies in an ILIT can help limit potential estate inclusion and provide a clearer path for distribution to beneficiaries. This may be especially relevant for clients whose combined assets and policy proceeds could trigger estate tax considerations under federal or state rules. Using an ILIT allows for designated trustee management and tailored distribution plans so that beneficiaries receive support in the intended manner without unnecessary administrative delays.
Parents and guardians often use ILITs to ensure life insurance proceeds are managed responsibly for the benefit of minor children or dependents. The trust can include provisions for education expenses, healthcare costs, and age-based distributions to prevent large lump sums from being released prematurely. Selecting a trusted trustee and specifying distribution criteria helps maintain financial stability for beneficiaries and reduces the likelihood of disputes or mismanagement after the grantor’s passing, preserving intended support over time.
For families with beneficiaries who have special needs, an ILIT can be coordinated with special needs trusts or other protective arrangements to ensure proceeds supplement care without jeopardizing public benefits. Proper drafting can include provisions that allow distributions for supplemental support, while coordinating with designated trustees and legal guardians to balance trust disbursements and government benefits. This thoughtful approach helps maintain quality of life for vulnerable beneficiaries while preserving access to necessary public assistance programs.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides estate planning services for residents of Kettleman City and surrounding communities throughout Kings County and the Central Valley. Our office helps clients with ILIT formation, trust certifications, assignments, pour-over wills, and related instruments such as powers of attorney and HIPAA authorizations. We focus on clear communication, practical document drafting, and thorough implementation so your plan operates as intended when it matters most. For assistance, contact our office at 408-528-2827 to discuss next steps and scheduling.
We aim to provide practical and personalized legal guidance to help clients design ILITs that match their family goals and financial situation. Our process includes careful review of existing life insurance policies, beneficiary forms, and broader estate planning documents, followed by precise drafting of trust instruments like irrevocable life insurance trusts and related assignments. We emphasize transparent communication so clients understand how each document functions and why certain funding or trustee choices matter for long-term administration and beneficiary protection.
Clients benefit from a coordinated planning approach that integrates ILITs with revocable living trusts, retirement plan trusts, pour-over wills, and healthcare directives. When modifications are needed, such as trust modification petitions or Heggstad petitions, we provide clear pathways to implement changes consistent with legal requirements. Regular plan reviews are part of maintaining an effective estate plan, and we help clients keep documents current as circumstances evolve so the plan remains aligned with their wishes.
When working with our office, you can expect thorough documentation that addresses trustee authorities, funding steps, and administrative responsibilities, including certification of trust and general assignment of assets as needed. We also provide guidance on coordinating beneficiaries with retirement accounts and other instruments to avoid conflicting designations. Our goal is to deliver durable planning solutions that protect assets and provide a reliable framework for trustees and beneficiaries to follow at the time of need.
Our legal process begins with a comprehensive review of your existing estate plan, insurance policies, and beneficiary designations, followed by a discussion of your goals and family dynamics. We draft trust documents tailored to your needs, prepare necessary assignments or policy transfer paperwork, and coordinate with insurers and financial institutions to implement ownership changes. Once the ILIT is funded, we provide trustees with the documentation and guidance needed for administration and are available for ongoing assistance with trust modifications or beneficiary questions that arise over time.
During the initial consultation, we gather information about your existing life insurance policies, assets, family relationships, and estate planning objectives. We review documents such as revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and beneficiary forms to identify potential conflicts or coordination needs. This review helps determine whether transferring policies into an ILIT is appropriate and what additional documents, such as a general assignment of assets to trust or a certification of trust, will be required to execute your plan effectively.
We collect detailed information about each life insurance policy, including ownership, beneficiaries, premium payment obligations, and any existing assignments. Understanding these details allows us to design a funding strategy that avoids unintended incidents of ownership and meets timing requirements. We also review retirement account beneficiary designations and other instruments so that the ILIT can be integrated with the rest of the estate plan and avoid conflicts that could undermine the intended distribution of benefits.
We discuss your goals for the proceeds, including whether you prefer outright distributions, staggered disbursements, or distributions tied to specific needs such as education or medical care. Trustee selection is addressed with practical considerations in mind, including trustee responsibilities, willingness to serve, and succession planning. Clear instructions for trustees are incorporated into the trust document to guide administration and ensure that distributions align with your wishes while providing appropriate safeguards for beneficiaries.
