An irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) can be a key element of a thoughtful estate plan for residents of Green Acres. This page outlines how an ILIT functions, what it can accomplish for families, and how the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman approaches drafting and implementing these trusts for clients in Riverside County. We focus on clear explanations about tax considerations, trust ownership of a life insurance policy, and how an ILIT can help preserve wealth for heirs while removing policy proceeds from the grantor’s taxable estate under many common circumstances.
Deciding whether an ILIT is appropriate involves examining your current financial structure, family needs, and long-term goals. Our office discusses funding options, trust terms, and trustee selection to ensure the trust aligns with your plan for asset protection and legacy transfer. We also consider how an ILIT interacts with other estate planning documents like wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, offering a coordinated approach so all documents work together to reflect your intent and provide peace of mind to your loved ones.
An ILIT can provide several benefits, including potential estate tax mitigation, creditor protection for life insurance proceeds, and controlled distribution of proceeds to beneficiaries. By placing a life insurance policy into an irrevocable trust and removing ownership from the insured, the policy proceeds may be excluded from the insured’s taxable estate under many conditions. Beyond tax treatment, an ILIT can set conditions for distributions, provide for minor beneficiaries through trust administration, and help ensure liquidity for estate settlement costs. Each family’s circumstances differ, so careful drafting is necessary to align the trust provisions with intended outcomes.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman assists clients across San Jose and Riverside County with a full range of estate planning services, including irrevocable life insurance trusts. Our approach emphasizes practical solutions, careful drafting, and clear communication. We help clients evaluate whether an ILIT fits within their broader estate plan, coordinate it with wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, and guardianship nominations, and handle implementation details like trustee selection and policy funding. Clients receive guidance tailored to California law and local considerations specific to Green Acres and surrounding communities.
An ILIT is a trust that owns and controls a life insurance policy, with the policy proceeds held for the benefit of named beneficiaries according to the trust terms. When structured properly, the trust is irrevocable, meaning the grantor transfers ownership and control of the policy to the trust and cannot later reclaim ownership. This transfer can remove the policy proceeds from the grantor’s taxable estate, subject to timing rules and ownership transfer restrictions. Establishing an ILIT also requires appointing a trustee, drafting distribution provisions, and coordinating premium payments in a way that complies with applicable tax rules.
Setting up an ILIT typically includes steps such as creating trust documents, transferring an existing policy into the trust or having the trust purchase a new policy, and establishing procedures for paying premiums. The trustee manages the policy and trust assets for beneficiaries, follows fiduciary responsibilities under California law, and provides required accounting and communication. Careful attention to federal estate and gift tax rules, timing of ownership transfers, and how premium contributions are documented helps prevent unintended tax consequences and ensures the trust fulfills its intended role in the larger estate plan.
An irrevocable life insurance trust is a legal arrangement where the grantor creates a trust that becomes the owner and beneficiary of a life insurance policy. Because the trust is irrevocable once properly funded, the grantor gives up ownership rights to the policy and its proceeds are managed by the trustee according to trust terms. The main purpose is often to keep life insurance proceeds out of the grantor’s probate estate and, when applicable, reduce potential estate tax exposure. A well-drafted ILIT also lets the grantor set distribution conditions, provide for specific beneficiaries, and address special needs or minor children through controlled disbursements.
Forming an ILIT involves several important elements: drafting the trust document with clear beneficiaries and distribution instructions, appointing a trustee who will administer the trust, and funding the trust with a life insurance policy owned by the trust. Other processes include establishing a mechanism for paying premiums, documenting gift transfers when premiums are funded by the grantor, and coordinating with other estate planning documents to reflect the grantor’s overall goals. Attention to the three-year rule and other tax timing considerations is essential to achieve the anticipated tax benefits.
Understanding common terms used with ILITs makes planning and discussions with legal counsel more productive. Terms to know include grantor, trustee, beneficiary, premium funding, funding transfers, estate inclusion rules, and trustee duties under state law. Familiarity with these concepts helps you weigh trade-offs when designing trust provisions, selecting trustees, and deciding how to fund life insurance premiums. We explain these terms plainly so you can participate in decisions about trust structure and ensure your directives align with family needs and tax planning objectives.
