An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) is a tailored estate planning tool designed to hold life insurance policies outside of a decedent’s taxable estate, providing liquidity for final expenses, debts, and estate settlement costs. For residents of Spring Valley Lake and San Bernardino County, an ILIT can preserve life insurance proceeds for intended beneficiaries while helping to manage potential estate tax exposure and probate complications. Drafting an effective ILIT requires careful attention to California rules, funding mechanics, and beneficiary designations so the policy proceeds are controlled and distributed according to your wishes when they are needed most by your family or other beneficiaries.
Setting up an ILIT in Spring Valley Lake begins with a clear assessment of your life insurance policies, family situation, and broader estate plan, including documents such as a revocable living trust, pour-over will, and powers of attorney. The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman assists clients in integrating ILITs with existing estate plans to ensure that life insurance proceeds are handled in a way that matches long-term goals. Whether you are revising beneficiary designations, transferring an existing policy to a trust, or creating a new trust and funding strategy, local legal guidance helps ensure proper drafting and administration under California law.
An ILIT offers several practical benefits for individuals who want to control how life insurance proceeds are used after death. It can remove the policy from the grantor’s probate estate, potentially reducing estate tax exposure and protecting proceeds from certain creditors. An ILIT also allows the grantor to build in distribution instructions, timing, and conditions for beneficiaries, which is helpful for blended families, minors, or beneficiaries with special needs. Properly funded and administered, an ILIT creates liquidity to pay estate administration costs and can work in tandem with other documents like a pour-over will and a certification of trust to streamline estate settlement.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman represents clients throughout California, including Spring Valley Lake and San Bernardino County, offering comprehensive estate planning services tailored to individual circumstances. Our practice focuses on clear communication, careful document drafting, and practical administration of trusts and related documents such as wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives. We work with clients to coordinate life insurance planning with retirement account designations, trust funding, and other estate planning tools, ensuring that documentation aligns with state law and client goals. Call 408-528-2827 to schedule a consultation to discuss your objectives and options.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is created when the grantor transfers ownership of a life insurance policy into a trust that cannot be revoked by the grantor. Once the policy is owned by the trust, the death benefit is paid to the trust’s beneficiaries according to the trust terms, and generally the proceeds are not included in the grantor’s probate estate. Establishing an ILIT requires attention to timing rules and ownership transfers to avoid estate inclusion, and the trust instrument must provide trustee powers for premium payment and policy management. Proper coordination with beneficiary designations and account titles is essential for the ILIT to function as intended.
Funding an ILIT typically involves either transferring an existing life insurance policy into the trust or having the trust acquire a new policy and making premium payments through gifts to the trust. Gift tax planning and annual exclusion considerations often play a role, and many clients use annual exclusion gifts or other funding mechanisms to ensure premiums are paid without creating unexpected gift tax liabilities. The trustee must be authorized to accept gifts and manage premium payments, and in many situations it is advisable to build flexibility into the trust document to address future changes while maintaining the trust’s intended protections.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a legal arrangement in which a grantor places a life insurance policy into a trust that cannot be changed or revoked by the grantor after execution. The trust owns the policy, names beneficiaries, and designates a trustee to manage the policy and distribute proceeds upon the insured’s death. Because the trust owns the policy, the death benefit is generally paid to the trust rather than directly to the insured’s estate, which may reduce estate administration burdens. Drafting the trust and executing transfers properly is essential to ensure the arrangement achieves the intended estate planning, tax, and beneficiary-protection goals under California law.
Key elements of an ILIT include a clearly drafted trust instrument, a trustee with authority to manage the policy, defined beneficiaries, and a funding plan for premium payments. The process typically begins with an assessment of existing policies and estate objectives, followed by drafting or revising the trust document, transferring ownership or securing a new policy through the trust, and establishing a mechanism for funding premiums. The trustee must keep accurate records, coordinate gifts used to pay premiums, and administer distributions according to the trust terms. Coordination with other estate documents ensures that the ILIT functions smoothly within the broader plan.
