An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) can be a powerful estate planning tool for individuals and families in Phelan seeking to protect life insurance proceeds from estate taxes, creditor claims, or probate delays. This page explains what an ILIT does, how it interacts with your broader estate plan, and the practical steps to establish and administer one. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, we aim to provide clear, practical guidance so you can decide whether an ILIT aligns with your goals, and understand what documentation and trustee arrangements are typically required to keep the trust functioning effectively over time.
Choosing to create an ILIT involves several considerations that affect your long-term financial and family plans. This guide outlines common use cases, legal elements, and the differences between limited and comprehensive estate planning approaches so you can evaluate options with confidence. We also discuss how an ILIT coordinates with instruments such as a revocable living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and health care directives, ensuring that life insurance proceeds are distributed as intended and managed prudently for beneficiaries like minor children or family members with special needs.
An ILIT matters because it separates life insurance proceeds from your taxable estate and provides a controlled, durable mechanism for managing payouts after your death. Properly structured, an ILIT can reduce estate tax exposure, protect proceeds from creditor claims against your estate, and provide a framework for distributing benefits to beneficiaries over time. It is often used to provide liquidity for estate administration, support minor children, or fund long-term needs such as education or a trust for a family member with a disability. The trust structure also allows the grantor to appoint trustees and set detailed distribution instructions that reflect personal priorities and family dynamics.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides estate planning services to clients throughout California, including Phelan and San Bernardino County. Our practice combines careful drafting of trust documents with practical recommendations for administration and coordination with insurance carriers, trustees, and financial advisors. We emphasize clear communication, detailed document preparation, and proactive planning to help families minimize unexpected tax burdens and administration issues. Whether you are creating an ILIT for the first time or updating an existing trust to reflect life changes, our approach is to tailor the trust provisions to your goals while ensuring legal compliance with current California and federal rules.
An ILIT is a trust that owns a life insurance policy, with the insured person typically transferring ownership of the policy to the trust. Once the transfer is complete and the trust is properly funded, the insurance proceeds are held and distributed by the trustee according to the trust terms. Because the insured no longer owns the policy, proceeds may not be included in the insured’s gross estate for federal estate tax purposes if applicable timing and funding rules are met. The trust documents set beneficiary designations, payout timing, and conditions such as staggered distributions or protections for beneficiaries who may have creditor exposure.
Setting up an ILIT requires attention to timing, trustee selection, and premium funding mechanics. Gifts to the trust to pay premiums may qualify for the annual gift tax exclusion if properly structured, and careful coordination with the insurance company is necessary to transfer ownership cleanly. Trustees have a fiduciary duty to manage trust assets and make distributions consistent with the trust’s terms. Additionally, drafting choices—such as including spendthrift protection, powers of appointment, or flexibility for trust modifications—shape how proceeds can be used to meet beneficiaries’ financial needs while maintaining creditor protection and tax efficiency.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a legally binding arrangement created to own and control life insurance policies for the benefit of named beneficiaries. The trust becomes the owner and beneficiary of the policy, and the trustee manages premium payments, communications with the insurer, and distributions after the insured’s death. Key features include the irrevocable transfer of ownership, trustee-managed proceeds, and potential exclusion of insurance proceeds from the insured’s taxable estate when requirements are satisfied. The trust document can also define how proceeds are invested, distributed, and protected, aligning with long-term family and financial objectives.
Important elements of an ILIT include the trust instrument, trustee designation, instructions for premiums and distributions, and coordination with the insurance company for change-of-owner documentation. Administrative processes involve funding the trust to cover premium payments, maintaining accurate records of gifts and trust receipts, and communicating with trustees and beneficiaries about procedures to file insurance claims and manage distributions. Trustees must also follow any tax reporting obligations and ensure that the trust’s provisions remain consistent with evolving family circumstances and tax rules, which may require periodic review and amendments to related estate planning documents.
This glossary defines the essential terms used when discussing ILITs and related estate planning tools, helping you interpret trust language and make informed decisions. Familiarity with these terms will make conversations with trustees, insurance carriers, and legal counsel more productive and reduce the risk of misunderstandings during trust administration. Below are plain-language definitions intended to clarify common legal and financial phrases you will encounter when creating and managing an ILIT in California.
