An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) can be an important component of a thoughtful estate plan for many families and individuals in Hidden Valley Lake and throughout Lake County, California. This page explains how an ILIT can help manage life insurance proceeds, reduce estate tax exposure, and provide clear instructions for distributing funds to beneficiaries. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, we help clients understand the legal mechanics, timing, and documentation involved so they can make informed choices about including an ILIT in a broader estate planning strategy. Call 408-528-2827 to discuss how an ILIT could fit into your family’s plan.
An ILIT works by owning life insurance policies outside of the insured’s taxable estate, with a trustee managing proceeds according to the trust terms. That separation can provide liquidity to pay estate expenses, support beneficiaries, and protect funds from certain claims or unintended distributions. Creating an ILIT requires careful drafting, timely transfers, and coordination with beneficiary designations and other estate documents such as a Pour-Over Will, Revocable Living Trust, and Certification of Trust. This guide outlines the key considerations, processes, and options so you can evaluate whether an ILIT aligns with your long-term financial and family goals.
An ILIT provides structured control over life insurance proceeds and can help families secure liquidity for taxes, debts, or ongoing support for loved ones. By placing a policy in an irrevocable trust, the proceeds are generally kept outside the insured’s estate for estate tax purposes when properly executed, which can preserve more value for intended beneficiaries. An ILIT can also set terms for how and when beneficiaries receive funds, reducing the risk of immediate depletion and enabling continued financial support for minor children, adult dependents, or a family member with special needs. Thoughtful ILIT drafting coordinates with other estate planning documents to achieve intended outcomes and avoid unintended tax or probate consequences.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides estate planning services to individuals and families across San Jose, Hidden Valley Lake, and the wider California region. Our approach emphasizes clear communication, careful drafting, and attention to administrative steps that make an ILIT effective, such as transferring policy ownership and structuring trustee powers. We work with clients to integrate an ILIT with documents like a Revocable Living Trust, Pour-Over Will, HIPAA Authorization, and Powers of Attorney so that the estate plan functions as a cohesive whole. Our goal is practical, reliable guidance tailored to each client’s circumstances and family priorities.
An ILIT is a trust that becomes the owner and beneficiary of a life insurance policy, designed to keep proceeds out of the insured’s taxable estate and to control distributions to beneficiaries. The trust is irrevocable, meaning the grantor typically cannot change its terms after funding, which is why careful planning and timing are essential. Trustees have responsibilities to manage policy premiums, receive proceeds, and distribute funds according to the trust document. The rules that govern ILITs involve trust law, tax timing rules, and coordination with other estate documents to achieve the intended protection and distribution outcomes.
Key practical steps to create an ILIT include drafting the trust document, naming a trustee and successor trustees, transferring an existing policy or having the trust buy a new policy, and adjusting beneficiary designations. Gift tax and estate tax implications must be considered, including the three-year rule that can cause a policy transfer to remain in the grantor’s estate if the grantor dies within three years of the transfer. Proper administration after a beneficiary claim is also important to ensure proceeds are distributed according to the trust terms and state law, minimizing disputes and delays.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a legal arrangement where the trust owns a life insurance policy on the grantor’s life, and the trust document directs how proceeds are used and distributed. Unlike a revocable trust, once the ILIT is funded, the grantor usually cannot take back the policy or change key terms. The trustee manages trust assets, receives policy proceeds when the insured passes, pays debts or taxes if authorized, and transfers funds to beneficiaries according to instructions in the trust document. The structure is intended to provide controlled distribution and potential estate tax benefits when implemented properly and coordinated with the rest of the estate plan.
Core elements of an ILIT include the trust document itself, the named trustee(s), the funding mechanism for the life insurance policy, premium payment instructions, and beneficiary distribution rules. The process begins with drafting the trust, funding it by transferring ownership of an existing policy or having the trust purchase a new policy, and documenting gifts used to pay premiums if applicable. Trustees must follow trust terms, handle claims, and maintain records. Attention to timing, gift taxation, and beneficiary designations is necessary to ensure the trust accomplishes intended estate planning objectives without unintended tax consequences.