Below are concise definitions of common terms you will encounter when considering an ILIT. Understanding these terms helps you make informed decisions about trust design, funding strategies, trustee selection, and beneficiary provisions. Each term reflects an aspect of how life insurance trusts operate within estate planning in California, and how they interact with related documents such as a revocable living trust, pour-over will, and powers of attorney. Familiarity with these concepts promotes better coordination among the estate plan elements and helps avoid unintended tax or probate outcomes.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust, commonly called an ILIT, is a trust that owns one or more life insurance policies and cannot be revoked by the grantor after execution. The trust holds the policy as an asset, designates a trustee to manage premiums and distribution terms, and names beneficiaries who will receive the proceeds according to the trust instrument. Because the trust, rather than the individual, owns the policy, death benefits are typically distributed outside of the probate estate, which can help with liquidity needs and distribution control. Proper transfer timing and documentation are important to prevent the proceeds from being included in the grantor’s taxable estate.
The grantor is the person who creates the trust and transfers the life insurance policy or funding to the trust. Once the policy is placed in an ILIT, the grantor generally gives up ownership and control over the policy to comply with the irrevocable nature of the trust. The grantor may provide instructions in the trust document for how proceeds are to be distributed, but cannot later unilaterally change the trust terms. Understanding the grantor’s role clarifies legal limits on making changes to the policy, and it helps determine whether the transfer was timely and effective for estate planning purposes.
The trustee is the individual or institution responsible for managing the ILIT according to the trust document. Trustee duties typically include accepting ownership of the life insurance policy, making or arranging for premium payments, handling gifts from the grantor or others used to fund premiums, and administering distributions to beneficiaries as specified. A trustee must keep careful records of payments and trust activity, communicate with beneficiaries when appropriate, and ensure compliance with applicable California rules. Choosing a trustee who is capable of these administrative tasks is an important part of a successful ILIT design.
A beneficiary is a person or entity designated to receive trust assets or policy proceeds when a triggering event occurs, such as the insured’s death. In an ILIT, beneficiaries receive the policy proceeds according to the terms of the trust instrument, which can include immediate distribution, staged payouts, or conditions for distributions. Naming beneficiaries within the trust rather than solely on a policy beneficiary designation helps ensure that proceeds are managed and distributed in line with the grantor’s overall estate planning goals. Beneficiary designations should be coordinated with other estate documents to avoid conflicting instructions.
When deciding how to handle life insurance proceeds, individuals can choose from several approaches: naming individual beneficiaries directly on the policy, using a revocable living trust, or placing the policy in an ILIT. Direct beneficiary designations are simple but offer less control and potential exposure to probate or creditor claims. A revocable trust provides flexibility while the grantor lives, but because it is revocable, policy proceeds may still be included in the estate depending on ownership and beneficiary rules. An ILIT, by contrast, is designed to place the policy outside the estate and provide controlled distribution, making it a common choice for clients with larger policies or specific distribution goals.
A limited planning approach may suffice when life insurance policies are modest in value and beneficiary relationships are straightforward, such as a single spouse or dependent adult who will outright receive proceeds without complex conditions. In these situations, direct beneficiary designations on the policy often accomplish the primary goal of passing proceeds quickly and with minimal administration. For those with uncomplicated family structures, straightforward beneficiary designations combined with a simple will and powers of attorney can be an efficient way to provide for immediate financial needs without the additional formalities of trust ownership and ongoing trust administration.
Another circumstance where a limited approach may be appropriate is when a policy serves a clear short-term purpose, such as covering a mortgage or a temporary income replacement need. If the policy value is intended only to cover a specific debt that will be paid off within a short period, transferring the policy into a trust and setting up long-term administration may be more formality than is necessary. In such cases, simplifying documentation and ensuring that beneficiaries are correctly named and that proceeds will be used for the intended purpose can be an effective and economical choice for clients focused on near-term obligations.
Comprehensive planning is often necessary when life insurance policies are large enough that including proceeds in the taxable estate could create significant estate tax liability or compromise family financial goals. An ILIT can be structured to remove policy proceeds from the grantor’s estate and to provide liquidity for taxes and settlement costs, which protects other assets from forced liquidation. For individuals with considerable wealth, business interests, or multiple properties, integrating an ILIT with a broader estate plan ensures that life insurance proceeds support long-term legacy planning and estate settlement without unintended tax consequences.
A comprehensive approach is advisable when beneficiaries include minors, family members with special needs, blended families, or individuals who may face creditor claims. An ILIT allows the grantor to specify distribution timing, protections, and conditions that reflect those family complexities. Structuring distributions through a trust can prevent immediate outright distributions that might not serve long-term interests, and it can provide safeguards against creditors or poor financial decisions. When family dynamics or beneficiary circumstances require careful planning, combining an ILIT with other trust structures and clear instructions offers greater protection and clarity for the future.
