An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) can be a powerful estate planning tool for Fort Bragg residents who wish to manage life insurance proceeds outside of their taxable estate. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, we help clients understand how an ILIT works, who should consider one, and what steps are involved in creating and funding the trust. This page explains the benefits and considerations specific to California law, how an ILIT interacts with other estate documents like a revocable living trust and a pour-over will, and practical steps to protect assets and beneficiaries through thoughtful planning.
Choosing to set up an ILIT involves legal, tax, and practical decisions that affect your family and long-term plans. This resource describes how an ILIT preserves life insurance proceeds for intended beneficiaries, reduces certain estate tax exposure, and can provide liquidity for paying expenses after a death. We also discuss related documents you may need, such as a certification of trust, financial power of attorney, and advance health care directive. If you are in Mendocino County and considering an ILIT as part of a broader estate plan, this guide outlines the common steps and considerations that help you move forward with clarity.
An ILIT matters because it can remove a life insurance policy’s proceeds from a person’s taxable estate and provide organized distribution to beneficiaries according to the grantor’s wishes. Beyond tax considerations, an ILIT can protect proceeds from probate delays and ensure that children, family members, or organizations receive benefits in a structured way. Properly drafted ILITs also allow for the appointment of trustees to manage payment and distribution, the inclusion of provisions for minor beneficiaries, and coordination with retirement plan trusts or special needs trusts where appropriate. This approach supports predictable outcomes during a sensitive time.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves clients across California, including Mendocino County and Fort Bragg, offering practical estate planning services that include irrevocable life insurance trusts alongside wills, trust funding documents, and health care directives. Our team focuses on clear communication, thorough document drafting, and coordinating trust provisions with related instruments like HIPAA authorizations and guardianship nominations. We work to make complex planning accessible, explaining how each document functions and ensuring clients have a complete plan that reflects their goals and family circumstances.
An ILIT is a separate trust created to own and administer life insurance policies for the benefit of named beneficiaries. Once established and funded, the grantor transfers ownership of a policy to the trust and removes the policy’s death benefit from the grantor’s estate for certain tax purposes. The trust terms dictate how proceeds are used or distributed, whether to provide income, pay debts, cover estate expenses, or fund other trusts. In practice, ILITs are drafted to address state law considerations, coordinate with existing estate planning documents, and to protect benefits for heirs in a structured manner.
Creating and funding an ILIT involves steps such as trust drafting, selecting a trustee, transferring an existing life insurance policy or purchasing a new policy through the trust, and documenting the transfers properly. Trustees have responsibilities to manage the policy, accept gifts to pay premiums if needed, and follow distribution instructions. An ILIT must be carefully designed to meet legal requirements and to coordinate with other estate planning elements like pour-over wills, general assignments of assets to trust, and any special needs or pet trust provisions. Clear trustee instructions help ensure that funds serve their intended purpose.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a legal arrangement in which life insurance policies are owned by a trust rather than by an individual. The grantor creates the trust, names beneficiaries, and provides terms for how the insurance proceeds will be handled when the insured person dies. Because the trust holds ownership, the death benefit typically bypasses probate and can be managed by a trustee for the beneficiaries’ benefit. The structure also allows the grantor to include instructions for distributing proceeds, supporting minors or dependents, and addressing tax planning or creditor protection concerns, depending on the family’s needs and the trust’s provisions.
Key elements include drafting the trust document, choosing a trustee, transferring ownership of a policy to the trust, and ensuring premium payments are handled in a compliant way. Processes often require coordination with insurance carriers, updating beneficiary designations where appropriate, and preparing supporting documents such as a certification of trust or general assignment of assets. Trustees must keep records of trust transactions and follow the grantor’s distribution instructions. Coordination with estate tax planning and related trusts, such as irrevocable life insurance trusts working alongside a retirement plan trust or a special needs trust, is important to achieve the intended results.
Understanding common terms will help you navigate ILIT planning. This glossary covers the basic language used in trust documents and related estate planning instruments, including ownership transfers, trustee duties, and beneficiary designations. Knowing the meaning of terms such as grantor, trustee, irrevocable, pour-over will, and certification of trust helps you make informed decisions and communicate expectations clearly. The following entries clarify frequently used words so you can better understand trust provisions, funding requirements, and how an ILIT interacts with other estate plan documents for Fort Bragg residents.