The grantor is the individual who creates the trust and transfers assets or policy ownership into it. In an ILIT context, the grantor typically transfers ownership of a life insurance policy to the trust or directs the trust to obtain a policy on the grantor’s life. Once the transfer is complete, the grantor no longer holds ownership rights to the policy, and careful timing is necessary to avoid unintended tax consequences. The grantor’s intentions and funding decisions shape the trust terms, distribution plan, and beneficiary structure, so these choices should be made with long-term family goals in mind.
The trustee is the person or institution responsible for administering the ILIT, managing the insurance policy, and carrying out distribution instructions. The trustee must follow the trust document, act in beneficiaries’ best interests, and handle administrative obligations such as premium payments, recordkeeping, and communications. Selecting a trustee who understands fiduciary duty, California trust law, and the specific aims of the trust is an important decision because the trustee’s actions will determine how smoothly the trust functions and how effectively it achieves the grantor’s intentions over time.
Beneficiaries are the individuals or entities designated to receive trust distributions when the life insurance proceeds are paid to the ILIT. The trust document specifies how and when beneficiaries receive funds, which can be immediate distributions, staged payments, or payments contingent on certain events. Clear beneficiary designations within the trust help avoid disputes, ensure that proceeds are used as intended, and allow for tailored provisions such as support for minors, educational expenses, or ongoing financial management for a family member with special needs.
Premium funding refers to how insurance premium payments are provided to the trust, often by the grantor through gifts to the trust for the trustee to use. Proper documentation of gifts and use of annual gift tax exclusions can help avoid unintended gift tax consequences. Trustees typically maintain records that show how premium funds were received and used, and grantors may use established mechanisms such as Crummey letters or other trust provisions to ensure premium contributions are treated according to gift tax rules. Accurate records support the trust’s tax and administrative integrity.
When comparing an ILIT to alternatives like keeping a policy in a revocable trust or relying on beneficiary designations, consider goals such as estate tax mitigation, creditor protection, and control over distributions. A revocable trust offers flexibility during the grantor’s lifetime but does not typically remove the policy from the taxable estate. Naming beneficiaries directly may be simple but provides limited control over post-death distributions. An ILIT can achieve specific objectives where removing proceeds from the taxable estate and managing distributions after death are priorities, but it requires irrevocability and disciplined administration.
A limited approach, such as retaining a policy in a revocable trust or using direct beneficiary designations, can be sufficient when the estate is unlikely to trigger federal or state estate taxes and beneficiaries do not require controlled distributions. For smaller estates or situations where immediate liquidity is the main concern, simpler arrangements reduce administrative complexity and avoid the permanent transfer requirements of an irrevocable trust. Evaluating family circumstances, total estate value, and the need for post-death management helps determine whether a limited approach meets your objectives without unnecessary restrictions.
If maintaining flexibility during your lifetime is a priority, placing a policy in a revocable trust or retaining personal ownership may be preferable because those options allow changes to beneficiaries, coverage, and policy ownership. Individuals who expect to modify their plans or who need ongoing access to policy values might avoid the permanence of an ILIT. Choosing a flexible arrangement should still include coordination with your broader estate plan to ensure beneficiary designations and trust provisions reflect your intent and provide adequate protection and liquidity for your heirs.
Comprehensive legal planning is advisable when family dynamics, multiple asset types, or significant estate values complicate distribution and tax planning. Blended families, beneficiaries with special needs, or assets tied up in business interests and retirement accounts require integrated solutions. A coordinated trust, will, powers of attorney, and other documents like special needs trusts or retirement plan trusts ensure assets transfer according to your wishes while addressing tax and administrative issues. This broader approach helps anticipate possible conflicts and create a consistent framework for asset succession.
If you seek long-term control over distributions, sophisticated tax planning, or protection from potential creditor claims, a comprehensive plan that includes an ILIT and complementary documents can deliver those outcomes. Coordinating trust terms with estate tax strategies and retirement plan beneficiary designations reduces the risk of surprises at death. A complete plan also addresses incapacity planning through financial powers of attorney and health care directives, ensuring that your preferences are honored and administrative burdens on family members are minimized during difficult times.
A comprehensive estate plan that includes an ILIT alongside wills, revocable trusts, and powers of attorney provides clarity and coordination across documents. Such planning helps ensure that life insurance proceeds, retirement accounts, and personal assets work together to meet your objectives for family support, creditor protection, and tax planning. It also streamlines administration after death or incapacity by reducing ambiguities and avoiding conflicting beneficiary instructions. Families benefit from a clear roadmap that anticipates practical needs like paying estate expenses and providing for minor or vulnerable beneficiaries.
