An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) can be a powerful tool for managing life insurance proceeds, reducing estate tax exposure, and providing clear instructions for distribution to heirs. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, we help Stonegate residents understand whether an ILIT fits their family and financial goals. This introduction explains the basic purposes of an ILIT, how ownership and beneficiary designation work once the trust is established, and why careful drafting and administration matter to preserve intended benefits and minimize unintended tax consequences for beneficiaries and survivors.
Choosing to place a life insurance policy within an irrevocable trust changes ownership and control in ways that affect taxes, creditor protection, and eligibility for public benefits. Our approach focuses on clear communication and practical planning tailored to your circumstances. We discuss estate planning alternatives, the timeline for funding a trust, and how an ILIT coordinates with documents such as a last will and testament, a revocable living trust, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. This section frames what to expect when evaluating an ILIT for your estate plan in Stonegate.
Establishing an ILIT can provide several important advantages when handling life insurance proceeds after death. Placing a life insurance policy inside an irrevocable trust generally removes the policy value from the insured’s taxable estate, which may reduce estate taxes and ease administration for survivors. An ILIT also allows policy proceeds to pass according to specific instructions, protecting asset distribution from probate and potential creditor claims. Additionally, an ILIT can create structured distributions for heirs, provide for minors or beneficiaries with special needs through tailored trusts, and maintain privacy by keeping insurance proceeds outside public court records.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves clients in Stonegate and throughout California with a focus on practical estate planning solutions. Our firm emphasizes thoughtful document drafting and client education so families understand the purpose and mechanics of each planning tool. We take time to gather family and financial information, explore alternatives, and prepare durable documents that coordinate with existing plans. Our work includes drafting revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, health care directives, and documents that interact with irrevocable trusts, helping clients achieve their goals while minimizing future disputes and administrative burdens.
An ILIT is a separate legal entity created to own a life insurance policy for the benefit of designated beneficiaries. Once created and funded, the policy is no longer part of the insured’s personal estate, which can affect estate tax calculations and creditor access. Because the trust is irrevocable, the grantor gives up certain control and ownership rights over the policy. Properly structured funding and trustee administration are essential to obtain the intended tax treatment and to ensure premium payments are made, usually via gifts to the trust from the grantor. This paragraph explains core concepts that every potential grantor should consider.
The mechanics of an ILIT include naming the trust as owner and beneficiary of the policy, selecting one or more trustees to manage the trust, and establishing clear distribution and administration rules. Premiums are often paid through annual gifts to the trust, sometimes using gift tax exclusions, and trustees must follow trust terms when receiving and using those gifts to maintain the trust and pay premiums. Timing is important because transfers close to the insured’s death can be treated differently under tax law. Comprehensive planning coordinates the ILIT with retirement plan trusts, pour-over wills, and other estate documents to ensure consistent results.
An irrevocable life insurance trust is a legally binding document that holds an insurance policy outside the insured’s personal estate. The grantor creates the trust and transfers ownership of an existing policy or directs a new policy to be owned by the trust. Trustees manage the policy, pay premiums from trust assets or gifts, and distribute proceeds according to the trust terms when a benefit is paid. Important legal concepts include ownership transfer rules, three-year lookback for estate inclusion under tax law, and the trustee’s fiduciary duties to follow trust provisions and act in beneficiaries’ best interests. Proper setup is essential to secure the intended advantages for beneficiaries.
Creating and maintaining an ILIT involves several deliberate steps: drafting trust terms, choosing a trustee, transferring an existing policy or arranging a new policy to be owned by the trust, and establishing a funding method for premium payments. Trustees accept gifts from the grantor, use those gifts to pay premiums, and manage the trust for the benefit of named beneficiaries. Trustees also handle tax filings, maintain records, and distribute proceeds in accordance with the trust document. Each element must be coordinated with the rest of an estate plan to avoid unintended tax consequences or disruptions to beneficiary intentions.
This glossary defines common terms used when discussing ILITs and related estate planning concepts. Understanding vocabulary such as grantor, trustee, beneficiary, beneficiary designation, funding, and estate inclusion helps clients make informed decisions. Clear definitions reduce confusion during document preparation and administration. Familiarity with terms like pour-over will, certification of trust, and general assignment of assets ensures that your ILIT coordinates properly with other instruments. Read these definitions before meeting with counsel to get more from the planning process and to help identify the options that best align with family and financial objectives.