The grantor is the person who creates the trust and sets its terms, including naming beneficiaries and selecting a trustee. In ILIT planning, the grantor typically transfers ownership of a life insurance policy into the trust and may provide funds to the trust to cover premiums. The grantor’s intentions guide how proceeds are to be used after the insured person’s death. The trust document records the grantor’s instructions for distribution, trustee authority, and any conditions placed on distributions to beneficiaries, ensuring that the grantor’s objectives are carried out according to the trust terms.
Irrevocable means the trust’s terms generally cannot be changed or revoked by the grantor once the trust is properly formed and funded. This permanence is an important feature in ILITs because it creates the legal separation necessary for the intended tax and asset management outcomes. An irrevocable trust requires careful planning to ensure that the grantor is comfortable with the document’s provisions before funding occurs. The trustee then manages trust assets and follows the distribution instructions without the grantor retaining the power to alter key provisions or reclaim trust property.
A trustee is the individual or entity responsible for administering the trust according to its terms. In an ILIT, the trustee holds legal title to the life insurance policy, makes decisions related to premium payments and policy management, and arranges distribution of proceeds to beneficiaries at the appropriate time. Trustees owe fiduciary duties to act in beneficiaries’ best interests, maintain accurate records, and follow the trust’s instructions. Selecting a trustee who is willing to fulfill these responsibilities and who understands recordkeeping and communication needs is an important part of successful trust administration.
A pour-over will is a testamentary document designed to transfer any assets not previously placed into a trust into a revocable living trust or other designated trust at death. For clients who use ILITs within a broader plan, a pour-over will serves as a safety net to ensure assets are moved into the trust administration process rather than subjecting them to separate probate proceedings. This document complements trusts by consolidating asset distribution under trust instructions and simplifying post-death administration, which can be especially helpful for families seeking orderly handling of remaining estate matters.
When considering an ILIT, it helps to compare it with alternatives like a simple beneficiary designation, a revocable living trust holding a policy, or leaving proceeds to heirs via a will. An ILIT is distinct because once funded it typically removes the policy from the grantor’s estate and provides specific trust-based controls over proceeds. A revocable trust may offer flexibility but does not provide the same removal from the taxable estate while the grantor is alive. A will alone requires probate and lacks the privacy and management features of a trust. Evaluating options in light of family dynamics, tax considerations, and the need for structured distributions will guide the best choice.
If the life insurance policy value is modest and beneficiaries are adults who can responsibly manage proceeds, a limited approach such as direct beneficiary designation or a revocable trust ownership may be adequate. In those scenarios, the simplicity of leaving proceeds directly to named beneficiaries or holding the policy within a revocable trust often reduces administrative steps and keeps costs lower. It remains important to ensure beneficiary designations are current and coordinated with other estate documents, such as a last will and testament, but a full irrevocable trust may not be necessary where needs are straightforward and immediate distribution is appropriate.
A limited approach can also be appropriate when estate tax exposure or creditor concerns are minimal, and the grantor’s goals do not require long-term managed distributions. If your estate value is below applicable thresholds and there is confidence that beneficiaries do not need protected or structured distributions, simpler arrangements might be preferable. That said, clients should still review related instruments such as a financial power of attorney and HIPAA authorization to ensure continuity of decision-making and access to information. Periodic review keeps the plan aligned with changing circumstances.
A comprehensive approach is advisable when beneficiaries include minors, people with limited financial capacity, or individuals with special needs who benefit from trustee-managed distributions and protections. An ILIT can specify staggered distributions, ongoing support, or directional rules for trustees to follow, reducing the risk that proceeds will be mismanaged or dissipated quickly. Combining ILITs with other documents like a special needs trust or guardianship nominations ensures that beneficiaries receive needed support while preserving eligibility for public benefits where applicable and maintaining long-term financial security for those who cannot handle a large immediate inheritance.
For estates with significant value, concerns about creditor claims, or when coordinating multiple assets and trusts, a comprehensive plan is often necessary. An ILIT can be integrated with retirement plan trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, and other instruments to address liquidity needs, minimize estate tax exposure where possible, and protect proceeds from certain creditor claims. This coordinated approach helps ensure that all documents work together, from certification of trust to HIPAA authorization, resulting in an efficient and coherent strategy that aligns with long-term family and financial goals.