Understanding common terms can make ILIT planning and administration easier. Familiarity with concepts like grantor, trustee, beneficiary, funding, gift tax, and the three-year rule helps clients make informed decisions and reduces the risk of errors that could undermine the trust’s intended benefits. This section provides concise explanations of the most frequently encountered terms so you can follow discussions about tax planning, trust administration, and beneficiary distribution. If a specific term on this page raises questions, reach out to the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman at 408-528-2827 for clarification tailored to your circumstance.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a trust established to own and receive proceeds from a life insurance policy on the grantor’s life. Its key characteristic is that once funded, the grantor generally cannot revoke or modify the trust terms. The trust document appoints a trustee to manage the policy and handle distributions to beneficiaries according to instructions. An ILIT is used to help keep insurance proceeds out of the taxable estate, provide liquidity to pay estate obligations, and control how proceeds are distributed to beneficiaries to protect against immediate depletion or unintended uses.
The grantor is the person who establishes the trust and funds it with the insurance policy. The trustee is the individual or institution appointed to manage the trust’s assets, make decisions about premium payment and claims, and distribute proceeds to beneficiaries under the trust terms. Trustees have a fiduciary duty to act in the trust’s and beneficiaries’ best interests, which includes maintaining records and following the trust document. Selecting a trustee who can administer the trust fairly and competently is an essential decision when creating an ILIT.
Funding an ILIT can involve transferring ownership of an existing life insurance policy to the trust or having the trust purchase a new policy. If the grantor funds premium payments with gifts to the trust, those gifts may require gift tax considerations and annual gift tax exclusion reporting. Premium payment mechanisms should be planned to meet timing rules and avoid unintended estate inclusion of the policy proceeds. Proper documentation of gifts and payments helps ensure the trust functions as intended and that tax rules are followed.
Under tax rules, if the grantor transfers an existing life insurance policy to an ILIT and dies within three years of the transfer, the proceeds may be included in the grantor’s estate for estate tax purposes. This timing rule is a central consideration when transferring ownership of policies and often influences whether clients choose to transfer an existing policy or have the trust buy a new policy. Planning around this rule, including timing transfers and understanding its implications, helps clients avoid unintended estate inclusion of policy proceeds.
When evaluating whether an ILIT is appropriate, it is helpful to compare it to other estate planning options such as keeping a policy in a revocable living trust, naming beneficiaries directly, or using alternative trust structures. An ILIT offers specific control and potential estate tax benefits when properly executed, but it also imposes permanence and administrative responsibilities. Considerations include timing, the grantor’s health, the size of the estate, and the need for structured distributions. Comparing these variables helps determine which approach aligns with financial objectives, family dynamics, and long-term planning goals.
If an estate has modest assets and beneficiaries who are financially capable of managing a lump sum, a limited approach such as naming beneficiaries directly on the life insurance policy may be sufficient. For some families, direct beneficiary designations and coordination with a simple will or revocable trust deliver the desired results with fewer administrative demands. In these situations, the benefits of an ILIT may be outweighed by the added complexity and permanence, making less formal ownership arrangements a practical choice for straightforward distribution needs.
When there is no realistic estate tax exposure based on current asset levels and projections, immediate transfer of life insurance ownership to an irrevocable trust may not be necessary. For people focused on short-term planning horizons, maintaining flexible ownership and beneficiary designations can preserve options as circumstances evolve. In such cases, other estate planning tools like a Revocable Living Trust, a Pour-Over Will, or straightforward beneficiary designations may provide the required protections and distributions without committing to the permanence of an ILIT.
When an estate includes significant assets, retirement accounts, or complicated beneficiary arrangements, a comprehensive approach ensures ILIT planning integrates with broader tax and succession strategies. A fully coordinated plan addresses interactions between trusts, beneficiary designations, and retirement account rules, reducing the risk of unintended estate inclusion or conflicting instructions. This integrated approach helps protect the grantor’s intentions, provides predictable administration for trustees and beneficiaries, and aligns liquidity planning with long-term distribution goals for the family.
A comprehensive plan is particularly important when beneficiaries include minors, adults with disabilities, or individuals who may need controlled distributions over time. Using an ILIT alongside trusts such as a Special Needs Trust or Retirement Plan Trust allows for tailored distribution rules that preserve public benefits and provide ongoing support. Coordinating guardianship nominations, powers of attorney, and health care directives with an ILIT ensures a cohesive plan that addresses both immediate and future needs of vulnerable family members while maintaining clear lines of authority and access to resources when required.