The grantor is the person who creates the trust and transfers assets into it. In the context of an ILIT, the grantor is typically the insured who establishes the trust to own one or more life insurance policies. Once assets are placed in an irrevocable trust, the grantor generally relinquishes ownership and certain powers over those assets. The grantor may still provide guidance about beneficiary designations and trust terms, but the legal title to trust assets rests with the trustee. Understanding the grantor role helps clarify decision-making, gifting strategies, and long-term planning goals.
The trustee is the person or entity appointed to manage the trust and carry out its terms. Trustees handle premium payments, tax filings, recordkeeping, and distribution of proceeds according to the trust document. A trustee owes fiduciary duties to beneficiaries, which include acting prudently and impartially. In an ILIT context trustees must also ensure that funding is properly documented and gifts are used appropriately to avoid adverse tax consequences. Choosing a trustee involves assessing reliability, administrative capability, and willingness to manage the responsibilities that come with trust administration.
A beneficiary is an individual or entity designated to receive trust distributions or insurance proceeds from the ILIT. Beneficiaries may include family members, charities, or other named recipients and can receive money outright or under conditions specified by the trust, such as staged distributions or needs-based terms. Clear beneficiary designations and trust language reduce the likelihood of disputes after the insured’s death. Trust terms can also provide protections for beneficiaries, including guardianship provisions for minors or special needs trusts to preserve public benefits while providing supplemental support.
Funding refers to how the trust obtains assets needed to own and maintain the life insurance policy. For an ILIT this commonly involves annual gifts from the grantor to the trust, which the trustee then uses to pay premiums. Proper documentation of gifts and the trustee’s use of funds is important for tax and administrative purposes. Alternative funding methods can include transfers of an existing policy or contributions from other family members. Careful planning addresses gift tax considerations and timing issues that could affect whether the policy remains outside the insured’s estate for tax purposes.
An ILIT is one of several tools used to manage life insurance and wealth transfer. Alternatives include keeping a policy in personal ownership, placing proceeds in a revocable living trust, or using payable-on-death designations and beneficiary designations outside of a trust. Each option has trade-offs in terms of estate inclusion, creditor exposure, administrative complexity, and privacy. Comparing options involves evaluating family circumstances, tax exposure, the need for structured distributions, and whether the grantor is comfortable relinquishing control of the policy. This comparison helps clients decide which approach best meets their objectives.
A limited or straightforward life insurance arrangement can be suitable when the policy value is modest relative to the total estate and estate taxes are unlikely to be a concern. In those circumstances the administrative overhead and cost of creating and maintaining an irrevocable trust may outweigh the potential benefits. Simple beneficiary designations or a revocable trust for coordination may provide the necessary protections without the permanence of an ILIT. Careful review of assets, debts, and family needs helps determine the most appropriate and cost-effective approach to handling life insurance proceeds.
If retaining the ability to change ownership, borrow against the policy, or surrender it for cash value is important, keeping the policy outside an irrevocable trust may be preferable. A revocable arrangement allows the insured to make adjustments as life changes occur, such as marriage, divorce, or changes in beneficiary wants. When flexibility and control are priorities, other planning devices provide easier modification without the irreversible steps associated with an ILIT. Evaluating current and anticipated future needs will determine whether flexibility outweighs the protective benefits of placing a policy into a trust.
Comprehensive planning helps avoid pitfalls such as inclusion of the policy in the taxable estate due to improper transfers, gaps in premium funding, or mismatched beneficiary language across documents. Close coordination between the ILIT and other estate planning instruments reduces the chance of conflicting instructions, unintended distributions, or costly legal disputes. A coordinated approach addresses timing rules, gift tax considerations, and the trustee’s responsibilities so that the intended tax and probate advantages are preserved and the administrative transition at death is smoother for surviving family members.
A comprehensive process allows the trust terms to be tailored to specific family dynamics and financial goals, such as providing for minor children, protecting assets from creditor claims, or supporting beneficiaries with limited capacity while preserving eligibility for public benefits. Customized distribution provisions, successor trustee planning, and coordination with retirement plan trusts and pour-over wills provide a holistic plan. Thoughtful drafting anticipates common family scenarios and sets clear instructions for trustees, reducing ambiguity and potential conflict among beneficiaries after a grantor’s death.