A comprehensive plan provides clarity, reduces the risk of unintended outcomes, and streamlines administration after an insured person’s death. By aligning an ILIT with revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, and other documents, families can reduce probate involvement, maintain privacy, and ensure proceeds are used according to the grantor’s wishes. Comprehensive planning addresses contingencies, such as replacement of trustees, funding of premiums, and interactions with retirement or special needs planning. This thorough approach supports a smoother transition and reduces surprises for beneficiaries during an already difficult time.
Another key benefit is tailored distribution planning that reflects family dynamics and long-term goals, such as providing for education, supporting a dependent, or creating trust-based income streams. Properly coordinated documents can also preserve eligibility for public benefits when needed, and provide clear successor arrangements for trustees and guardians. This sort of planning reduces administrative friction and helps trustees carry out the grantor’s intent efficiently, providing both immediate liquidity and long-term financial structure for heirs in Fort Bragg and across California.
One important benefit is minimizing the need for probate to access life insurance proceeds, which can otherwise delay distributions and increase administrative expense. With the ILIT owning the policy, proceeds are typically distributed by the trustee according to the trust terms, which provides quicker access for beneficiaries who may need funds for funeral costs, estate expenses, or ongoing support. This structure increases predictability and can protect the family from the uncertainty and public nature of probate administration, preserving privacy and reducing time-consuming court involvement.
An ILIT allows the grantor to instruct how proceeds should be paid out, whether in lump sums, installments, or for specific purposes like education or health care. This controlled distribution protects beneficiaries from impulsive or unplanned spending and supports long-term financial stability. Trustees can be directed to invest funds prudently and make distributions that match the grantor’s intent. For families with complex needs or multiple heirs, these provisions ensure that funds are used in meaningful ways that reflect the grantor’s priorities and help preserve wealth across generations in a predictable manner.
Review beneficiary designations on your life insurance policy and ensure they match the ILIT ownership structure and trust provisions. Mismatched beneficiary information can create unintended probate exposure or result in proceeds not passing through the trust as intended. It is helpful to maintain a clear set of trust documents, a certification of trust for institutional parties, and updated contact information for trustees and beneficiaries. Regularly check these items after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth, or significant changes in assets to keep the plan functioning as expected.
Choose trustees who are willing and able to manage the duties associated with an ILIT, including premium payments, recordkeeping, tax reporting, and making distribution decisions consistent with the trust terms. Trustees may be individuals or a corporate trustee where available, and naming successor trustees helps ensure continuity. Provide clear instructions in the trust document about how trustees should handle common situations, communication with beneficiaries, and interactions with insurance companies. Regular consultation and straightforward trustee guidance help avoid disputes and promote efficient administration of trust assets.
People often choose an ILIT to preserve life insurance proceeds for beneficiaries while reducing the likelihood of estate-related complications such as probate and potential estate tax exposure. An ILIT provides structure for distributing proceeds to intended recipients under the control of a trustee, which can be particularly valuable for those with minor beneficiaries, blended families, or concerns about creditor claims. When coordinated with a broader plan that includes a revocable living trust, pour-over will, and related documents like a financial power of attorney, an ILIT becomes part of a comprehensive strategy to protect family interests.
Other considerations include ensuring there is liquidity to pay estate expenses and debts, funding for ongoing care, and provision for special circumstances such as a beneficiary’s disability or need for long-term support. An ILIT can be combined with special needs trusts or retirement plan trusts to address those needs while maintaining clear distribution rules. For Fort Bragg residents, having local counsel familiar with California law and the interplay among these documents provides clarity and helps you implement a plan that aligns with your values and goals.
Typical circumstances include having a sizable life insurance policy, intending to provide structured distributions for children or dependents, expecting potential estate tax considerations, or wanting to protect proceeds from creditor claims. Families with members who receive public benefits may use ILITs alongside other trust arrangements to preserve eligibility while providing supplemental support. Business owners and those with complex asset portfolios also often plan for liquidity and continuity through life insurance trust structures that coordinate with buy-sell arrangements, retirement plan trusts, and other commercial considerations.
When beneficiaries include minor children, an ILIT offers a way to provide for their care, education, and future needs while a trustee manages distributions until beneficiaries reach an age or milestone set by the grantor. This structure reduces the risk of mismanagement and allows for staged inheritances, creating financial stability during formative years. Including clear trustee directives and successor trustee provisions in the trust helps ensure funds are used for their intended purpose, while guardianship nominations and related documents ensure that personal care needs are addressed as part of comprehensive planning.