Comprehensive planning also allows for tailored provisions to address unique family circumstances, such as protecting inheritances from divorce or creditor claims and establishing long-term management for beneficiaries who may not be ready to receive lump-sum distributions. By aligning all documents and beneficiary designations, you minimize the chance of unintended consequences and strengthen the likelihood that your wishes are carried out as intended. The result is a cohesive plan that balances control, flexibility, and protection for those you care about most.
When estate planning documents are coordinated, the administration process after death becomes more straightforward and less stressful for family members. Clear instructions about where insurance proceeds should go, how trusts will be administered, and who holds decision-making authority reduce disputes and court involvement. Combining an ILIT with complementary documents helps ensure that funds are available to cover taxes, debts, and final expenses without unnecessary delays. Well-organized plans also make it easier for trustees and executors to carry out their duties efficiently and in line with your intentions.
A comprehensive approach provides enhanced protections that can preserve family assets for future generations and support beneficiaries who may need supervised distributions. Trust terms can limit exposure to creditors, preserve benefits for individuals receiving public assistance, and prevent accidental disinheritance through conflicting beneficiary designations. Carefully drafted trusts can also provide spendthrift protections and set conditions to encourage responsible use of funds, delivering both financial support and long-term stability for loved ones according to the grantor’s priorities.
Begin the process by defining what you want the ILIT to achieve for your family. Determine whether your primary goal is estate tax mitigation, creditor protection for life insurance proceeds, liquidity for estate expenses, or controlled distributions for beneficiaries. Clear objectives guide decisions about trustee selection, funding methods, and distribution provisions. Taking time to articulate your priorities ensures the trust document reflects your intentions and simplifies later decisions about premium funding, coordination with other estate documents, and beneficiary designations.
When you intend to fund premiums from personal resources, document each gift and the purpose of the contribution. Proper recordkeeping supports the tax treatment of premium payments and helps trustees demonstrate that funds were delivered and used for policy premiums. Consider mechanisms like written gift declarations or trust provisions that anticipate premium contributions, and be mindful of annual gift tax exclusion rules. Clear documentation reduces uncertainty and helps maintain the intended separation between the grantor’s estate and the trust.
An ILIT may be appropriate if you want to remove life insurance proceeds from your taxable estate, preserve family wealth, provide liquidity for estate settlement costs, or ensure structured distributions to beneficiaries. Families with significant life insurance holdings, complex asset portfolios, or concerns about creditor claims often find an ILIT aligns with their planning priorities. The trust can also support long-term objectives such as education funding or managing inheritances for beneficiaries who may not be ready for full control of a lump sum.
Another reason to consider an ILIT is to protect the intended use of life insurance proceeds against unintended outcomes like probate delays or conflicting beneficiary designations. Placing a policy into an irrevocable trust creates a centralized framework for distribution and administration, reducing the risk of disputes and ensuring funds are available for intended uses. Even when estate tax is not a primary concern, the control and administrative clarity an ILIT provides can be valuable for families who want orderly asset transfer and predictable outcomes after a death.
People commonly consider ILITs when they expect estate tax exposure, have large life insurance policies, want to provide for minor children, or need to protect proceeds from creditors. Other common circumstances include planning for blended families, protecting an inheritance for beneficiaries with special needs, or ensuring business succession funding is available without creating estate tax complications. Evaluating these scenarios in the context of the client’s entire estate plan helps determine whether an ILIT or an alternative approach better achieves their goals.
When life insurance coverage is substantial relative to total estate value, transferring ownership to an ILIT can help prevent policy proceeds from increasing estate tax liability under many circumstances. Properly timed transfers and adherence to applicable rules are necessary to achieve intended tax outcomes, and the ILIT can also provide defined distribution instructions to beneficiaries. This planning path is often used by individuals seeking to preserve family wealth and provide liquidity for estate settlement costs without burdening heirs with potential tax consequences.
Families with minor children frequently use an ILIT to ensure insurance proceeds are held and managed until beneficiaries reach ages designated by the grantor. The trust can set staggered distributions for education, support, and other needs, and designate a trustee to manage funds prudently. This arrangement reduces the risk of mismanagement from immediate lump-sum distributions and gives parents the ability to create a financial framework that supports their children’s long-term well-being and reflects the parents’ values.