A comprehensive ILIT strategy provides enhanced control over life insurance proceeds, reduces administrative burdens on survivors, and supports coordination with broader estate planning tools. By holding the policy in a trust, a grantor can avoid having proceeds pass through probate and can establish distribution schedules that match family needs. This approach may also improve creditor protection for beneficiaries and create predictable liquidity for estate settlement. Coordinating the ILIT with retirement plan trusts, pour-over wills, and powers of attorney helps ensure that all components of an estate plan work together efficiently for the benefit of beneficiaries.
Comprehensive planning also provides clarity for trustees and beneficiaries by documenting how premium funding will be handled, specifying trustee powers, and setting rules for distributions and contingencies. Thoughtful drafting can minimize disputes and streamline administration during an already difficult time. When incorporated into a larger estate planning framework, an ILIT can be an important tool to maintain family wealth, carry out the grantor’s wishes, and provide peace of mind that life insurance proceeds will be used in accordance with long-term objectives rather than subject to immediate creditor claims or unintended beneficiary conflicts.
One of the primary benefits of placing a life insurance policy in an ILIT is the potential to keep the death benefit out of the grantor’s taxable estate, which can reduce estate tax exposure for larger estates and preserve wealth for beneficiaries. When properly structured and funded, proceeds can be distributed to beneficiaries by the trustee with greater speed and less court involvement than probate administration. These advantages can protect other estate assets from forced sale to cover taxes and fees, and they can provide the liquidity needed to settle the estate efficiently while honoring the grantor’s distribution preferences.
An ILIT gives the grantor the ability to impose distribution conditions and timing that reflect the needs of beneficiaries, helping to prevent imprudent or risky use of proceeds. This control can be especially valuable for families with young beneficiaries, those with special needs, or situations where beneficiaries face potential creditor exposure. The trust structure can also appoint successor trustees and provide fiduciary guidance for managing funds, which reduces the administrative burden on family members and supports orderly distribution. Clear trust instructions reduce uncertainty and help protect the long-term financial interests intended by the grantor.
Before transferring a policy into a trust, review the policy’s beneficiary designations and ownership information to avoid conflicts or unintended estate inclusion. If the owner or beneficiary of a policy is changed without proper coordination, proceeds could be paid in ways that undermine the goals of the ILIT. Make sure account titles, beneficiary forms, and trust language are consistent so the trustee receives and manages proceeds as intended. Regularly reviewing these items with a qualified attorney helps ensure that changes in family circumstances, divorce, remarriage, or new policies do not create legal complications or conflicting instructions.
Trust administration is smoother when the trustee keeps thorough records of all premium payments, gifts, and correspondence, and when beneficiaries understand the trust’s purpose and basic distribution rules. Regular communication, at an appropriate level, reduces confusion and can prevent disputes after the grantor’s death. Trustees should document acceptance of gifts, premium disbursements, and any transactions related to the policy. When succession plans, trustee appointments, or distribution conditions are clearly documented, the ILIT can be administered efficiently and in line with the grantor’s intentions.
Consider an ILIT if you want to preserve life insurance proceeds for heirs while limiting potential probate involvement and creating structured distributions. An ILIT is useful when life insurance forms a significant portion of your estate, when you want to provide liquidity to pay estate settlement costs, or when beneficiaries would benefit from managed distributions instead of outright payments. People with blended families or beneficiaries who may face creditor claims often find that an ILIT helps achieve long-term goals while maintaining flexibility for the trustee to manage proceeds responsibly in accordance with the grantor’s wishes.
An ILIT also makes sense for those who wish to coordinate life insurance with other estate planning tools such as revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, and durable powers of attorney. When estate taxes are a concern, or when you want to protect proceeds from being included in the estate, a carefully drafted ILIT can provide benefits that direct beneficiary designations cannot. Working with legal counsel ensures transfers are properly executed, funding strategies are sustainable, and the trust terms align with your overall objectives for legacy planning and family financial security.
Several common circumstances prompt clients to consider an ILIT: owning substantial life insurance policies, having complex family dynamics or blended families, wanting to protect proceeds from creditor claims, or needing to provide structured support for minors or beneficiaries with special needs. Business owners who rely on key-person policies or use life insurance in succession planning may also benefit. Additionally, those who wish to coordinate life insurance with estate liquidity needs such as estate taxes, administration costs, or debt repayment often find that an ILIT provides a reliable mechanism to achieve those goals while maintaining control over distribution timing.