A comprehensive planning approach aligns an ILIT with other critical documents and decisions, creating predictable administration and reducing uncertainty for beneficiaries. By coordinating a Revocable Living Trust, Pour-Over Will, powers of attorney, and health care directives, clients achieve a set of documents that work together and reduce the likelihood of disputes or delays. This cohesion also supports more effective tax planning, better protection of family assets, and clearer guidance for trustees and fiduciaries responsible for carrying out the grantor’s wishes.
Comprehensive planning helps ensure that life insurance proceeds are used as intended, whether to provide income replacement, pay estate expenses, or fund trust distributions. It also allows clients to plan for contingencies by naming successor trustees, providing distribution contingencies, and establishing mechanisms to adapt where allowable by law. The net effect is less administrative friction for surviving family members and a stronger alignment between financial resources and long-term family objectives, which can preserve assets across generations and provide peace of mind for the grantor.
When an ILIT is part of a coordinated estate plan, conflicts between beneficiary designations, trust provisions, and wills are less likely to occur. Clear, consistent documents reduce the potential for litigation and provide trustees and beneficiaries with a roadmap for carrying out the grantor’s intentions. Thoughtful drafting clarifies distributions, administrative powers, and trustee responsibilities, which speeds administration and helps maintain family relationships during an already difficult time. This coordination is a practical advantage that benefits both the grantor and heirs.
Although ILITs are irrevocable, a comprehensive plan can build in permissible flexibility through carefully drafted provisions and successor trustee instructions. Succeeding trustees can be given authority to make certain administrative decisions, and contingency provisions can address changes in family circumstances or tax law. This approach balances the permanence of an ILIT with practical measures to ensure the plan remains resilient over time, so beneficiaries receive intended benefits while trustees retain the ability to respond to evolving needs within the scope of the trust document and applicable law.
Timing matters when transferring existing life insurance policies into an ILIT. The three-year rule can cause proceeds to remain in the grantor’s estate if the grantor dies within three years of transferring ownership. Consider whether to transfer an existing policy or have the trust purchase a new policy, and document any gifts used to pay premiums. Clear records, consistent beneficiary designations, and an understanding of gift tax reporting requirements help ensure the transfer accomplishes the desired estate planning goals and avoids unintended tax consequences.
An ILIT should not be created in isolation. Coordinate it with a Revocable Living Trust, Pour-Over Will, powers of attorney, and health care directives to form a cohesive estate plan. Ensure beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance policies align with the trust’s objectives, and prepare supporting documents like Certification of Trust to ease administration. Regular reviews ensure the ILIT and related documents remain aligned with life changes, financial goals, and legal developments affecting estate and tax planning.
People consider an ILIT to provide liquidity for estate expenses, to reduce potential estate tax exposure, and to exert greater control over how life insurance proceeds are distributed to heirs. An ILIT can help protect funds from unintended creditor claims or from beneficiaries who may not be ready to manage a lump sum. Families with dependent children, blended family concerns, or a desire to provide long-term financial support often find that an ILIT complements broader estate planning goals and contributes to orderly wealth transfer across generations.
An ILIT can also support charitable giving objectives, funding designated charities while preserving other assets for family members. For those with retirement accounts or business interests, the ILIT can be an element in a multi-faceted plan to provide liquidity and reduce the tax burden on an estate. It is important to assess personal circumstances, projected estate size, and family dynamics when deciding whether an ILIT is appropriate, and to coordinate the trust with wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives for comprehensive coverage.
Common circumstances that lead individuals to consider an ILIT include having an estate large enough to face estate tax concerns, owning significant non-liquid assets such as a family business or real estate, or wanting to ensure funds are distributed over time to protect beneficiaries. Families with vulnerable members, such as those receiving public benefits, or those wishing to fund long-term care, education, or charitable gifts, may also find an ILIT useful. The decision requires reviewing financial, familial, and tax considerations to determine whether an ILIT aligns with overall planning objectives.
When an estate includes substantial or hard-to-liquidate assets, an ILIT provides a mechanism to supply liquidity when needed, such as to pay estate taxes, debts, or expenses. This allows heirs to retain property without forced sales and provides a clear source of funds for immediate obligations. The ILIT can be structured to pay beneficiaries in installments or on a schedule that supports preservation of family assets while meeting financial needs during the administration of the estate.