A comprehensive approach to ILIT planning integrates trust drafting, funding strategy, beneficiary designations, and coordination with existing estate documents to deliver consistent results. That integration helps ensure that the life insurance proceeds serve the intended purpose, whether that is replacing income, supporting minor children, providing for a surviving spouse, or making charitable gifts. When documents work together, the chances of unintended estate inclusion, creditor exposure, or probate delay are reduced, and fiduciary responsibilities are clearly assigned for a smoother administration process.
Comprehensive planning also addresses contingency planning, successor trustee selection, and communications with family members to minimize disputes. By preparing thorough documentation such as pour-over wills, healthcare directives, powers of attorney, and certification of trust records, families can reduce friction during times of grief and change. A holistic plan can accommodate changes over time through modification petitions or other permissible processes, while maintaining the benefits achieved by the ILIT and overall estate plan structure for beneficiaries.
An ILIT allows grantors to specify detailed distribution instructions to control how and when beneficiaries receive insurance proceeds. Trust language can define staged payouts for people who may not be ready to manage a large sum or set conditions that preserve public benefits where needed. This control helps prevent sudden windfalls that could be mismanaged and allows funds to be directed toward long-term goals such as education, housing, or family support. Clear distribution provisions reduce ambiguity and help trustees carry out the grantor’s intentions precisely.
When correctly structured, an ILIT can remove life insurance proceeds from the taxable estate, potentially reducing estate tax exposure and preserving value for beneficiaries. Additionally, trust administration generally avoids probate for insurance proceeds, preserving privacy and speeding distributions. Because trusts are private agreements, they keep the details of distributions out of public court records, which can be valuable to families who prefer discretion. Maintaining accurate documentation and timely funding ensures these benefits are realized in accordance with applicable law.
Beginning ILIT planning well before it is needed creates flexibility and reduces the chance that transfers will fall within lookback periods that could cause estate inclusion. Early planning allows you to arrange premium funding, document gifts, and coordinate beneficiary designations with other estate documents. Properly documenting each premium payment and gift ensures a clear record for trustees and tax reporting. Taking time to review policy ownership, beneficiary language, and funding mechanisms reduces the risk of unintended tax consequences and helps preserve the plan’s intended benefits for beneficiaries.
An ILIT does not operate in isolation; it should be coordinated with wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and beneficiary designations. This coordination prevents contradictory instructions and ensures assets flow as intended. Regular reviews of the entire estate plan following major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or significant changes in asset values help maintain alignment. Updating documents when circumstances change minimizes confusion and protects the grantor’s objectives over time.
Consider an ILIT if your priorities include preserving life insurance proceeds for heirs, minimizing estate taxes where appropriate, protecting benefits from creditors, or providing structured distributions to beneficiaries who may need guidance over time. An ILIT can be particularly helpful for blended families, beneficiaries with special needs, or situations where privacy and probate avoidance are desired. By providing a dedicated mechanism for owning and administering life insurance, an ILIT helps ensure that proceeds serve the purposes the insured intended, while giving trustees clear authority to manage the assets on behalf of beneficiaries.
You might also consider an ILIT if you want to separate life insurance from other estate assets to avoid estate inclusion or to preserve retirement account values for surviving spouses. The decision to use an ILIT depends on the size and composition of your estate, your long-term objectives, and whether you or your beneficiaries need protections that go beyond simple beneficiary designations. Reviewing your broader financial and family situation with counsel helps identify whether an ILIT will meaningfully improve your plan and how it should be structured to meet your goals.
Families often consider an ILIT when estate values approach levels that could trigger significant estate taxes, when wealth preservation for future generations is a priority, or when family dynamics call for controlled distributions. Other common reasons include protecting proceeds from potential creditor claims, providing for dependents with special needs while preserving eligibility for public benefits, or ensuring that insurance proceeds are available for estate liquidity needs without creating probate delays. Each family’s circumstances are unique, so assessment and planning should be personalized to fit particular objectives and concerns.
When insurance benefits are significant relative to total estate value, placing the policy in an ILIT can protect those proceeds from inclusion in the grantor’s taxable estate, subject to timing rules and proper administration. This may help preserve wealth for beneficiaries and reduce tax exposure for the estate. A careful funding plan, trustee selection, and coordination with other estate planning techniques allow the potential benefits to be realized while reducing the chances of tax inclusion due to late transfers or missteps in ownership designation and premium funding.