An ILIT, when coordinated with a special needs trust, can protect life insurance proceeds while preserving eligibility for public benefits for a beneficiary with disabilities. Trust terms can be tailored to provide supplemental support without disrupting benefit programs. Coordination is important because distributions intended for supplemental needs must be structured carefully to avoid unintended loss of benefits. Working through these options helps families provide meaningful financial support while maintaining essential benefits and avoiding adverse outcomes.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves individuals and families in Green Acres and throughout Riverside County with practical estate planning services. We assist with creating ILITs, revocable trusts, wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and related documents such as pour-over wills and HIPAA authorizations. Our goal is to provide clear options and guide clients through the implementation steps required under California law, ensuring documents coordinate effectively and that trustees and beneficiaries understand their roles and responsibilities during administration.
Choosing a law firm to handle an ILIT means selecting counsel that communicates plainly, addresses local legal considerations, and coordinates the trust with your broader estate plan. We help clients navigate tax timing issues, trustee selection, and coordination with documents like wills and powers of attorney. Our focus is on providing practical guidance and documentation that reflects your objectives while complying with California law. We also assist with trust administration issues so that the benefits of planning carry through when they are needed most.
Our process includes reviewing existing documents, identifying potential gaps or conflicts, and proposing solutions that align with your personal and family priorities. We explain the legal and administrative implications of different structuring choices, such as transferring an existing policy into a trust versus having the trust purchase a new policy. Throughout the engagement we provide clear written instructions for trustees and help ensure premium funding arrangements and gift documentation are in order for the desired tax treatment.
We recognize that estate planning can be emotionally charged, so we emphasize respectful communication and careful planning to reduce stress for families. Our office coordinates related filings and prepares trust documents, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and other supporting instruments such as certification of trust, pour-over wills, and guardianship nominations where appropriate. The objective is to deliver a cohesive plan that protects your legacy and reduces burdens on loved ones during a difficult time.
Our process for creating an ILIT begins with an initial consultation to identify goals and review existing estate planning documents and life insurance policies. We analyze tax and funding implications, discuss trustee options, and recommend terms that align with your objectives. Following your decisions, we prepare trust documents, coordinate transfers or new policy purchases, and advise on premium funding and gift documentation. We also provide guidance for trustee duties and prepare supporting documents to help administration proceed smoothly after funding and at the time benefits are payable.
The first step is an in-depth discussion of your goals, family situation, and existing documents so we can determine whether an ILIT fits your plan. We review life insurance policies, estate values, and beneficiary designations, and explain relevant California and federal considerations that may affect trust results. This assessment helps us recommend whether to transfer an existing policy into a trust, have the trust purchase a new policy, or pursue alternative arrangements that better align with your goals for liquidity, control, and tax planning.
We carefully review current estate planning documents and insurance policy terms to identify any conflicts or coordination needs. Understanding beneficiary designations, policy ownership, and existing trusts or wills helps us craft an ILIT that integrates smoothly with your overall plan. We also examine policy values, premium schedules, and potential tax implications, providing clear explanations to help you make informed choices about funding mechanisms and timing.
We discuss methods for funding premiums, including direct gifts to the trust and use of annual gift tax exclusions, and explain trustee responsibilities in administering the trust. Choosing a trustee involves weighing factors like financial skill, availability, and impartiality. We outline the pros and cons of individual versus institutional trustees and suggest appropriate successor arrangements to ensure continuity in trust administration over time.
In the drafting phase we prepare the ILIT document and any ancillary instruments necessary to implement the plan, such as certification of trust or documents coordinating beneficiary designations. The trust document sets trustees’ powers, distribution rules, and procedures for premium funding. We also prepare written instructions and records necessary to document funding transfers, and we work with your insurance carrier or financial advisor to effect any ownership transfers or new policy purchases required to fund the trust as intended.
Trust documents are drafted to reflect your preferences for distributions, trustee powers, and administration. Ancillary papers often include letters of intent, premium funding instructions, and documentation to present to the insurance company when transferring policy ownership. We ensure the documents clearly express your wishes while complying with legal formalities to prevent later disputes or misinterpretation, and we provide trustees with guidance on recordkeeping and reporting responsibilities.
Coordination with insurance carriers and financial advisors is often necessary to transfer ownership of an existing policy or to purchase a new policy owned by the trust. We handle communications with carriers when appropriate and provide the documentation carriers require to effect ownership changes, beneficiary designations, or policy assignments. This step reduces the administrative burden on clients and helps ensure the trust receives and controls the policy as intended.
