A revocable living trust is a central component of a modern estate plan for people in Beverly Hills who want control and flexibility over how their assets are managed during life and distributed after death. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, our approach emphasizes clear communication and practical solutions tailored to California law. A living trust helps avoid probate delays, provides privacy, and can be amended or revoked as circumstances change. This introduction explains what a revocable living trust can accomplish and why many individuals and families consider it an important part of a thoughtful estate plan.
Choosing to create a revocable living trust involves decisions about asset ownership, successor trustees, and distribution terms that reflect personal priorities and family dynamics. In Beverly Hills and across California, the trust instrument works alongside documents such as a pour-over will, financial powers of attorney, and health care directives to form a coordinated plan. This paragraph outlines how a trust interacts with those other documents, supports incapacity planning, and provides continuity in property management. Understanding these connections helps clients make informed choices about protecting loved ones and preserving their legacy.
A revocable living trust provides practical benefits that go beyond simple asset transfer on death. It can significantly reduce the delays and public exposure associated with probate, create a framework for management if you become incapacitated, and allow more nuanced distribution instructions than a will alone. For property owners, business owners, and families with complex financial arrangements, a trust creates continuity and control without court intervention. The document’s flexibility permits amendments as life changes, helping align the plan with evolving family relationships, tax considerations, and retirement planning goals while preserving privacy.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves clients throughout Beverly Hills and greater Los Angeles County with practical estate planning solutions focused on revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and related documents. Our attorney-centered practice emphasizes clear guidance, detailed document drafting, and steady support through funding and implementation. We work closely with clients to identify goals, assess assets like real estate and retirement accounts, and coordinate trust terms with other documents such as pour-over wills and health care directives. The firm’s approach is collaborative, aiming to simplify legal processes and provide reliable representation for families planning their estates.
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement where an individual transfers ownership of certain assets into a trust during life, naming a trustee to manage those assets for the benefit of designated beneficiaries. The trust remains revocable, meaning the trustmaker retains the ability to change terms, add or remove assets, and name or replace trustees. Because the trust holds title to assets, those assets may avoid the California probate process at death, often resulting in faster distribution and greater confidentiality. The trust also allows for seamless management of assets if the trustmaker becomes incapacitated, avoiding court-supervised conservatorship procedures.
Implementing a revocable living trust requires careful attention to how assets are titled and transferred, including real estate, bank and brokerage accounts, business interests, and personal property. Certain assets, such as retirement accounts and some jointly held property, may not be transferable into a trust without planning to preserve tax and beneficiary designations. The trust document should coordinate with a pour-over will that captures any assets not funded into the trust during life. Proper funding and periodic review ensure the trust performs as intended and reflects changes in family, financial, and tax circumstances over time.
A revocable living trust is a flexible estate planning tool that establishes a fiduciary relationship to manage assets for beneficiaries according to the trustmaker’s instructions. The trustmaker typically serves as initial trustee, maintaining full management powers, and designates a successor trustee to step in on incapacity or death. Because the trust is revocable, the trustmaker can alter or terminate it at any time while competent. The trust instrument sets out distribution rules, trustee powers, and administrative procedures, and functions alongside other estate documents to provide a complete plan for asset stewardship, incapacity protection, and legacy goals without the public process of probate court.
Creating a revocable living trust typically involves identifying assets to fund the trust, preparing the trust document with clear trustee and beneficiary designations, and completing transfer forms or deeds to retitle assets into the trust. Important elements include successor trustee selection, distribution instructions, incapacity provisions, and authority to manage investments and pay taxes. After signing, clients must fund the trust by changing account registrations, executing deeds for real property, and updating beneficiary designations where appropriate. Ongoing review and occasional amendment keep the trust aligned with changing circumstances, such as marriages, births, divorces, or significant asset changes.
Understanding the terms commonly used in trust planning helps clients make informed decisions. This section explains words and phrases you will encounter when setting up a revocable living trust, covering trustee roles, funding, pour-over wills, successor beneficiaries, incapacity planning, and related documents like powers of attorney and health care directives. Familiarity with these terms clarifies the process and responsibilities, so you can communicate preferences, evaluate options, and take practical steps to implement and maintain a trust that reflects your priorities and legal requirements in California.