If a beneficiary may struggle to manage a substantial inheritance due to age, inexperience, or cognitive limitations, an ILIT offers a way to structure distributions over time or upon certain milestones. Trust language can provide for staged distributions, education funds, or trustee discretion to make distributions for health, education, maintenance, and support. This tailored approach helps guardians and families provide ongoing support while reducing the risk of mismanagement and promoting financial stability for beneficiaries who need supervised financial stewardship.
For families supporting a person who receives means-tested public benefits, an ILIT can coordinate with a special needs trust or other planning tools to supplement care without disqualifying the beneficiary from programs. Properly drafted trust provisions and funded accounts allow funds to be used for quality-of-life expenses, medical care, and additional services while preserving eligibility for essential benefits. This planning requires close attention to beneficiary designation, trust distribution language, and coordination with guardianship nominations to ensure that supplemental support is available without unintended consequences.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman offers practical guidance for Stonegate residents considering an ILIT. We work with families to explain the implications of transferring policies into a trust, prepare the necessary trust documents, and assist with funding and trustee instructions to ensure continuity. Our firm is committed to helping clients understand alternative approaches, the timing considerations involved, and how an ILIT coordinates with wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. We provide responsive communication to help families move forward confidently with planning decisions.
Clients choose our firm for clear communication, comprehensive planning, and careful attention to detail when establishing life insurance trusts. We prioritize preparing documents that reflect client goals, documenting funding strategies, and explaining the trustee’s administrative duties. Our firm emphasizes practical solutions designed for the realities of family life and financial complexity. We also assist with related documents such as pour-over wills, revocable living trusts, and powers of attorney to ensure a coordinated and effective estate plan that meets your needs in Stonegate and across California.
We also provide assistance during administration, including trustee guidance after a benefit is paid, preparing certification of trust documents, and coordinating distributions consistent with trust terms. For families facing disputes or needing petitions to clarify actions, such as Heggstad or trust modification petitions, our approach is to address issues efficiently while protecting beneficiaries’ interests. Our goal is to minimize stress during transitions and help trustees and families complete required tasks smoothly and with clear documentation.
When working with clients we emphasize proactive review and maintenance of documents to reflect life changes, such as births, marriages, divorces, or changes in financial circumstances. Regular plan reviews help ensure that the ILIT and related instruments continue to meet goals and remain legally effective. If you have questions about how an ILIT fits within a larger estate planning strategy or about the mechanics of funding and trustee duties, we provide straightforward guidance and document drafting to move your plan forward with confidence.
Our process begins with an initial consultation to review your family and financial situation, followed by a careful analysis of insurance holdings and estate planning goals. We then recommend a plan that may include drafting an irrevocable trust, coordinating ownership transfers, and setting up funding strategies for premium payments. After documents are signed and a trustee appointed, we provide guidance on documentation and recordkeeping. We also offer ongoing assistance for trustee administration, tax coordination, and any necessary court filings to modify or clarify trust matters down the road.
During the initial meeting we collect information about existing life insurance policies, beneficiaries, estate assets, and family circumstances. This information helps us identify whether an ILIT aligns with goals like tax planning, asset protection, and beneficiary support. We discuss potential funding methods, trustee options, and how the ILIT would interact with other estate planning documents. Our goal in this first step is to provide clear options and to design a trust solution that fits practical needs while accounting for timing and tax considerations.
We review policy terms, ownership status, cash values, and any loans or riders that could affect transferability and funding. This review determines whether an existing policy should be transferred into the ILIT or if a new policy should be purchased by the trust. Understanding current policy details is essential to avoid adverse consequences, such as unintended estate inclusion or policy lapse. We also discuss premium payment expectations and coordinate with family members who may contribute to funding to establish a workable plan.
We discuss beneficiary circumstances, including ages, financial needs, and any special needs that may affect distribution decisions. This assessment informs whether the trust should include staged distributions, discretionary support provisions, or provisions that work with special needs trusts. Clarifying beneficiary goals and potential future scenarios helps craft trust terms that reduce ambiguity and provide trustees with clear directions. This part of the process is focused on aligning trust provisions with practical family needs and long-term objectives.