An irrevocable trust is a trust arrangement that generally cannot be modified or revoked by the person who created it once properly executed, except as permitted by law or specific provisions in the trust. This permanence separates the assets placed into the trust from the grantor’s estate for many legal and tax purposes and provides a stable framework for managing and distributing assets to beneficiaries over time. The irrevocability that makes these trusts powerful for tax and asset protection also requires careful planning at creation, since changes later may be limited or require court approval.
A trustee is the individual or entity responsible for managing and administering the trust according to its terms and the duty of loyalty to beneficiaries. Trustees handle administrative tasks such as paying premiums, filing claims, investing trust assets, and making distributions. They must keep accurate records, communicate with beneficiaries in line with the trust’s provisions, and act in the beneficiaries’ best interests. Selecting the right trustee involves considering impartiality, financial acumen, proximity to beneficiaries, and willingness to carry out the responsibilities outlined in the trust document.
The gift tax exclusion allows a grantor to make annual tax-free gifts to an individual or trust up to a specified amount without triggering federal gift tax reporting requirements. When funding an ILIT, these exclusions can be used to transfer money into the trust for premium payments. Proper use of the exclusion typically requires clear documentation and, in some cases, Crummey notices to beneficiaries so that gifts are considered present interest gifts. Coordinating gifts with tax rules helps avoid unintended tax consequences and preserves the intended benefits of the ILIT.
A spendthrift provision restricts beneficiaries from assigning or pledging their interest in trust assets to creditors, providing protection against beneficiary mismanagement or creditor claims. Incorporated into an ILIT, a spendthrift clause can preserve insurance proceeds for intended uses and reduce the risk that beneficiaries will lose inherited funds through lawsuits, divorces, or poor financial decisions. While spendthrift protections are strong in many situations, they may not prevent claims for certain obligations such as child support, and state law nuances can affect the level of protection available.
When deciding between a limited, transaction-specific approach and a comprehensive ILIT strategy, consider how each aligns with your long-term goals. A limited approach might address a single concern, such as transferring ownership of an individual policy, but can leave gaps in coordination with your broader estate plan. A comprehensive strategy looks at how the ILIT integrates with your revocable living trust, wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives to create consistent outcomes across multiple situations. Evaluating both approaches helps determine whether a focused action or a full plan update better serves your family’s financial security and estate administration needs.
A limited approach may be sufficient when the primary goal is to transfer ownership of a single life insurance policy into a trust without broader estate plan changes. For example, owners who have a single policy whose proceeds are intended for immediate family members and who otherwise have straightforward estate arrangements may opt for a narrow transaction to achieve tax or creditor protection. In such cases, careful documentation of the transfer and funding for premium payments is necessary, and a focused plan can accomplish the objective without a full estate plan overhaul.
A limited ILIT approach can also work when trustee and beneficiary structures are simple and straightforward, such as when beneficiaries are adult children with independent finances and low creditor risk. If the trust’s administration will be uncomplicated, and there is no need for complex distribution schedules or protective provisions, a narrowly tailored trust and straightforward trustee appointment may meet your needs. Even in these cases, it is wise to ensure the ILIT coordinates with any existing estate documents to prevent conflicts or unintended beneficiary outcomes.
A comprehensive approach is recommended when family relationships, beneficiary needs, or asset structures are complex. Examples include blended families with multiple beneficiaries, beneficiaries with special needs, significant business interests, or exposure to creditor claims. In these situations, a full review ensures that the ILIT’s terms, trustee powers, and funding plans align with other estate documents like revocable living trusts and wills. Coordinated planning reduces the risk of conflict, overlapping responsibilities, or unintended tax consequences that could arise from piecemeal planning.
When preserving wealth across generations and minimizing estate tax exposure are priorities, a comprehensive plan that integrates an ILIT with other estate planning vehicles is often appropriate. This includes designing distribution timing, selecting trustees who can manage multi-generational issues, and ensuring funding strategies are tax-efficient. A full planning session also considers how retirement accounts, trusts such as special needs trusts, and asset titling interact with the ILIT so that proceeds are used as intended and transferred in a manner that protects family wealth over the long term.
A comprehensive approach to ILIT planning offers several benefits, including cohesive coordination across all estate planning documents and consistent implementation of distribution objectives. When the ILIT is integrated with a revocable living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and health care directives, it reduces the risk of conflicting instructions and simplifies administration for trustees and family members. The comprehensive strategy also helps to anticipate future changes in family dynamics or tax law, allowing for provisions that provide flexibility in trustee powers or trustee succession as circumstances evolve.