An ILIT can offer protections by separating ownership of the policy from the grantor and, in some situations, shielding proceeds from certain creditor claims or from inclusion in marital property during divorce. While protections vary with circumstances and timing, placing a policy in an irrevocable structure can help accomplish asset protection objectives when properly planned. Coordination with other documents, such as a prenuptial agreement or trust provisions that address family law concerns, can further protect intended beneficiaries and preserve funds for their use as directed.
For families managing the ongoing needs of an individual with disabilities or special needs, an ILIT used in tandem with a special needs trust can provide supplemental support without disrupting eligibility for government benefits. The ILIT proceeds can be directed to fund care, therapies, or other long-term expenses under the oversight of a trustee, ensuring consistent support over time. Proper drafting is necessary to avoid unintended consequences, and coordination with guardianship nominations, HIPAA authorizations, and other documents ensures comprehensive coverage for personal and financial care needs.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman offers guidance to Fort Bragg residents seeking to create or administer an ILIT as part of their estate planning. We help with drafting trust documents, coordinating ownership transfers with insurance carriers, and ensuring alignment with other estate instruments such as revocable living trusts, last wills, and powers of attorney. Our approach emphasizes clear communication and practical steps, including trust funding procedures, trustee selection, and preparing certifications of trust that institutional parties may require. Reach out to discuss how an ILIT might fit within your overall plan.
Clients select our firm for practical, client-focused estate planning services tailored to California law and Mendocino County concerns. We prioritize clear explanations, meticulous document drafting, and seamless coordination with insurance providers and financial institutions. Whether you are establishing a new ILIT or transferring an existing policy into a trust, we work with you to ensure documents are properly prepared, trustees understand their roles, and funding steps are completed to reflect your intentions. Our office strives to make the process straightforward and reliable for families in Fort Bragg.
We also help clients coordinate ILITs with other essential estate planning documents like revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, HIPAA authorizations, and guardianship nominations. This ensures continuity of decision-making and access to necessary information in the event of incapacity or death. Our team assists with the administrative tasks that follow signing, including communicating with insurers, preparing certification of trust documents, and advising on trustee responsibilities, so that your plan operates effectively when it is needed most.
If you are considering an ILIT to protect family interests, provide structured distributions, or seek estate planning clarity, we offer practical guidance and document preparation aligned with your goals. We welcome an initial conversation to review your circumstances, explain available options, and recommend a tailored approach that reflects your priorities. Contact our office at 408-528-2827 to schedule a consultation and begin organizing your plan for the benefit of those you care about in Fort Bragg and across California.
Our process begins with an initial consultation to understand your family situation, goals, and existing documents. We then draft a customized ILIT document, advise on trustee selection, coordinate ownership transfer with insurers, and prepare any related instruments required for a complete plan. After signing, we assist with funding steps, prepare certification of trust documents if needed, and provide guidance for trustee recordkeeping and communications. Ongoing reviews ensure the ILIT and related estate planning documents remain current as circumstances change over time.
The initial review involves collecting information about your life insurance policies, beneficiaries, current estate plan documents, and family circumstances. We discuss goals such as tax considerations, beneficiary protection, and distribution preferences. This planning stage determines whether an ILIT aligns with your objectives and identifies the trustee, funding method, and any complementary documents needed, such as pour-over wills or special needs trusts. The clearer the initial instructions, the more precisely the trust can be tailored to meet your long-term planning needs.
We gather policy statements, current beneficiary designations, and existing estate planning documents like revocable living trusts and wills. Reviewing policy terms and carrier requirements ensures transfers into the ILIT will be accepted and that premium obligations are understood. This step also identifies whether new policies should be issued in the trust’s name or whether existing policies can be transferred. A thorough evaluation helps anticipate administrative steps and any tax or gift implications associated with funding the ILIT.
We discuss how you want proceeds managed and distributed, the selection of a trustee and successor trustees, and any timing or conditional distribution instructions. Clear decisions about trustee duties, distribution standards, and reporting expectations help the drafting process and create a framework the trustee can follow. These choices shape the trust’s terms and ensure the ILIT reflects both practical needs and family priorities, including protections for minors or beneficiaries who require ongoing financial oversight.