After agreeing on the plan, we draft the ILIT document and related instruments such as pour-over wills or certification of trust forms. Drafting includes detailed provisions about trustee powers, distribution standards, successor trustees, and coordination with other estate plan elements. We prepare clear instructions for funding and premium payments, and we advise on steps to transfer ownership of policies where applicable. Once documents are finalized, we supervise execution to ensure legal requirements are met and provide clients with copies and trustee guidance for initial administration.
Trustee instructions and funding guidelines outline how gifts will be received and how premiums will be paid to maintain policy coverage. These instructions clarify recordkeeping responsibilities, when distributions may be made, and how to handle tax filings or claims on behalf of beneficiaries. Providing these guidelines up front helps trustees meet their duties consistently and reduces the likelihood of administrative errors that could jeopardize the trust’s intended benefits. Detailed directions give trustees a practical roadmap for routine trust operations.
We coordinate the physical transfer of ownership for existing policies and ensure beneficiary designations are aligned with trust terms. This often involves working with insurance carriers to effect ownership change forms, updating records, and confirming new ownership status. For new policies, we assist with establishing trust ownership at inception. Proper coordination at the time of execution is essential to achieve the intended estate and tax outcomes and to prevent gaps in coverage or administrative problems later.
Once the ILIT is in place, ongoing administration includes tracking premium payments, maintaining accurate records of gifts and expenditures, filing any necessary tax forms, and communicating with beneficiaries as required by the trust. Periodic reviews are recommended to ensure the trust functions correctly in light of changes in family circumstances or law. If changes are necessary, options such as trust modification petitions or related filings can be explored. Ongoing attention ensures the trust continues to serve its intended purpose and that beneficiaries receive support when needed.
We provide trustees with guidance on recordkeeping, tax reporting obligations, and beneficiary communications to make administration smoother and more transparent. Accurate records of gifts, premium payments, and distributions help protect trustees and provide clarity for beneficiaries. Assistance may include preparing certification of trust documents, advising on distributions, and supporting trustees through claim processes when insurance proceeds become payable. This support reduces administrative burden and fosters consistent trust performance over time.
When circumstances change, we can assist with petitions to modify trust terms, Heggstad petitions to validate trust assets, or other filings needed to correct or update trust arrangements. Legal filings are sometimes necessary to resolve disputes, confirm trustee authority, or address unexpected developments. Our role includes preparing documents, representing trustees or beneficiaries when filings are appropriate, and advising on the legal effects of modifications so that the trust continues to meet family objectives while complying with applicable law and procedural requirements.
An irrevocable life insurance trust is a trust that owns a life insurance policy for the benefit of designated beneficiaries, separate from the insured’s personal estate. The grantor transfers ownership of an existing policy or directs a new policy to be owned by the ILIT. Once owned by the trust, a trustee is responsible for paying premiums and administering the trust according to its terms. When the insured dies, the trustee receives the policy proceeds and distributes them according to the trust’s instructions, which can include outright payments or staged distributions for specific purposes. Key features include removal of policy proceeds from the insured’s probate estate, instruction for distribution to heirs, and trustee-managed administration. The trust must be carefully drafted and funded to achieve desired tax and protection outcomes. Trustees must keep accurate records of gifts used to pay premiums and comply with trust terms and tax obligations. Coordination with other estate planning documents ensures consistent direction across all instruments.
Placing a life insurance policy in an ILIT can often remove the policy proceeds from the insured’s taxable estate, but it depends on timing, ownership transfers, and how the trust is structured. A key consideration is the rule that can include transfers made within a specified lookback period prior to death into the estate for tax purposes. Properly structured transfers made well in advance and administered correctly are more likely to achieve the intended estate tax advantages. Because tax implications depend on individual circumstances and changing law, it is important to plan carefully and document funding and premium payments. Coordination with other estate planning instruments and timely execution help secure the advantages of an ILIT. Periodic reviews are recommended to maintain desired tax outcomes as laws or family circumstances change.
Premiums for a policy owned by an ILIT are typically paid by the trust using gifts from the grantor. The grantor makes annual gifts to the trust, and the trustee then uses those funds to pay the insurance premiums. Documentation of each gift and the trustee’s use of funds is important to establish the intent and maintain accurate records for tax purposes. Sometimes family members other than the grantor make contributions to help fund premiums, and alternative arrangements may apply depending on the trust terms. Trustees must manage these funds prudently and follow the trust’s instructions for payment. Clear funding guidelines reduce the risk of lapses in coverage or administrative issues for beneficiaries.