After documents are signed and executed, the trust must be properly funded and trustees briefed on their duties. Funding may involve transferring policy ownership, providing documented gifts for premium payments, and establishing clear records of contributions. We provide trustees with a trust administration checklist, instructions on premium payment procedures, and guidance for ongoing reporting and communication with beneficiaries. Proper execution and funding are essential for the trust to function as intended and to preserve potential tax benefits.
Execution includes signing the trust document, completing assignment forms if transferring an existing policy, and filing any required paperwork with the insurer. We ensure signatures and notarization requirements are met and that the carrier records the trust as owner and beneficiary of the policy. Clear documentation at this stage helps prevent future disputes and supports the intended separation between the grantor’s estate and the trust.
Once the trust is funded, we provide trustees with orientation on their duties, recordkeeping practices, and procedures for paying premiums and distributing proceeds. Trustees receive guidance on communicating with beneficiaries, maintaining accurate financial records, and complying with reporting obligations. Ongoing administration planning helps ensure the trust operates smoothly over time and that beneficiaries receive the intended benefit when the policy proceeds become payable.
An irrevocable life insurance trust is a trust that becomes the owner and beneficiary of a life insurance policy. Once properly funded, the trust holds the policy and the proceeds are distributed according to the trust’s terms. The grantor transfers ownership of the policy into the trust and typically gives the trustee authority to manage the policy, pay premiums, and distribute proceeds to named beneficiaries. Because ownership transfers are generally irrevocable, the grantor loses formal ownership rights, which can, under many circumstances, keep policy proceeds out of the grantor’s taxable estate. The trust structure also allows the grantor to set conditions for payout and to appoint a trustee who will carry out those instructions. Trustee responsibilities commonly include maintaining records, ensuring premiums are paid, and communicating with beneficiaries. Coordinating the ILIT with the rest of your estate plan is important to avoid conflicts with beneficiary designations and to maximize intended tax and administrative benefits.
Transferring an existing policy to an ILIT can be treated as a gift for tax purposes, and the donor should consider gift tax rules and the annual gift tax exclusion when funding premiums. For premium payments made to the trust by the grantor, mechanisms such as annual exclusion gifts may apply if the trust uses withdrawal powers or Crummey-type notice provisions that allow beneficiaries to withdraw contributions for a limited period. Proper documentation of gifts and careful structuring help ensure payments are treated according to tax rules. There are also timing rules to consider: transfers made within three years of death may be included in the grantor’s estate under federal rules in certain circumstances. This is one reason early planning and careful coordination are advised. We discuss these considerations and recordkeeping practices so clients understand the tax implications of transferring and funding a policy through an ILIT.
Once a life insurance policy is owned by an ILIT, beneficiary designations are governed by the trust terms rather than direct changes by the original policy owner. If you wish to change how proceeds are distributed, modifications would typically need to be made through the trust’s structure, and because the trust is irrevocable, changes may be limited. If flexibility is a priority, alternatives such as a revocable trust or direct beneficiary designations might be preferable. Any decision to alter beneficiary directions should be considered in light of the permanence of an irrevocable transfer. In some circumstances the trust document can include limited reserved powers that allow certain modifications or that create mechanisms to address changed family circumstances, but such provisions must be drafted carefully to avoid undermining the intended tax or ownership benefits. We review available options and explain the trade-offs so you can make an informed choice about long-term control and flexibility.
When a policy is owned by an ILIT, premiums are generally paid by the trust using funds contributed to it. Grantors commonly make annual gifts to the trust to cover premiums, and these gifts are documented and used by the trustee to pay the carrier. To support favorable gift tax treatment, trusts often include provisions that allow beneficiaries limited withdrawal rights for a short period, which can preserve the annual gift tax exclusion when contributions are treated as present interest gifts. Trustees must maintain clear records showing receipt of funds and payment of premiums. Depending on the funding method, coordination with financial advisors and careful attention to timing helps ensure the trust remains properly funded and that premium payments do not unintentionally create tax or administrative complications. We can assist with drafting funding provisions and preparing necessary documentation for the trustee and beneficiaries.