Funding refers to the process of transferring ownership of assets into the name of the trust so those assets are governed by the trust’s terms and can avoid probate. Funding may include executing deeds for real property, changing titles on bank and brokerage accounts, and assigning ownership of personal property. Some assets, such as retirement accounts, require different treatment and may remain outside the trust but can be coordinated via beneficiary designations. Proper funding is essential because an unfunded trust does not control assets left in the trustmaker’s individual name and may not accomplish the intended probate avoidance and management benefits.
A successor trustee is the person or entity named to manage and distribute trust assets if the initial trustee can no longer serve due to incapacity or death. Successor trustees carry out the trustmaker’s instructions, handle asset management, pay debts and taxes, and facilitate distributions to beneficiaries. Choosing a reliable and organized successor trustee is important to ensure timely administration and minimize conflict. Trust documents can name backup trustees and provide guidance on compensation, bond requirements, and decision-making authority to address practical concerns during administration and transition periods.
A pour-over will acts as a safety net to transfer any assets not titled in the trust into the trust upon death. While the trust handles assets that were properly funded during life, a pour-over will ensures that forgotten or newly acquired assets eventually pass into the trust for distribution according to its terms. The pour-over will still goes through probate for the transfer, but it centralizes distribution under the trust’s provisions, helping maintain the intended plan and providing a mechanism for capturing assets that were unintentionally left out of the trust funding process.
A durable power of attorney is a document that appoints someone to manage financial and legal matters on your behalf if you become incapacitated. It complements a revocable living trust by dealing with transactions and decisions about assets that may not be in the trust or that require actions before successor trustees step in. The durable power of attorney can facilitate bill payments, tax filings, and other financial tasks, providing continuity in daily affairs. Clear drafting of the authority and scope helps avoid confusion and ensures that appointed agents can act effectively when needed.
When considering a revocable living trust versus a traditional will, key differences include probate avoidance, privacy, and management during incapacity. A will controls property only after death and typically requires probate, which can be time-consuming and public. A living trust can offer quicker asset transfer and private administration, and it provides an internal mechanism for managing assets if the trustmaker becomes incapacitated. However, trusts require active funding and can involve more upfront work. Evaluating both options depends on asset types, family circumstances, cost considerations, and the desire for privacy and continuity in management.
For individuals with modest estates, few assets, and uncomplicated family situations, a well-drafted will can provide clear instructions for distributing property on death. A will can also name guardians for minor children and appoint a personal representative to manage probate administration. Because a will is often simpler and less expensive to prepare, it may suit people who do not own real estate in multiple states, do not have significant privacy concerns, and do not face complex incapacity planning needs. Careful review ensures the will aligns with beneficiary designations and financial account arrangements to avoid surprises.
If a person already has durable powers of attorney, health care directives, and family members prepared to manage affairs, the immediate need for a trust to handle incapacity may be reduced. In such cases, a will can handle end-of-life distribution while the combination of powers of attorney and medical directives provides protection during periods of incapacity. This approach may work when there is strong family agreement, limited asset complexity, and no need to avoid probate for privacy reasons. Periodic review is still necessary to confirm that beneficiary designations and accounts remain consistent with estate goals.
Where privacy and efficient transfer of assets are priorities, a revocable living trust can remove many assets from the probate process and allow distributions to proceed privately and more quickly than a will-based plan. This is especially relevant for property owners, individuals with diverse investments, and families who wish to keep financial affairs out of the public record. The trust also provides a structured path for asset management and distribution, reducing administrative friction for successor trustees and beneficiaries during an already stressful time.
A full trust-based estate plan is often advisable for blended families, beneficiaries with special needs, business owners, or those with significant real estate holdings across multiple states. The trust’s customizable terms can address unique distribution timing, asset protection concerns, and ongoing management needs. Careful drafting and funding provide clarity, reduce the risk of disputes, and allow for contingencies like successor trustee transitions. Coordinating the trust with retirement account beneficiary designations and other documents is important to ensure the plan functions smoothly and reflects the trustmaker’s long-term intentions.
A comprehensive trust-centered plan brings several advantages: avoidance of probate for assets properly funded into the trust, enhanced privacy since trust administration is typically not part of the public record, and continuity of management in the event of incapacity. By naming successor trustees and setting clear distribution guidelines, a trust reduces uncertainty and can speed access to assets for family needs. These features can be particularly valuable in California’s legal environment, where probate can be lengthy and public, and where coordinated planning helps preserve the value of an estate for intended beneficiaries.