During this stage we draft the trust document and any supporting forms, such as a certification of trust, assignment forms for transferring existing policies, and trustee acceptance documents. We coordinate signing and provide guidance to trustees and carriers to confirm ownership transfers are processed correctly. Attention to detail during execution prevents future disputes and helps ensure the ILIT operates according to the grantor’s intent, including clarity on premium payment mechanisms and gift documentation where necessary.
The trust document is prepared with specific provisions for beneficiary distributions, trustee powers, successor trustee naming, and instructions for handling proceeds. We review draft language with you to ensure it accurately reflects your intentions. Emphasis is placed on clarity in trustee roles and distribution standards so the trust can be administered efficiently. We also prepare any ancillary documents needed by banks or insurers to recognize the trust’s ownership and authority.
After signing, we complete the funding steps, which may include transferring ownership of existing policies or assisting in the issuance of new policies directly to the trust. We coordinate with insurance carriers to update ownership and beneficiary records and provide the documentation they require. Proper steps here are essential to achieve the desired treatment for proceeds and to confirm that trustees can access policy information and manage premium payments effectively following the grantor’s instructions.
Following execution, we provide guidance on trustee responsibilities, recordkeeping, and any necessary tax filings or gift documentation. We help trustees understand reporting expectations and how to maintain trust records, including premium payments and distributions. Periodic reviews are recommended to confirm that beneficiary designations, related trusts, and other estate planning documents remain aligned with the grantor’s intentions and current law. Ongoing support helps ensure the ILIT continues to function as intended over time.
We supply trustee guidance on managing the trust, documenting transactions, communicating with beneficiaries, and complying with legal requirements. Good recordkeeping supports transparency and reduces the risk of later disputes, while clear trust instructions reduce ambiguity for trustees. This support includes templates for records, checklists for common administrative tasks, and advice on coordinating with accountants or financial advisors when necessary to fulfill reporting obligations.
Life changes and law updates can affect how an ILIT functions in your overall plan, so periodic reviews are advisable. We recommend revisiting the trust and related estate planning documents after major events such as births, deaths, marriage, divorce, or significant changes in assets. During reviews we confirm that beneficiaries remain properly designated, trustees are available, and that the trust still reflects your goals, making adjustments as allowed by law and consistent with the irrevocable nature of certain provisions when appropriate.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a trust formed to own and control life insurance policies so that the proceeds are managed and distributed according to the trust terms. Once a policy is transferred to the ILIT, the trustee becomes the legal owner and is responsible for managing the policy and distributing proceeds to beneficiaries as instructed. This arrangement typically keeps the proceeds out of the grantor’s probate estate and allows the trustee to administer funds in an organized manner for beneficiaries’ benefit. The trust document specifies trustee powers, distribution schedules, and conditions for payments, and may include provisions to support minors or beneficiaries with special needs. Coordinating the ILIT with other estate documents, such as a pour-over will or a revocable living trust, ensures that the grantor’s overall plan functions smoothly. Proper funding and carrier coordination are important to achieve the intended results and to avoid unintended consequences.
Transferring a policy to an ILIT can remove the proceeds from your estate for certain tax purposes, but timing and specific circumstances matter. If the grantor transfers ownership and continues to retain certain rights or if the transfer occurs within a specified look-back period before death, the proceeds might still be included in the estate under tax rules. Proper timing and structuring of the transfer are essential to achieve the anticipated estate planning benefits. Because rules can be complex and vary based on the specific facts, it is important to plan transfers ahead of time, document gifts to cover premiums, and coordinate with carriers to reflect the trust as the policy owner. Careful planning helps align the transfer with broader estate planning goals and avoids unexpected inclusion of proceeds in the estate.
After a policy is transferred to an ILIT, the trust is responsible for premium payments. Typically, the grantor makes gifts to the trust that the trustee uses to pay premiums, and those gifts may require documentation or gift tax reporting depending on their size and timing. Clear processes for transferring funds and maintaining records help trustees manage premium obligations without disrupting policy coverage. It is important to document that gifts were given to the trust and accepted by the trustee, keeping accurate records of payments to maintain the intended trust structure. Coordination with the insurance company ensures the trustee has access to policy information and can continue premium payments seamlessly, preventing lapses and preserving the policy’s intended benefits for beneficiaries.