Accessing cash value from a policy owned by an ILIT depends on the trust terms and the trustee’s discretion. Because the trust owns the policy, the trustee controls decisions about borrowing against the policy’s cash value or surrendering the policy for its cash surrender value, subject to the trust’s directions. Grantors typically lose the ability to access policy cash values once ownership is transferred, so those who may need future access should consider alternatives or tailor the trust to provide specific mechanisms for such access while balancing other planning objectives. If the trust permits loans or withdrawals, trustees must act prudently and in accordance with trust provisions while also considering the long-term impact on beneficiaries and overall plan objectives. Trustees also need to weigh tax consequences and the effect on policy performance before taking actions that alter the policy’s value. Clear trust instructions and trustee guidance help reduce ambiguity and protect the intended purposes of the trust.
Trustees managing distributions to minor or vulnerable beneficiaries typically follow trust provisions that outline the purpose and timing of distributions, such as payments for education, healthcare, or living expenses. The trust can specify ages when beneficiaries receive distributions, staged disbursements, or conditions for release. Trustees have fiduciary duties to act in beneficiaries’ best interests and should document decisions, maintain records, and communicate transparently about how funds are being used in furtherance of the trust’s purposes. For beneficiaries with special needs, trusts are often coordinated with special needs trusts to preserve eligibility for public benefits while providing supplemental support. The trustee’s role in such contexts includes understanding benefit rules, carefully structuring distributions to avoid disqualifying benefits, and seeking professional advice when needed to balance trust distributions with benefit preservation strategies.
A key timing consideration is the three-year rule that can cause a transferred policy to be included in the grantor’s estate if the grantor dies within three years of transferring ownership, under certain federal provisions. For that reason, planning that anticipates this timing and, when possible, executes transfers with adequate lead time helps achieve intended estate tax outcomes. Other timing issues include when to begin funding premiums and how to structure gifts to align with annual exclusion windows. Proper scheduling and documentation mitigate the risk of unintended inclusion of policy proceeds in the estate and clarify the basis for premium contributions. We review timing concerns during the initial assessment and recommend steps that align with your broader estate plan while minimizing the risk of unintended tax or administrative consequences.
An ILIT generally operates alongside other estate planning documents rather than replacing them. Revocable living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, health care directives, and other instruments have different purposes, and coordinating these documents ensures they do not conflict. For example, beneficiary designations on retirement plans and insurance policies should be aligned with trust terms when appropriate, and pour-over wills can direct assets into a revocable trust. Clear coordination prevents policies or accounts from unintentionally bypassing the intended plan. During the planning process we review all existing documents and beneficiary designations to ensure consistency. We recommend adjustments where necessary and prepare supporting documents such as a certification of trust or pour-over will to maintain a cohesive plan that accomplishes your objectives and reduces the potential for disputes after death.
After your death, trustees manage the trust assets, maintain records, pay any outstanding obligations related to the policy or trust, and distribute proceeds according to the trust terms. Trustees may also communicate with beneficiaries, handle claims with the insurer, and ensure that distributions comply with trust directives. Their administrative duties include recordkeeping, reporting to beneficiaries, and acting prudently to preserve assets for the benefit of named recipients while following California trust law and the trust document’s instructions. Trustees may engage accountants, financial advisors, or legal counsel to assist with tax filings, investment decisions, and complex distribution issues. Well-drafted trust documents provide trustees with authority and guidance on how to proceed, reducing the chance of disputes and making administration more efficient. Trustees should keep beneficiaries informed and provide appropriate accounting to maintain transparency throughout administration.
To start the process of creating an ILIT with our firm, contact the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman to schedule an initial consultation. We will review your existing estate planning documents, insurance policies, and family goals to determine whether an ILIT fits within your broader plan. During the meeting we will explain potential benefits and trade-offs, discuss trustee selection and funding strategies, and outline a recommended course of action tailored to your circumstances. If you decide to proceed, we prepare the trust documents, coordinate with insurers or financial advisors to effect any necessary ownership transfers, and assist with funding and trustee orientation. We also provide written guidance for trustees and beneficiaries so that the trust functions as intended over time. Our goal is to make the process clear and manageable while aligning the ILIT with your long-term wishes.
Criminal Defense
Homicide Defense
Manslaughter
Assault and Battery
Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Battery Causing Great Bodily Injury
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Protection Orders
Domestic Violence Restraining Order
Arson Defense
Weapons Charges
Illegal Firearm Possessions
Civil Harassment
Civil Harassment Restraining Orders
School Violence Restraining Orders
Violent Crimes Defense
Estate Planning Practice Areas