An ILIT can provide structured distributions for beneficiaries who need ongoing support, including minors or adults who may be unable to manage a large inheritance. Carefully drafted trust terms permit controlled disbursements for health, education, maintenance, and support, offering a balance between providing for needs and protecting assets from mismanagement. This approach can enhance the long-term financial security of beneficiaries while maintaining the grantor’s intent for how funds should be used.
Families who wish to support charitable causes or plan for multi-generational wealth transfer often use an ILIT to direct life insurance proceeds toward those goals. The trust can include provisions for charitable gifts and structured distributions to future generations, combining philanthropic intent with practical distribution controls. Integration with other trust vehicles and estate planning tools helps ensure charitable objectives complement family needs and tax planning, providing for legacy goals in a manner that is consistent and sustainable over time.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves clients in Hidden Valley Lake, Lake County, San Jose, and across California with a range of estate planning services, including ILITs and related trusts. We help clients prepare documents such as Revocable Living Trusts, Last Wills and Testaments, Financial Powers of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directives, and Guardianship Nominations. Our office focuses on accessible guidance and practical drafting to help families implement plans that provide clarity, protect assets, and deliver intended benefits to beneficiaries following the grantor’s wishes.
Clients seeking ILIT planning benefit from a team that emphasizes clear communication, careful drafting, and thorough coordination with other estate documents. We prioritize understanding each client’s goals, family dynamics, and financial picture to craft a trust document tailored to those needs. Our work includes educating clients about timing rules, tax considerations, trustee selection, and funding mechanisms so they can make informed decisions about whether and how to implement an ILIT within a comprehensive estate plan.
We assist with the practical steps that make an ILIT effective, including transferring ownership of existing policies, documenting gifts used to pay premiums, preparing Certification of Trust documents for trustees, and coordinating beneficiary designations. This hands-on approach minimizes administrative friction for surviving family members and helps ensure the grantor’s intentions are followed. We also review and update related estate documents to maintain consistency and avoid conflicts between wills, trusts, and account beneficiary forms.
Clients in Hidden Valley Lake and surrounding communities call us for personalized attention and straightforward guidance on complex planning decisions. Whether you have questions about the three-year rule, premium payment strategies, or trustee responsibilities, we work to provide clear options and practical solutions that reflect your priorities. Contact our office at 408-528-2827 to schedule a consultation to discuss an ILIT and how it could fit into your broader estate planning efforts.
Our process for ILIT planning begins with an initial consultation to learn about your assets, family dynamics, and objectives. We review existing policies and beneficiary designations, explain relevant tax and timing rules, and present options for funding and trustee selection. After you decide on a plan, we draft the trust document, prepare supporting documents such as a Certification of Trust and Pour-Over Will if needed, and assist with policy transfers or trust-owned policy purchases. We remain available to guide trustees through administration and to update the plan as circumstances change.
The first step focuses on understanding your overall estate plan, identifying existing life insurance policies, and assessing whether an ILIT is appropriate for your objectives. We evaluate estate size, liquidity needs, beneficiary situations, and timing concerns such as the three-year rule. This stage informs a recommended approach to funding and structuring the trust, trustee selection, and coordination with other estate documents. Clear communication during this step helps set realistic expectations and determine the next steps for drafting and funding the ILIT.
We review life insurance policies, beneficiary designations, retirement accounts, and existing trusts and wills to identify potential conflicts or opportunities. Gathering a complete asset inventory enables us to recommend whether to transfer an existing policy or have the trust obtain a new one, and to determine how the ILIT should interact with other trust and estate documents. This careful review minimizes surprises during administration and helps ensure the ILIT functions within the broader planning framework.
We discuss the timing implications of transferring ownership, including gift tax reporting and the three-year rule that could affect estate inclusion. This conversation covers the potential need for premium funding mechanisms and documentation of gifts used for premiums. By outlining tax considerations and administrative requirements upfront, we help clients decide on the most appropriate funding strategy and take steps that align with both legal rules and family goals.