Choose a trustee who is reliable, organized, and willing to manage administrative duties such as paying premiums, keeping records, and communicating with beneficiaries and carriers. Trustees can be family members, trusted friends, or a corporate institution when available, and it is helpful to name successor trustees to ensure continuity. Trust language should clarify the trustee’s powers, reporting duties, and expectations for investment and distribution decisions. Selecting a trustee also involves considering practical matters like geographic proximity and financial literacy, since trustees must interact with insurers, financial institutions, and sometimes tax or accounting professionals. Clear instructions in the trust reduce ambiguity and help trustees fulfill their responsibilities effectively for the benefit of the named beneficiaries.
Yes, an ILIT can coexist with a revocable living trust and a pour-over will as part of a comprehensive estate plan. The ILIT serves the specific purpose of owning and administering life insurance policies, while a revocable living trust and pour-over will address other assets and ensure that any property not previously transferred to trust is captured and distributed according to your overall plan. Coordination among these documents helps ensure consistent results and avoids conflicts between beneficiary designations and trust instructions. To make them work together, it is important to regularly review all documents and beneficiary designations so they reflect current intentions and do not produce unintended consequences. Proper coordination avoids lapses in coverage or mismatches in distribution plans, providing a cohesive framework for the administration of all estate assets at the time of death or incapacity.
When beneficiaries receive public benefits, an ILIT can be used with other planning tools to provide supplemental support without jeopardizing eligibility. By directing life insurance proceeds into trust structures that are written to preserve benefit eligibility, families can provide for additional needs like therapies, education, or personal care while maintaining access to government assistance. Careful drafting is required to avoid language or distribution mechanisms that could cause the trust assets to count against benefit thresholds. Consulting about how an ILIT might interact with special needs planning and public benefit rules is important to achieve the desired outcome. Coordination with other protective measures, such as setting up a special needs trust and aligning trustee discretion, helps ensure proceeds are used appropriately and that beneficiaries retain necessary public benefits.
Once an irrevocable trust is properly formed and funded, the grantor’s ability to change or revoke the trust is generally very limited. That permanence is a defining characteristic and one reason ILITs are used for specific estate planning goals. If unforeseen circumstances arise, options for modification may be limited and often require agreement of beneficiaries, court involvement, or use of certain statutory mechanisms where applicable. Because of these constraints, thoughtful planning before creating and funding the ILIT is important. Discussing family circumstances, naming acceptable successor trustees, and building in some flexibility where lawful helps address possible future needs while maintaining the trust’s protective features. Periodic review prior to funding also minimizes the risk of unintended, irreversible outcomes.
Yes, the life insurance carrier must be notified and the policy ownership and beneficiary designations updated to reflect the ILIT as the owner where appropriate. This ensures the carrier recognizes the trust and that policy records are accurate, which is essential for premium billing, policy access, and eventual benefit payment. The trustee should receive relevant documentation and be listed with the carrier as an authorized contact for administration matters. Coordination with the insurer also clarifies whether a transfer of ownership triggers any policy costs or underwriting changes and confirms the carrier’s required forms. Starting this communication early helps prevent administrative delays or misunderstandings during the transfer and ensures the trust’s ownership is effective when needed.
The time to set up an ILIT and transfer a policy varies depending on factors such as whether a new policy is issued, the responsiveness of the insurance carrier, and the need to prepare supporting documents. Drafting the trust document and obtaining signatures can be completed in a matter of weeks, but transferring ownership and confirming carrier processing may take additional time. Planning ahead allows for proper documentation and timing to minimize potential tax or administrative issues. If an existing policy must be reissued or underwriting is necessary, the process can extend further. Early coordination with insurers and clear communication with trustees speeds the process, and allowing adequate time before any anticipated need helps ensure that the trust functions as intended when benefits become payable.
When starting ILIT planning, gather life insurance policies, recent policy statements, beneficiary designations, existing estate planning documents such as wills and trusts, and information about your assets and family circumstances. Documents like a certification of trust or a draft of your revocable living trust help coordinate the ILIT with your overall estate plan. Having this paperwork ready reduces delays and helps create a coherent plan that reflects your priorities. Providing contact information for proposed trustees and beneficiaries, details about premium payment sources, and any concerns about creditors or benefit eligibility will help tailor the trust terms. Preparing this information in advance supports a smoother drafting and funding process and enables informed decisions about trustee selection and distribution provisions.
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