In addition to probate avoidance and continuity, a comprehensive approach allows for tailored provisions addressing education funding, staged distributions, and protections for beneficiaries who may not be ready for immediate inheritance. Trusts can be structured to minimize administrative burdens and to provide clear authority for trustees to handle taxes, investments, and property sales. Regular reviews ensure the trust adapts to life changes such as marriage, divorce, births, and changes in financial circumstances, maintaining alignment between legal documents and family priorities.
Trust administration typically proceeds without the delays and public filings associated with probate, enabling beneficiaries to receive assets more quickly and privately. For homeowners and families who value confidentiality and prompt access to funds for everyday needs or ongoing expenses, this benefit can alleviate stress after a loss. A properly funded revocable living trust streamlines title transfers and reduces court intervention, which helps preserve estate value and minimizes disruptions to financial management for surviving family members and the successor trustee in the months following a passing.
A revocable living trust includes provisions for a successor trustee to step in and manage assets seamlessly if the trustmaker becomes incapacitated. This prevents the need to petition the court for conservatorship and allows appointed trustees to pay bills, manage investments, and make prudent decisions for daily care without court delay. The continuity provided by the trust protects beneficiaries and preserves asset value by ensuring that financial obligations are handled promptly and in accordance with the trustmaker’s documented preferences and priorities.
Begin by compiling a thorough inventory of all assets, including real property, bank and investment accounts, business interests, retirement plans, personal property, and digital assets. Document account numbers, titles, and beneficiary designations, and note which assets are currently titled in your individual name versus jointly or with existing beneficiaries. This inventory streamlines the trust funding process and helps identify items that require special handling, such as retirement accounts or jointly held property. Keeping this list updated makes future reviews and amendments more efficient and reduces the chance of assets being left outside the trust.
Select successor trustees who are organized, trustworthy, and capable of managing administrative responsibilities, and consider naming alternates in case the primary choice cannot serve. Provide clear written guidance in the trust about trustee powers, procedures for decision-making, and compensation, and ensure successor trustees are aware of their roles before they might need to act. Maintaining accessible records, contact lists, and instructions for accessing accounts will help minimize stress and delay during a transition, allowing the successor trustee to focus on preserving assets and carrying out the trustmaker’s wishes.
A revocable living trust is a comprehensive planning tool for individuals who prioritize privacy, efficient asset transfer, and uninterrupted management in the event of incapacity. Beverly Hills residents with real estate holdings, complex financial portfolios, or family dynamics that require careful direction often benefit from a trust-based plan. The trust allows for detailed distribution instructions and provides a mechanism to avoid the public probate process for assets properly funded into the trust. Those who wish to minimize administrative burdens for family members typically consider a living trust as a core component of their estate plan.
Additionally, a living trust may offer advantages for managing blended family situations, planning for minor or vulnerable beneficiaries, and coordinating business succession. By setting clear terms for distributions, establishing trustee authority, and arranging for successor management, a trust reduces ambiguity and potential disputes. Periodic review ensures the arrangement remains aligned with changing circumstances such as marriage, divorce, births, and changes in asset composition. Thoughtful planning and regular updates keep the trust responsive to evolving needs and family priorities in California’s legal environment.
There are several common circumstances that make a revocable living trust a practical option, including ownership of significant real estate, multi-state property holdings, family members with special needs, and business ownership that requires orderly succession. Individuals who value confidentiality and wish to reduce probate-related delays also frequently choose trust-based planning. The trust’s flexibility accommodates staged distributions, spendthrift protections, and detailed management instructions for trustees, making it a versatile tool for addressing complex family and financial situations while preserving the trustmaker’s intentions.
When real estate is held in different states, a revocable living trust can reduce the need for multiple probate proceedings by transferring properties into the trust. Without a trust, each property may be subject to separate probate administrations in each state, increasing expense and delay. Funding properties into a trust consolidates administration and allows for a single, coordinated approach to management and distribution. Ensuring deeds are properly retitled and recorded is an important step to realize these benefits and avoid unintended probate in additional jurisdictions.
For family members who receive government benefits or require long-term care planning, tailored trust provisions can provide support without disqualifying beneficiaries from need-based programs. Special arrangements, such as supplemental needs trusts, can be integrated with a revocable living trust or coordinated through linked documents to preserve eligibility while offering additional resources. Careful drafting ensures distributions supplement rather than supplant benefits, and that a trusted successor trustee manages funds in a manner consistent with both legal requirements and beneficiary needs.