Further benefits include enhanced protection for vulnerable beneficiaries, better liquidity planning to pay estate expenses, and improved chances that insurance proceeds are used to fulfill intended purposes such as education or support. A unified plan also reduces administrative burdens by clarifying roles and expectations for trustees and executors, and it helps ensure that premium funding mechanisms are sustainable and documented. Overall, a comprehensive plan fosters smoother administration and clearer outcomes when life insurance proceeds become available to the trust.
One major benefit of a comprehensive ILIT approach is that it ensures the trust’s terms align with existing estate documents so assets are distributed as intended. Coordination with a revocable living trust and pour-over will prevents contradictory beneficiary designations and reduces the chance that insurance proceeds unintentionally become subject to probate or creditor claims. This alignment also allows trustees and executors to follow a single roadmap for carrying out your wishes, making estate administration more predictable and less stressful for loved ones during an already difficult time.
A second key benefit is the ability to craft distribution terms and protective provisions tailored to family circumstances, such as spendthrift language, trust-held education funds, or staged distributions for younger beneficiaries. These mechanisms preserve funds for intended purposes and reduce the risk of depletion through creditor claims or poor financial decisions. Additionally, a comprehensive plan can provide trustee powers that offer flexibility to respond to changing legal or financial conditions, giving families a structured yet adaptable framework for managing life insurance proceeds over time.
Before transferring a policy into an ILIT, confirm with the insurance company how to change ownership and beneficiary designations to the trust, and obtain written confirmation of the transfer. This prevents misunderstandings that could undermine the trust’s purpose. Keep clear records of all communications and documents related to the transfer. Confirming carrier requirements ahead of time helps avoid delays in coverage, ensures premiums are billed properly, and reduces the chance of an inadvertent retention of ownership that could cause the proceeds to be included in the insured’s estate.
Select a trustee who understands fiduciary responsibilities and is willing to administer the trust according to the grantor’s instructions. Trustee selection involves evaluating trustworthiness, financial management capabilities, and the ability to communicate with beneficiaries. Consider naming successor trustees and providing guidance within the trust document for how decisions should be made, including investment choices and distribution criteria. Clear trustee directives and successor planning reduce future disputes and help ensure a steady, predictable process for distributing life insurance proceeds when they are needed most.
People often consider an ILIT to keep life insurance proceeds out of their taxable estate, provide creditor protection, and control how funds are distributed after death. If you have significant life insurance coverage, business interests, or other assets that could create estate tax exposure, an ILIT offers one practical route to reduce that risk. Even for families with more modest estates, an ILIT can ensure proceeds are managed responsibly for beneficiaries who may be young, financially inexperienced, or have special needs requiring long-term oversight and protection within a trust structure.
Other reasons to consider an ILIT include the desire for clarity and certainty in beneficiary distributions, the need for liquidity to pay estate obligations, and planning for beneficiaries who may face creditor claims or divorce. An ILIT can also be incorporated into larger plans that include retirement plan trusts, special needs trusts, or pet trusts to address unique family priorities. Evaluating these reasons in the context of your financial situation and family structure helps determine whether establishing an ILIT now or at a later date best meets your goals.
Common circumstances leading clients to create an ILIT include ownership of multiple life insurance policies, a desire to minimize estate tax exposure, planning for minor or vulnerable beneficiaries, or the need to protect proceeds from creditors. Business owners sometimes use ILITs to ensure liquidity for succession planning, while families with special needs beneficiaries rely on trust provisions to preserve eligibility for public benefits. Additionally, individuals with cross-border or out-of-state assets may use an ILIT to add predictability to how life insurance proceeds are handled after death.
When beneficiaries are minors or young adults who may need guidance with a sudden inheritance, an ILIT can provide structured distributions over time rather than a lump sum. Trust provisions can specify ages or milestones for distributions, fund education expenses, and require trustee oversight to ensure funds are used for beneficiaries’ long-term welfare. This approach protects assets from being depleted through poor financial decisions and gives trustees the authority to manage investments and distributions in a way that supports stable, measured financial growth for the beneficiaries involved.