After a strategy is selected, we prepare the ILIT document tailored to the client’s distribution objectives, trustee powers, and contingencies. Drafting includes provisions for successor trustees, premium payment instructions, and distribution terms that reflect the grantor’s intent. We also assist with funding the trust, whether by transferring an existing policy into trust ownership or arranging for a trust-owned policy purchase. Proper documentation and record-keeping during funding are essential to support the trust’s intended outcomes and tax positions.
Drafting focuses on clear language to direct how proceeds should be used and distributed, along with trustee authorities for administrative actions. Provisions may address income and principal distributions, loan or buy-sell funding needs for businesses, and contingency plans for successor trustees. Well-crafted trustee instructions reduce confusion and provide a practical framework for administering the trust fairly and consistently in accordance with the grantor’s wishes.
Once documents are finalized, we guide clients through the execution steps required to fund the ILIT, including signing trust documents, completing transfer forms with the insurance carrier, and documenting any gifts used to pay premiums. Proper execution and carrier acknowledgment minimize the risk of administrative issues and help ensure that the trust is recognized as the policy owner and beneficiary. Documentation created at this stage supports the trust’s intended tax and estate treatment.
After a trust is funded and active, trustees must follow its terms, manage premium payments, and handle claims when proceeds are payable. We provide guidance to trustees on their administrative duties, record-keeping, and distribution procedures. Periodic reviews of the ILIT and related estate planning documents are recommended to address changes in family circumstances, tax law, or financial goals. Ongoing communication ensures the plan continues to meet the grantor’s objectives and adapts to new developments.
We assist trustees with understanding their responsibilities when a claim arises, from submitting documentation to the insurer to distributing proceeds according to the trust document. Guidance includes preparing the necessary trust certifications, coordinating with other fiduciaries, and advising on timing and tax reporting obligations. Clear instructions and support reduce administrative burden and help trustees fulfill their duties promptly and in accordance with legal and trust requirements.
Even though an ILIT is irrevocable, related documents and circumstances often change over time; periodic review ensures the overall estate plan remains aligned with current goals. Reviews focus on the interaction between the ILIT and other estate planning instruments, beneficiary changes, and any adjustments needed to trustee contact or administrative arrangements. Regular reviews help identify potential issues early and ensure that trustees and beneficiaries remain informed about how the trust operates.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a trust that becomes the owner and beneficiary of a life insurance policy on the grantor’s life, with terms that direct how proceeds are managed and distributed to beneficiaries. The grantor sets the trust terms and names a trustee to administer the policy and handle distributions after the insured’s death. Because ownership of the policy transfers to the trust, proceeds may be kept out of the grantor’s taxable estate when done in accordance with applicable rules, and the trust can provide structured distributions for beneficiaries. Creating an ILIT requires careful drafting, transfer or purchase steps, and ongoing administration by the trustee. The trust document should specify premium payment methods, trustee duties, distribution conditions, and successor trustees. Proper coordination with the rest of the estate plan, clear documentation of gifts used to pay premiums, and attention to timing rules are essential to achieve the intended results and avoid unintended tax or administrative complications.
The three-year rule is an important tax consideration when transferring an existing life insurance policy into an ILIT. If the grantor transfers ownership of an already-existing policy to the trust and then dies within three years, federal tax law may include the policy proceeds in the grantor’s estate, which can undermine the intended estate tax benefits. This timing rule often influences the decision of whether to transfer an existing policy or to have the trust obtain a new policy instead. To manage this risk, clients may choose to purchase a new policy in trust or plan transfers well in advance of health concerns or expected mortality triggers. Clear documentation of transfers and professional guidance help align the timing of any ownership change with broader estate planning goals, reducing the potential for unintended estate inclusion of policy proceeds.
Naming a trustee involves weighing trustworthiness, administrative ability, and continuity. Many clients select a family member who is organized and responsible, sometimes combined with professional support from legal counsel or a financial advisor for complex matters. Alternatively, a corporate trustee can provide long-term continuity and administrative experience, especially when ongoing management or investment decisions are anticipated. Successor trustee provisions are critical to address potential incapacity, resignation, or death of the initial trustee. Clear instructions in the trust document about successor appointment, trustee powers, and record-keeping expectations ensure the trust can be administered smoothly. Thoughtful selection and backup planning help preserve the grantor’s intentions and reduce potential conflicts among beneficiaries.