When a life insurance policy represents a significant portion of an individual’s wealth, including the policy proceeds in the estate could create higher estate tax exposure or force liquidating other assets to pay estate obligations. Placing such policies into an ILIT can help preserve family assets by keeping the death benefit outside the probate estate and providing liquidity to address taxes and settlement costs. This planning step supports smoother estate settlement and helps ensure assets intended to remain with heirs are preserved according to the grantor’s wishes and long-term financial objectives.
Blended families often require greater precision in how assets, including life insurance proceeds, are distributed after death. An ILIT allows a grantor to set specific distribution schedules, conditions, and protections that reflect the needs of multiple family members or stepsiblings. Using a trust structure reduces the risk of unintended disinheritance or disputes, and it helps ensure that intended beneficiaries receive support in a way that balances fairness with individualized needs. Clear trust provisions make intentions explicit and can help avoid family discord during estate settlement.
Business owners who rely on life insurance for buy-sell arrangements, key-person coverage, or to protect business continuity may use an ILIT as part of succession and liquidity planning. Holding a policy in a trust can separate business-related life insurance from the owner’s personal estate, permitting proceeds to be managed for business transition or to support surviving partners. Coordinating the ILIT with buy-sell agreements and retirement plan trusts helps create predictable outcomes and ensures the financial interests of both family and business stakeholders are addressed in a structured, legally sound manner.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides guidance to residents of Spring Valley Lake and San Bernardino County on establishing and administering Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts. We help clients evaluate existing policies, design funding strategies, draft trust documents, and coordinate beneficiary designations and other estate planning instruments. Our approach emphasizes clear communication, careful documentation, and practical administration to help ensure that life insurance proceeds are managed in accordance with your intentions. To discuss how an ILIT can fit into your estate plan, call 408-528-2827 for a consultation tailored to your circumstances.
Clients choose our firm for thorough, client-focused planning that aligns life insurance strategies with the rest of their estate plan. We take time to understand family dynamics, policy structures, and financial objectives before recommending the best approach to trust drafting and funding. Our goal is to produce clear, legally sound documents that work well within California’s legal framework and that offer trustees the tools needed to administer the trust efficiently when the time comes to act.
We assist with practical details such as transferring ownership of existing policies, coordinating annual gifts for premium payments, documenting trustee powers, and ensuring beneficiary designations are consistent across accounts and policies. Clients benefit from a step-by-step approach that clarifies responsibilities and reduces the possibility of costly mistakes. Communication and documentation are priorities so family members and fiduciaries understand how the plan operates and what to expect when administering trust assets.
Our service also emphasizes ongoing review to keep the ILIT aligned with changes in family circumstances, tax law, or policy needs. Periodic reviews help confirm that premium funding remains sustainable, that trust provisions remain appropriate, and that successor trustee arrangements are up to date. By maintaining an active planning posture, clients can ensure their ILIT continues to address intended goals and provide the protections they envisioned at creation.
Our legal process is designed to be clear and manageable: we begin with a detailed consultation and review of existing policies and estate documents, develop a customized trust and funding plan, and finalize the trust documents followed by assistance with funding and trustee guidance. Throughout the process we provide written documentation and checklists so clients and trustees understand ongoing responsibilities. Our goal is to make the transition of ownership and the trust administration as seamless as possible while ensuring compliance with relevant California rules and practical considerations for premium funding and recordkeeping.
In the initial phase we review existing life insurance policies, beneficiary forms, and current estate planning documents such as wills, revocable living trusts, and powers of attorney. This analysis identifies potential conflicts and opportunities for trust integration. We discuss family circumstances, long-term goals, and premium funding options to determine whether an ILIT aligns with your objectives. This stage also clarifies timing considerations for transfers and the potential tax implications so you have a clear foundation for the drafting stage that follows.
We examine each life insurance policy’s ownership, beneficiary designations, and policy terms to identify how a transfer to a trust will affect coverage and death benefit treatment. This includes verifying whether policy transfers might trigger contestable periods, whether the insurer allows assignments, and whether beneficiary forms need to be updated. By evaluating these details early, we can plan transfers and funding strategies that align with your goals while minimizing administrative complications and ensuring the trust will be effective as intended upon the insured’s death.
We discuss available funding approaches for ongoing premium payments and assess gift tax implications and annual exclusion planning. Options commonly include the grantor making annual exclusion gifts to trust beneficiaries that the trustee uses to pay premiums, or funding the trust directly when appropriate. Documenting this plan and providing clear procedures for the trustee to follow helps keep premiums current and the policy in force. Early coordination on these practical steps reduces the risk of lapsed coverage and supports the long-term effectiveness of the ILIT.