Once objectives are confirmed, we draft the ILIT agreement and related documents required for implementation, such as a certification of trust, general assignment of assets to trust, and any pour-over wills or trust modification petitions. We ensure the trust language addresses funding, distribution terms, trustee powers, and successor trustee arrangements. We assist with executing documents properly and coordinate with insurance carriers to implement ownership transfers or new policy issuances to the trust as part of the funding process.
We handle communications with insurance carriers and financial institutions to confirm required forms and procedures for transferring policy ownership or naming the trust as owner and beneficiary. This coordination helps prevent delays and ensures documentation is accurate and complete. We also provide the certification of trust or other proof of trustee authority so carriers can recognize the trustee’s capacity to act on behalf of the trust, enabling premium payments and beneficiary designations to be handled correctly.
Finalizing the trust includes executing the trust agreement, completing any necessary assignments for existing policies, and confirming premium payment mechanisms. Funding may involve transferring existing policies into the trust or issuing new policies owned by the trust. We document all transactions to demonstrate proper implementation, and we advise on maintaining records and scheduling regular reviews to ensure the trust continues to serve its intended purpose as family and financial circumstances change.
After the ILIT is funded, ongoing administration includes premium management, recordkeeping, beneficiary communications, and trust accounting as required by the trust terms. We advise trustees on their obligations and remain available to assist with trust administration tasks, distributions, and any necessary filings. Periodic reviews are recommended to address changes in law, family composition, or financial circumstances, and we can assist with trust modification petitions when changes are appropriate and permissible under governing rules.
Trustees should maintain clear records of premium payments, correspondence with insurers, and any distributions or loans made from the trust. Proper recordkeeping supports transparent administration and helps resolve questions that may arise from beneficiaries or institutions. We provide templates and guidance for recordkeeping and trustee responsibilities so that trustees can fulfill their duties confidently, ensuring the trust operates smoothly and beneficiaries receive funds according to the trust terms when needed.
Regular reviews of the ILIT and related estate planning documents help ensure the plan remains aligned with current goals and legal requirements. When circumstances change, such as beneficiary needs, policy ownership adjustments, or changes in assets, we can discuss appropriate modifications, which might include trust modification petitions or other legal steps. Ongoing attention ensures the trust continues to provide intended protections and that distributions are managed in a manner consistent with the grantor’s wishes.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a trust designed specifically to own life insurance policies and receive policy proceeds at the insured’s death. When ownership of a policy is transferred to the ILIT and incidents of ownership are relinquished by the insured, proceeds are generally paid to the trust rather than becoming part of the insured’s probate estate. The trust document sets out who will manage the proceeds, how distributions are to be made, and which beneficiaries will receive benefits. This arrangement provides a structured method for handling life insurance proceeds in accordance with the grantor’s wishes. Creating an ILIT involves drafting the trust agreement, naming trustees and beneficiaries, and executing assignments or ownership change documents with the insurance carrier. Funding the trust may involve transferring an existing policy or having the trust acquire a new policy. Accurate implementation and adherence to timing rules help avoid unintended inclusion of proceeds in the grantor’s estate, so careful planning and documentation are essential to ensure the ILIT functions as intended.
An ILIT can help reduce the potential estate inclusion of life insurance proceeds when it is properly structured and funded. By transferring ownership and relinquishing incidents of ownership, the insured’s estate may not include the policy proceeds, which can limit estate administration complexity and potential estate tax exposure in applicable cases. However, timing rules and the specifics of the trust terms matter, so thoughtful implementation is necessary to maximize the potential tax and probate advantages of an ILIT. While an ILIT often removes proceeds from the probate estate, it does not replace other estate planning documents. Coordination with wills, revocable living trusts, and beneficiary designations is important to ensure assets pass as intended. Estate tax implications can vary based on overall asset values and applicable law, so a comprehensive review of the estate plan helps align ILIT planning with broader tax and distribution objectives.
Transferring an existing policy into an ILIT typically requires executing a general assignment of assets to trust and notifying the insurance company to change the owner to the trust. The insured must give up incidents of ownership, and the trustee must accept ownership for the trust. The insurance carrier may require specific forms and proof of trustee authority, such as a certification of trust, to process the transfer, and the transaction should be documented carefully to demonstrate proper implementation. Timing matters when transferring ownership because transfers made within certain lookback periods may remain subject to estate inclusion under tax rules. Additionally, after transfer, arrangements for premium payments must be established so the trust can maintain the policy. Working through the carrier’s procedures and documenting the transfer reduces the risk of implementation errors and helps preserve the intended benefits of the ILIT.