Business owners often use trusts as part of a succession plan to provide orderly transitions, protect business continuity, and manage ownership interests for heirs. Trust provisions can specify how ownership is to be managed or sold, define buyout procedures, and provide authority for trustees to oversee business affairs when necessary. Coordinating corporate or partnership agreements with trust terms helps avoid conflicts and ensures that the business remains operational during transitions, protecting value for both family members and business stakeholders.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman offers personalized trust planning services to residents of Beverly Hills and the surrounding Los Angeles area. We provide guidance on creating, funding, and updating revocable living trusts, and coordinate related documents such as pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives. Our firm assists clients in identifying assets that should be included in the trust, preparing deeds and transfer documents, and advising on beneficiary coordination to align with overall estate goals. Clients receive practical recommendations and clear steps to implement and maintain an effective plan.
Clients choose the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman for reliable, client-centered estate planning in California. We focus on practical solutions that reflect each client’s goals, including trust drafting, funding assistance, and coordination with other estate documents. Our approach emphasizes clear communication, thorough documentation, and attention to detail through every stage of the planning process. We provide guidance suited to families, property owners, and business owners who want to ensure their affairs are arranged to avoid unnecessary delay and public administration.
When preparing a revocable living trust, attention to drafting clarity and proper funding is essential. Our firm helps clients navigate title transfers, beneficiary coordination, and the technical steps needed to make the trust effective. We work with clients to identify potential pitfalls, suggest practical solutions for retirement accounts and jointly held assets, and provide written instructions for successor trustees. The result is a cohesive estate plan that supports management during incapacity and streamlined distribution at death, aligned with California law and the client’s personal objectives.
Beyond document preparation, we assist with periodic reviews and updates to ensure the trust remains aligned with life changes and legal developments. Clients benefit from clear checklists for funding, recommendations for successor trustees, and practical advice on integrating the trust with business succession plans and special needs provisions where appropriate. Our goal is to deliver a dependable process that reduces administrative burdens and provides family members with a clear roadmap for carrying out the trustmaker’s intentions.
Our process begins with a detailed consultation to gather family background, asset details, and planning objectives. We analyze titles, beneficiary designations, and any business or special needs considerations, then present tailored recommendations. After selecting the appropriate trust structure, we draft the trust document and related instruments, review them with you for clarity, and assist with signing and notarization. Finally, we provide step-by-step guidance to fund the trust and update records, ensuring your plan is effective and ready to serve your needs when called upon.
During the initial meeting, we collect information about your assets, family relationships, and planning goals so we can recommend an appropriate structure for a revocable living trust. We identify property that should be retitled, examine beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, and discuss incapacity planning needs. This stage clarifies priorities such as privacy, probate avoidance, and distribution timing. The discovery process helps ensure that the trust document addresses specific circumstances and sets the foundation for a practical and implementable estate plan.
We ask clients to provide deeds, account statements, retirement plan documents, insurance policies, and existing estate documents so we can assess funding needs and identify any conflicts. Reviewing title information for real estate and ownership details for business interests is important to determine the correct transfer method. This collection phase provides the factual basis for drafting and helps uncover items that may require special handling, such as community property considerations, jointly held accounts, and accounts with beneficiary designations that must be coordinated with trust provisions.
We discuss your goals for distributions, the selection of successor trustees, and any conditions you wish to include for beneficiaries. Conversations cover how to provide for minor children, vulnerable beneficiaries, and business continuity. Naming alternative trustees and directing compensation and bond requirements are practical decisions we review together. These discussions ensure the trust document reflects both current wishes and contingencies, so successor trustees have clear guidance and beneficiaries understand the trustmaker’s intentions.
Based on the information gathered, we prepare a draft trust document and accompanying instruments such as a pour-over will, durable power of attorney, and health care directive. The drafts include detailed provisions for trustee powers, distribution instructions, and incapacity procedures. We then review the drafts with you, explain each provision in plain language, and make revisions to align the documents with your preferences and legal considerations. Clear drafting reduces ambiguity and helps successor trustees administer the trust with confidence.