An ILIT can be designed to protect life insurance proceeds from creditor claims against beneficiaries, offering spendthrift protections and distribution controls that limit creditors’ ability to access trust-held funds. For families where beneficiaries might face professional liabilities, divorces, or other financial risks, trust-held insurance proceeds can remain insulated from personal claims. While protections vary under state law and are subject to certain exceptions, structuring distributions and trust terms carefully can enhance the likelihood that intended beneficiaries receive funds as planned and that those funds are managed responsibly.
An ILIT is frequently used as part of an estate tax and liquidity plan to ensure that funds are available to pay estate taxes, debts, and administrative costs without forcing the sale of business interests or real estate. By holding life insurance outside the taxable estate when properly implemented, an ILIT can provide immediate liquidity upon death. This strategic use prevents family members from needing to liquidate long-term holdings at an inopportune time and offers a clear source of funds to meet estate obligations while preserving the core assets intended for heirs.
We serve clients in Phelan and across San Bernardino County, providing hands-on assistance with the creation and administration of Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts. Our local knowledge helps when coordinating with county courts, financial institutions, and insurance carriers that operate in the region. We also assist in preparing trust documents, funding plans for premium payments, and guidance for trustees during claims and distributions. Our goal is to make the legal process as straightforward as possible so that clients can focus on family priorities rather than administrative complexities.
Clients choose our firm because we emphasize practical planning, clear communication, and thorough documentation when preparing an ILIT and coordinating it with broader estate plans. We take time to understand family dynamics, the intended use of insurance proceeds, and the administrative realities trustees will face. Our approach is to draft documents that reflect personal goals while handling the technical legal details necessary for the trust to perform as intended, including coordination with insurance companies and careful instructions for premium funding and beneficiary notices.
We also assist clients with trustee selection guidance and provide clear instructions for successor trustee appointments to ensure continuity of administration. When appropriate, we coordinate with financial advisors and insurance agents to make sure policies are owned and funded in ways that align with the trust. This collaborative approach aims to reduce surprises at the time of a claim and to ensure that proceeds are available for the purposes you designate, such as family support, business succession, or long-term care funding for beneficiaries.
Finally, we provide ongoing support for clients who need updates due to life changes, new policies, or shifts in tax law. Periodic reviews are recommended to confirm that trust terms, trustee designations, and funding plans remain aligned with current objectives and regulatory changes. Our focus is on providing durable documents and practical guidance so that families in Phelan have a reliable plan for managing life insurance proceeds when they are needed most.
Our process begins with a consultation to understand your family circumstances, current policies, and planning goals. We review existing insurance policies, determine the appropriate trust structure, draft trust documents, and coordinate ownership transfers with insurance carriers. After the trust is established, we provide guidance on funding premiums and trustee responsibilities. We also help prepare Crummey notices if needed and advise trustees on claims procedures and ongoing recordkeeping. Throughout, our focus is on clear documentation and practical steps that make administration straightforward for successors and trustees.
Step one is a detailed consultation where we gather information about your insurance policies, family needs, and estate planning objectives. We review existing documents such as revocable trusts, wills, beneficiary designations, and powers of attorney to identify coordination issues. This review helps determine whether an ILIT is appropriate and how it should be structured for goals like tax planning, creditor protection, or beneficiary support. We also evaluate funding methods for premiums and the timing of ownership transfers to meet applicable rules and best practices.
During the initial review, we examine current policy ownership and beneficiary designations to identify necessary changes for trust ownership. We confirm whether any beneficiary designations conflict with your overall estate plan and advise on the documentation insurance companies require for a change of owner. Ensuring that the trust will be the legal owner of the policy is essential to the ILIT’s intended purpose, and we help clients gather and complete the carrier forms and titles needed to effect these changes without unintended consequences.
We assess how premiums will be funded and whether annual gift tax exclusions, Crummey notices, or other arrangements are necessary to support ongoing payments to the trust. This analysis includes projecting premium obligations, reviewing available assets for funding, and recommending documentation practices to preserve the intended tax treatment. A clear funding plan reduces the risk of policy lapse and ensures that the trust retains ownership and control of the policy over time, preserving the benefits for beneficiaries.