Trustee selection should balance practical considerations such as reliability, financial acumen, impartiality, and willingness to serve. The trustee will handle premium payments, manage distributions, communicate with beneficiaries, and keep records, so choosing someone who can fulfill those duties responsibly is important. Many clients select a trusted family member, close friend, or a corporate trustee depending on the complexity of the trust and the family situation. It is also important to name successor trustees to ensure continuity if the primary trustee cannot serve. Clear trustee instructions in the trust document reduce uncertainty and help trustees fulfill their duties, including interacting with insurers and financial institutions. Providing trustees with access to necessary documents and professional contacts facilitates effective administration when benefits become payable.
An ILIT can be coordinated with special needs planning to provide supplemental support for a beneficiary without interfering with means-tested public benefits. Using an ILIT together with a properly drafted special needs trust can ensure life insurance proceeds are used for housing, education, therapy, or other supplemental needs while preserving eligibility for government assistance. Careful drafting and coordination are required to avoid unintended consequences that could affect benefits. Coordination involves specifying how proceeds should be delivered to the special needs trust or used to benefit the individual, and naming trustees who understand the interplay between trust distributions and public benefits. Consulting with counsel experienced in special needs planning and trust drafting helps craft provisions that meet both the beneficiary’s support needs and legal requirements to preserve benefits.
If premium payments stop after a policy has been transferred to an ILIT, the policy risks lapsing, which could eliminate the coverage and the intended benefits for the trust’s beneficiaries. To avoid this outcome, the trust should include mechanisms for funding premium payments, such as gifting arrangements from the grantor to the trust or trustee authority to pay premiums from trust funds. Trustees must maintain communication with the insured and insurers to ensure premiums are paid on time. Planning for premium funding at the outset helps prevent inadvertent lapses. For example, the grantor may make annual gifts to the trust sufficient to cover premiums or establish a separate funding vehicle. Clear documentation of funding arrangements and timely contributions reduce administrative burdens for trustees and protect the trust’s ability to pay benefits when needed.
Coordinating ILITs with retirement account beneficiary designations is essential because inconsistent designations can produce unintended results. Retirement accounts often pass directly to named beneficiaries outside of trust arrangements, so aligning beneficiary forms with trust objectives prevents conflicts that might undermine your estate plan. A comprehensive review of beneficiary designations and retirement plan trusts should accompany ILIT formation to ensure consistent distribution of assets and benefits. When needed, retirement plan trusts can be established to manage retirement account distributions and provide protections similar to those offered by ILITs for life insurance proceeds. This coordination helps create an integrated plan that addresses timing, tax treatment, and distribution controls across different asset types to achieve coherent outcomes for beneficiaries.
Timing considerations for ILIT creation and funding include awareness of lookback periods that may affect whether transferred policies remain in the estate for tax purposes. Transfers made within a certain time frame before death may still be considered part of the estate under applicable tax rules, so early planning is often advisable to secure the anticipated benefits. Additionally, coordinating policy issuance dates, ownership changes, and premium funding schedules helps ensure the ILIT functions as intended. Beyond tax timing, consider the administrative timeline for transferring policies, obtaining required insurer approvals, and preparing supporting documents such as trust certifications. Planning well in advance also allows for better trustee selection, beneficiary discussions, and any ancillary estate plan updates, all of which contribute to a smoother transition when benefits are payable.
An ILIT can offer a degree of protection from certain creditor claims for the beneficiaries because the trust holds the proceeds and distributes them under the trustee’s discretion according to trust terms. Whether proceeds are protected depends on the trust language, jurisdictional law, and the timing of transfers. Proper planning and trust drafting can strengthen protections and make proceeds less vulnerable to creditor claims in many circumstances. However, protection is not absolute and varies based on state law and the facts of each case. It is important to draft trust provisions mindful of applicable creditor protection rules and to consider other protective instruments as needed. Regular review of the trust documents ensures they remain aligned with legal standards and beneficiary protection goals.
Regular review of an ILIT and related estate planning documents is recommended at key life events such as marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of children, significant changes in financial circumstances, or the acquisition of substantial new assets. Periodic reviews help ensure that trustee appointments, beneficiary designations, and funding arrangements remain appropriate and effective in light of evolving family dynamics and financial goals. Reviews also allow for adjustments to maintain alignment with current laws and practices. We generally suggest reviewing your estate plan every few years or sooner if circumstances change, and after major life events. These reviews provide an opportunity to confirm that policies remain properly owned by the trust, that premium funding continues to be feasible, and that trust terms still reflect the grantor’s wishes. Proactive updates minimize surprises and help preserve the intended benefits for heirs.
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