An ILIT can be a tool that helps reduce the portion of life insurance proceeds included in a grantor’s taxable estate when the trust is properly funded and timed. By transferring ownership to an irrevocable trust, proceeds are generally outside the taxable estate, provided applicable timing and documentation rules are satisfied. This can preserve more value for beneficiaries by potentially reducing estate tax exposure, though current federal and state thresholds and rules should be reviewed to determine the actual impact for a given estate. Estate tax laws can change and individual circumstances vary, so an ILIT’s benefit depends on the size and composition of the estate, timing of transfers, and coordination with other planning tools. Reviewing the projected estate tax exposure, liquidity needs, and family goals helps determine whether an ILIT is an appropriate strategy within a broader estate plan.
If a grantor dies shortly after transferring a policy to an ILIT, the three-year rule may cause the proceeds to be included in the grantor’s estate for tax purposes. This could negate the anticipated estate tax benefit of transferring ownership to the trust. The rule exists to prevent transfers made in contemplation of imminent death from being used to avoid estate tax, and it is a central timing consideration in ILIT planning. To mitigate this risk, some clients arrange for new policies to be purchased directly by the trust or plan transfers well in advance of any serious health decline. Solid documentation, timely execution, and professional guidance on transfer timing are all part of managing the potential consequences of a short interval between transfer and death.
Premium payments after an ILIT is established can be funded in different ways depending on the trust terms. One common approach is for the grantor to make annual gifts to the trust, taking advantage of the annual gift tax exclusion, and the trustee uses those funds to pay premiums. Proper documentation and gift reporting are necessary to support this approach and avoid misunderstandings regarding the source of premium payments. Other options include structuring irrevocable payment arrangements or having third parties contribute premiums when appropriate. The trust should clearly state how premiums will be handled and require the trustee to maintain records of gifts and payments. Transparent processes help maintain the intended legal and tax treatment of the trust-owned policy.
Yes, an ILIT can be drafted to distribute proceeds in installments or according to conditions set by the grantor. The trust document can specify payment timing, amounts, and allowable uses such as health, education, maintenance, and support. This structured distribution protects beneficiaries from receiving a large lump sum that they might not manage well, and it supports long-term financial stability for those who need ongoing assistance. Careful drafting ensures the trustee has clear authority to make distributions and that the terms are flexible enough to address future circumstances while still reflecting the grantor’s intent. Trustees should document decisions and maintain transparent communication with beneficiaries to reduce conflict and ensure distributions align with the trust’s purposes.
An ILIT interacts with a Revocable Living Trust and a Pour-Over Will as part of a larger estate plan by addressing specific functions that complement other documents. While an ILIT focuses on life insurance ownership and distribution, a Revocable Living Trust manages other assets and can receive assets at death through a Pour-Over Will. Coordinating beneficiary designations and provisions across these documents prevents conflicting instructions and ensures all assets are handled according to the overall plan. Documentation such as a Certification of Trust and consistent account beneficiary forms smooth administration and help trustees and fiduciaries act on the grantor’s intentions. Integrated planning reduces the chance of assets being treated inconsistently and supports a coherent approach to asset distribution and trustee responsibilities.
Trustees have ongoing administrative responsibilities that may include managing premium payments, maintaining records, communicating with beneficiaries, filing necessary trust tax returns, and handling claims when proceeds are payable. Trustees must follow the trust document, keep accurate documentation of receipts and expenditures, and act in accordance with legal obligations that govern fiduciaries. Proper record-keeping and adherence to trust terms reduce the risk of disputes and ensure distributions occur as intended. Trustees may seek professional support from attorneys or accountants to fulfill complex duties, particularly regarding tax reporting or coordinating with other fiduciaries. Clear guidance from the trust document and professional assistance when needed make trustee tasks more manageable and help preserve value for beneficiaries.
Reviewing an ILIT and related estate planning documents periodically is important because family circumstances, financial situations, and laws can change. Regular reviews ensure beneficiary designations remain accurate, trustee contact information is up to date, and the trust continues to reflect the grantor’s objectives. While an ILIT is irrevocable, surrounding documents and administrative arrangements may need revisions, and periodic checks prevent surprises during administration. A recommended practice is to review estate plans after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, acquisition of significant assets, or changes in health. Communicating with legal counsel during reviews ensures the plan continues to serve intended goals and that any necessary updates to non-irrevocable documents are made promptly.
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