In this stage we draft the ILIT document tailored to your directions, prepare trustee appointment forms, and coordinate the transfer of the policy into the trust. The draft includes distribution provisions, trustee powers, successor trustee naming, and any protective clauses such as spendthrift language. We also prepare the necessary paperwork for the insurance company to effect the ownership change and verify that carrier requirements are met. Clear, precise drafting reduces ambiguity and helps trustees administer the trust in keeping with your wishes.
Finalizing the trust involves reviewing the draft in detail, confirming beneficiary instructions, and ensuring trustee duties are clearly stated. Clients review the document and provide approvals; any necessary revisions are completed before signing. We also discuss how the trust interacts with other estate planning documents so that all instruments work together. Proper execution and notarization of the trust document are completed to create a legally effective ILIT under California law and to reduce the potential for future disputes.
After trust execution, we coordinate with the insurance company to transfer the policy’s ownership and beneficiary rights to the ILIT. This step includes filing required carrier forms, obtaining written confirmation of the transfer, and ensuring the trust is properly listed in the insurer’s records. We also document the funding plan for premiums and provide the trustee with instructions for premium payments and recordkeeping so the policy remains in force and the trust functions as intended.
Once the trust holds the policy, trustees may need guidance on premium payments, claims procedures, recordkeeping, and distribution decisions. We provide trustees with an overview of their responsibilities and assist with necessary filings or communications with insurers and beneficiaries. Periodic reviews are recommended to ensure the trust remains aligned with your financial and family circumstances, and to address any changes in tax rules or insurance carrier policies that could affect the trust’s operation.
We support trustees in the event of a claim by providing guidance on documentation required for benefit payment and advising on distribution options consistent with the trust’s language. Trustees often need help understanding timelines for submitting claims, validating beneficiary identities, and managing proceeds once received. Our role is to make the process clear, reduce administrative burden on the trustee, and ensure distributions follow the grantor’s documented intentions while complying with applicable legal obligations.
While an ILIT itself is typically irrevocable, related estate planning documents may require updates over time. We recommend periodic reviews of your entire plan so that revocable trusts, wills, and powers of attorney remain consistent with the ILIT’s terms. If family circumstances or financial positions change, coordination among documents can prevent conflicts and help preserve intended outcomes. Our reviews identify needed adjustments and provide clear recommendations for maintaining a cohesive estate plan.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a trust that becomes the owner and beneficiary of a life insurance policy, separating the policy from the insured’s personal estate. When ownership is transferred and the trust is properly funded and administered, insurance proceeds are held by the trustee and distributed according to the trust terms rather than passing directly to individual beneficiaries. This structure is commonly used to reduce potential estate tax exposure and provide controlled, trustee-managed distributions to beneficiaries. The trust document explains how proceeds are to be paid out, whether in lump sums, installments, or for specific purposes like education or care. Trustees handle premium payments and communications with the insurance company, and they must keep records and follow distribution instructions. The effectiveness of the ILIT in removing proceeds from your estate depends on meeting legal timing and transfer requirements and on consistent funding practices.
After you transfer a policy to the ILIT, beneficiary designations are made to the trust rather than to individuals, which means you generally cannot unilaterally change beneficiaries by updating the policy alone. To alter who benefits from the trust, you would need trust amendment mechanisms permitted by law or trust provisions that allow certain powers of appointment. Because the trust is typically irrevocable, changes are limited, so the initial design should reflect your long-term intentions. If flexibility for future changes is important, consider trust language that grants limited powers of appointment or naming procedures for successor trustees who can adapt distributions within preset parameters. Discuss with counsel how to build in appropriate flexibility while maintaining the protections and tax benefits that the ILIT provides.
Premiums for a policy owned by an ILIT are usually paid by gifts made to the trust, which the trustee then uses to pay the insurer. Many grantors rely on annual federal gift tax exclusions by gifting funds to the trust for premium payments, often accompanied by Crummey notices to beneficiaries when necessary to qualify gifts as present interest gifts. Careful documentation of each gift and corresponding premium payment helps preserve the desired tax treatment and ensures the policy remains in force. Alternative funding arrangements may include funding trusts with assets or setting up sinking funds to cover premiums. Whichever method you choose, maintaining consistent funding is essential to prevent policy lapse. Professional guidance helps structure the funding plan to align with tax rules and long-term sustainability so the ILIT remains effective.