An ILIT can provide a layer of protection for life insurance proceeds from certain creditor claims by removing ownership from the insured’s personal estate. Since the policy is owned by a trust, proceeds pass according to the trust document rather than through probate, which can reduce exposure to some creditor claims that arise against the estate. However, creditor protections depend on state law, the timing of transfers, and specific circumstances involving creditors and beneficiaries. It is important to understand that an ILIT is not a universal shield against all creditor claims. Coordination with other asset protection strategies and careful planning are needed to balance protection goals with tax and legal considerations. Consulting on the interaction between creditor laws and trust terms helps set realistic expectations.
The trustee should be someone or an entity that can manage administrative tasks, keep accurate records, and act impartially for the benefit of beneficiaries. Families often select a trusted individual, a professional trustee, or a combination of co-trustees to provide continuity and administrative reliability. The trustee is responsible for paying premiums, filing necessary paperwork, and distributing proceeds according to the trust document. Selecting a trustee involves considering factors such as organizational capability, availability, and willingness to serve over time. Trustee succession planning should be included in the trust to address potential incapacity or changes in family relationships. Clear instructions regarding trustee compensation, duties, and successor appointment help reduce confusion and ensure consistent administration.
An ILIT complements a last will and testament and a revocable living trust by providing a separate vehicle to own life insurance outside the probate estate. A pour-over will can direct other assets into a revocable trust upon death, while the ILIT specifically governs insurance proceeds. Coordination across these documents ensures that beneficiary designations, trust instructions, and will provisions do not conflict and that assets are distributed according to the overall estate plan. It is important to review all estate documents together so the ILIT functions as intended alongside the will and any revocable trust. This coordination prevents overlapping instructions and ensures a cohesive plan. Regular plan reviews help maintain alignment following life changes and updates to family circumstances.
Because an ILIT is irrevocable, changing the trust after it is created is often limited and can require court proceedings, consent of beneficiaries, or interpretation through legal petitions. Some changes are possible through carefully drafted trust provisions that allow certain discretionary powers, while more significant modifications may require a trust modification petition or other legal steps. Any attempt to alter terms should be considered with legal counsel to avoid unintended tax or administrative consequences. If circumstances change significantly, options such as trust decanting, modification petitions, or court-approved amendments may be explored depending on state law and trust language. Planning for potential future adjustments at the drafting stage can provide some flexibility while preserving the primary benefits of the trust.
An ILIT can work with special needs planning by coordinating with a special needs trust to provide supplemental support for a beneficiary who receives means-tested public benefits. The ILIT can direct insurance proceeds to a special needs trust or include language that protects public benefit eligibility while providing additional resources for quality-of-life expenses and care. Proper drafting ensures that support supplements rather than replaces essential benefits. Coordination requires careful attention to distribution language and trustee discretion to avoid inadvertently disqualifying a beneficiary from public assistance. Legal guidance helps determine the best structure so that funds are used in ways that enhance the beneficiary’s well-being without jeopardizing necessary benefits.
Timing is a key consideration when creating an ILIT because certain transfers made close to the insured’s death may be treated as part of the estate for tax purposes. A common rule involves a lookback period during which transfers may not achieve the desired estate tax exclusion. Because of this, many clients choose to create and fund an ILIT well in advance of expected estate transfer events to reduce the risk of estate inclusion. Additionally, timely documentation of gifts and consistent premium payments are critical to maintaining the trust’s effectiveness. Early planning also allows for adjustments and coordination with other estate planning tools, ensuring that transfer timing and funding methods are aligned with long-term objectives and legal requirements.
To start the ILIT setup process in Stonegate, schedule a consultation with an estate planning attorney to review your insurance policies, estate goals, and family circumstances. Bring policy documents, beneficiary designations, and information about other estate planning instruments such as wills and revocable trusts. This initial meeting helps identify whether an ILIT fits your objectives and what steps will be necessary to draft, execute, and fund the trust. After initial planning you can expect help drafting trust documents, coordinating ownership transfers with insurance carriers, and establishing funding mechanisms for premiums. We also assist with trustee guidance and long-term administration to ensure the trust operates as intended. Regular reviews after significant life events help keep the plan current and effective.
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