Customization allows the trust to address specific family dynamics, timing of distributions, and protections for beneficiaries. We craft provisions for staggered distributions, educational incentives, or directives for care of dependents. The goal is to create a document that balances control with flexibility, giving successor trustees clear authority while honoring the trustmaker’s intentions. Careful language reduces the risk of disputes and ensures that the trust functions smoothly in administration.
Coordination between the trust and related documents is essential to prevent contradictory instructions. We review beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and payable-on-death accounts to confirm they align with your trust and overall estate plan. Where appropriate, we recommend changes or explain the implications of naming a trust as beneficiary versus naming individuals directly. This step ensures that trust terms govern assets as intended and reduces the potential for unintended distributions or probate complications.
After finalizing documents, we arrange for proper execution and notarization and provide detailed instructions for funding the trust. Funding may include recording deeds, transferring account registrations, and documenting assignments. We also supply a checklist for ongoing maintenance, recommending periodic reviews to update the trust for life changes and new assets. Proper execution and funding are vital to ensuring the trust operates as intended, and routine maintenance helps preserve the plan’s effectiveness over time.
We assist clients in preparing and recording deeds to transfer real property into the trust and provide templates and instructions for changing titles on bank and investment accounts. Careful attention to recording requirements and account-holder procedures helps prevent funding oversights. When coordination with financial institutions or title companies is needed, we guide clients through the process and confirm that documents are correctly updated so the trust holds the intended assets and achieves the desired probate avoidance and management benefits.
Life events such as births, deaths, marriages, divorces, or significant financial changes often require amendments to the trust. We recommend periodic reviews to ensure the trust and associated documents reflect current wishes and legal developments. During reviews, we verify beneficiary designations, retitle any new assets, and propose amendments where necessary. Maintaining an up-to-date plan helps avoid unintended outcomes and ensures that successor trustees and beneficiaries have clear, current guidance when administration is required.
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement created during life that holds title to assets for the benefit of named beneficiaries. The trustmaker, often called the grantor, typically serves as the initial trustee and retains the right to amend or revoke the trust while alive and competent. A will controls only assets that pass at death and generally requires probate administration, which is a public court process. By contrast, assets titled in a properly funded revocable living trust can transfer to beneficiaries without the delays and public filings associated with probate, offering greater privacy and potentially faster distribution. While both a trust and a will are estate planning tools, they serve different roles and often work together. A pour-over will can capture any assets not transferred into the trust during life and direct them to the trust upon death, though those assets may still go through probate. Because a trust provides a mechanism for management during incapacity and can avoid probate for funded assets, many people use a trust for continuity and privacy while retaining a will as a safety net for unfunded items.
A revocable living trust can help avoid probate for assets that have been properly transferred into the trust, such as real property, bank accounts, and investment accounts retitled in the trust’s name. Probate avoidance can reduce delays and public disclosure of estate matters. However, assets that remain titled in the individual’s name or that have beneficiary designations that override the trust may still require probate or alternative administration. Ensuring that deeds and account registrations are updated is essential to realizing the trust’s probate-avoidance benefits. Some assets, including certain retirement accounts and jointly held property, may need special treatment to preserve tax advantages or beneficiary rights. Coordination of beneficiary forms, trust terms, and other documents is important to achieve the intended outcome. Periodic review and careful funding steps provide the practical effect of avoiding probate for applicable assets under California law.
Transferring a house into a living trust typically requires preparing and recording a new deed that conveys the property from your individual name into the name of the trust. The deed must be drafted in compliance with California recording requirements and properly notarized, and any mortgage or lending implications should be reviewed. Recording the deed places the property in the trust’s title, which allows successor trustees to manage or distribute the property according to the trust terms without a separate probate proceeding after death. Before transferring real property, it is important to review mortgage documents, tax implications, and any community property considerations. In some cases, lenders require notification or have restrictions, and property tax reassessment rules may apply depending on circumstances. We assist clients with preparing appropriate deeds, completing the recording process, and confirming that all steps are taken to properly fund the trust with real estate holdings.