An ILIT can include spendthrift provisions and distribution controls that limit a beneficiary’s direct access to trust assets, which may reduce exposure to creditor claims and claims in divorce proceedings. By keeping proceeds in trust rather than distributing them outright, trustees can manage distributions in ways that protect funds from immediate attachment by creditors. The degree of protection depends on state law and the specific wording of the trust, and certain obligations such as child support may still permit limited access by claimants. It is important to draft protective provisions thoughtfully and to understand of state-specific limitations. While many beneficiaries benefit from a trust structure that shields funds from ordinary creditor actions, some claims may still reach trust distributions depending on the legal context, so planning should be tailored to anticipated risks and family needs.
If a policy owned by an ILIT lapses, the trust may lose the benefits associated with holding the policy, including potential estate tax advantages and creditor protections. A lapse can occur if premiums are not paid, so maintaining a reliable funding plan for premiums is essential. Trustees should monitor premium schedules, maintain communication with the insurer, and keep accurate records of funding receipts and payments to avoid unintended lapses. If a lapse occurs, options may include negotiating with the insurer for reinstatement, if permitted, or exploring replacement coverage. Any corrective steps should be evaluated carefully to understand tax and gift consequences, and trustees may need legal guidance to determine the best path forward given the trust terms and available resources.
A trustee should be someone who is trustworthy, organized, and capable of managing financial matters and communications with insurers and beneficiaries. Trustees handle tasks such as paying premiums, filing claims, investing trust assets, keeping records, and making distributions in accordance with the trust document. The ideal trustee balances a willingness to serve with the competence to fulfill fiduciary duties and to act impartially among beneficiaries when necessary. Many clients name a trusted family member as trustee and designate a professional or institutional successor if complexities arise, or they name co-trustees to share administrative responsibilities. Consideration of successor trustees and clear trustee instructions in the trust document reduces future disputes and ensures continuity in administration.
An ILIT should be coordinated with a revocable living trust and a pour-over will to avoid conflicting beneficiary designations and to ensure that life insurance proceeds are treated as intended within your broader estate plan. A pour-over will can direct residual assets to a revocable trust, while the ILIT specifically governs life insurance proceeds independent of probate. Ensuring that beneficiary designations on insurance policies reflect trust ownership is essential to prevent proceeds from passing outside the estate plan. During planning, review all estate documents together so distribution timing, trustee powers, and successor designations are consistent. This coordination simplifies administration and reduces the likelihood of disputes or unintended probate exposure when life insurance proceeds become payable to the trust.
There are timing considerations when transferring a policy to an ILIT that affect estate tax treatment. For example, transfers made within certain timeframes before death may be pulled back into the decedent’s estate under federal rules, so early planning is often recommended to ensure the trust achieves the desired exclusion from the taxable estate. Properly documenting the transfer and confirming that the trust is the legal owner is essential to meet timing requirements. Additionally, some strategies to qualify gifts for the annual exclusion, such as providing beneficiaries with Crummey notices, require careful administration and recordkeeping. A timely and well-documented transfer and funding protocol helps ensure the ILIT functions as intended for tax and creditor purposes.
Yes, an ILIT can be used in conjunction with a special needs trust or a retirement plan trust, but coordination is essential to preserve eligibility for public benefits and to respect tax rules applicable to retirement accounts. For beneficiaries who receive government benefits, placing life insurance proceeds into a properly drafted special needs trust can provide supplemental funds for quality-of-life expenses without disqualifying benefits. The ILIT’s terms should be written to fund such a trust appropriately and to align with the beneficiary’s long-term needs. For retirement plan assets, coordinating beneficiary designations and trust structures prevents unintended tax consequences and ensures distributions are handled efficiently. Combining an ILIT with other trusts requires careful drafting and collaboration among advisors to maintain the integrity of each trust’s objectives while producing a coherent overall plan.
Regular reviews of your ILIT and related estate planning documents are recommended whenever there are major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or significant changes in financial circumstances. Periodic reviews also help address changes in tax laws, insurance carrier rules, or family dynamics that might affect the trust’s effectiveness. Even if no major events occur, an annual or biennial review can provide peace of mind that documentation and funding plans remain current and effective. During reviews, confirm premium funding arrangements, trustee contact information, and that beneficiary instructions still match your goals. Updating related documents and ensuring all parties understand their roles reduces the risk of administration issues and helps the ILIT continue to serve its intended purpose over time.
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