Naming a trust as beneficiary of a retirement account is an option but requires careful consideration because tax consequences and distribution rules differ from naming an individual beneficiary. Certain trusts are designed to receive retirement benefits and distribute them according to the trustmaker’s goals while addressing concerns like protecting assets for minor or vulnerable beneficiaries. The trust must meet specific requirements to allow the beneficiary to stretch distributions in accordance with tax rules, and sometimes a separate trust structure is recommended to preserve tax advantages. Coordination with retirement plan rules and beneficiary designations is essential. We help clients evaluate whether naming the trust as beneficiary meets estate and tax objectives or whether naming individuals with other planning tools is preferable. Proper drafting and timing of beneficiary updates avoid unintended tax consequences and help ensure retirement assets are handled in accordance with your overall plan.
When choosing a successor trustee, consider someone who is responsible, organized, and able to manage administrative tasks and financial decisions. The trustee must gather assets, pay bills and taxes, communicate with beneficiaries, and follow the trust’s instructions. Personal traits such as trustworthiness, impartiality, and availability are important because the role can be time-consuming and involve difficult decisions. Naming alternates or a corporate trustee as backup can provide additional security if the primary choice is unavailable or unwilling to serve. It is also helpful to discuss the role with the chosen individuals in advance so they understand expectations and access information. Providing a clear set of instructions, a list of assets, and practical guidance reduces the burden on successor trustees. Professional assistance can be engaged if management of investments, complex tax issues, or business interests is required during administration.
Trusts and related estate documents should be reviewed periodically, particularly after major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or significant changes in assets. A regular review every few years helps confirm beneficiary designations, funding status, and that the trust’s provisions remain consistent with current intentions and California law. Updates may be necessary to reflect changes in family relationships, new property acquisitions, or evolving distribution preferences. During reviews, check retirement account beneficiaries, retitle new assets into the trust, and consider amendments that respond to changes in tax law or family circumstances. These proactive steps ensure that the trust continues to function as intended and minimizes the risk of assets being unintentionally excluded or distributed contrary to current wishes.
If you move out of California, your revocable living trust generally remains valid, but it is prudent to review the trust in light of the new state’s laws, tax rules, and recording requirements. Different states have varying property and tax rules that may affect how the trust operates, especially if you acquire new property or change residency status. Reviewing the trust after relocation ensures that trustee powers, governing law provisions, and asset management strategies remain appropriate for your new home state. We recommend scheduling a trust review after any interstate move to update provisions and confirm that real property deeds, account registrations, and beneficiary designations align with your ongoing plan. This step helps prevent unexpected tax consequences or administrative difficulties and ensures the trust continues to meet your goals under the legal framework of your new state of residence.
A durable power of attorney complements a revocable living trust by enabling an appointed agent to handle financial and legal matters that may arise before a successor trustee assumes trust responsibilities. It can be useful for transactions related to assets not yet funded into the trust or for day-to-day financial tasks that require prompt attention. The durable power of attorney remains effective during incapacity and provides a practical tool to manage affairs while the trust structure is in place or during transitions. Coordination between the durable power of attorney and the trust is important to avoid overlapping authority or confusion about who manages specific assets. Clear instructions and communication among appointed individuals help ensure continuity of management. We advise clients on drafting powers that complement trust provisions and outline practical steps for agents to follow when acting on behalf of the trustmaker.
A revocable living trust generally does not provide strong protection from creditors or lawsuits while the trustmaker is alive and retains control, because the trust is revocable and assets can be reclaimed by the trustmaker. For asset protection from creditors, other trust structures or strategies may be appropriate, and these options typically involve irrevocable arrangements or other legal protections that depend on timing and applicable law. The primary benefits of a revocable living trust are management during incapacity and probate avoidance rather than creditor protection. If asset protection is a priority, it is important to consult about options that may include irrevocable trusts, business entity planning, and insurance strategies. Those solutions require careful planning and may have tax and control implications. We help clients evaluate whether alternative approaches are consistent with their goals and provide guidance on integrating protection strategies with broader estate planning objectives.
Proper funding after signing a trust requires a proactive checklist to transfer assets into the trust’s name, including executing and recording deeds for real estate, changing titles on bank and investment accounts, reassigning ownership of personal property, and aligning beneficiary designations where appropriate. Without these steps, the trust may not control assets at death, and probate could still be necessary. We provide clients with detailed instructions and assistance to ensure the necessary retitling and documentation are completed correctly. Following execution, clients should confirm transfers were recorded and account records reflect the trust as owner. Keep copies of recorded deeds and account change confirmations in a secure location and notify successor trustees of the trust’s existence and location of important documents. Periodic audits of asset titles ensure the trust remains funded over time as new assets are acquired.
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