After agreeing on a funding approach and trust design, we draft the ILIT document customized to your needs and review it with you in detail. The trust language addresses ownership transfer, trustee powers, distribution instructions, successor trustee appointments, and provisions for administrative matters. We also prepare any required assignment documents or notices to the insurer and coordinate signing and execution to ensure validity under California law. This stage ensures that the trust instrument and related paperwork are clear, legally effective, and ready for funding.
Execution involves signing the trust document and completing the legal transfer of policy ownership to the trust if applicable. We prepare and review assignments, change-of-owner forms, and any required trustee acceptance forms for the insurance company. Ensuring paperwork is filed correctly with the insurer prevents administrative lapses and supports the intended estate treatment of the policy proceeds. We provide guidance to trustees about their immediate duties following execution, including premium payment protocols and recordkeeping practices to document the funding path for future administration needs.
We ensure the ILIT is coordinated with your existing estate plan by reviewing wills, revocable trusts, retirement plan designations, and powers of attorney to prevent inconsistent instructions or unintended consequences. This coordination ensures that the ILIT complements the overall estate strategy, that pour-over wills and trust funding plans work together, and that beneficiary designations across accounts are harmonized. Clear coordination reduces confusion and helps achieve predictable outcomes for beneficiaries, trustees, and estate administrators when it becomes necessary to effect distributions.
The final step focuses on funding and trust administration: implementing the premium funding plan, providing trustees with recordkeeping templates, and establishing a schedule for periodic review. We assist with initial gifts, annual documentation of gifts used for premiums, and any filings needed for tax or administrative purposes. Ongoing review is recommended to ensure the trust continues to meet goals as family circumstances, policy terms, or law change. This step ensures the ILIT remains a durable and practical component of an effective estate plan.
We provide instructions and documentation templates for trustees to manage premium payments reliably and to track annual gifts used for premium support. Clear procedures reduce the risk of policy lapses and create evidence of the funding approach if questions arise. Trustees are guided on maintaining records, communicating with beneficiaries at appropriate times, and handling any insurance company interactions that may be necessary for administration. Thoughtful systems established up front simplify long-term administration and help preserve the benefits intended by the grantor.
Life changes such as births, deaths, marriage, divorce, or changes in financial circumstance can affect the suitability of trust provisions and funding plans, making periodic review important. We recommend reviewing the ILIT and related estate documents regularly to confirm that premium funding remains sustainable, beneficiary designations are current, and trustees remain appropriate. If circumstances warrant, amendments to other components of the estate plan or changes to funding strategies can be implemented to preserve the integrity and effectiveness of the ILIT over time.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a trust that owns a life insurance policy and cannot be revoked by the grantor, meaning the grantor gives up ownership of the policy. The trust receives policy proceeds when the insured dies and distributes them to beneficiaries according to the trust terms, often outside of probate. By placing a policy in an ILIT, many clients aim to keep proceeds out of their taxable estate and to provide controlled distributions that reflect long-term goals. When considering an ILIT, evaluate how it integrates with your broader estate plan. Proper drafting, ownership transfer, and funding documentation are necessary to achieve the intended benefits under California law while reducing administration burdens for loved ones.
Funding an ILIT commonly involves making gifts to the trust that the trustee uses to pay premiums, which can be structured around annual gift tax exclusions to avoid gift tax consequences. The grantor or other family members may make annual exclusion gifts to the trust beneficiaries or to the trustee, depending on the trust terms. Clear documentation each year of gifts and their use for premiums is important to demonstrate intent and compliance with tax rules. Discuss funding options with legal counsel to balance premium affordability and tax planning. Planning helps avoid gaps in coverage and ensures the trust remains a dependable vehicle for intended protection and distribution goals.
Transferring an existing policy into an ILIT is possible but requires coordination with the insurance company and awareness of potential contestability periods and ownership change rules. Some insurers treat transfers as assignments and may modify policy terms or require new underwriting depending on the circumstances, so it’s important to confirm how a transfer will affect coverage. Properly documenting the transfer and ensuring trustee acceptance forms are completed helps maintain continuity of coverage. Before transferring, review whether the trust can be named owner with no lapse and whether premium funding is in place. In some situations obtaining a new policy owned by the trust is a cleaner alternative if transfer limitations present challenges.
A trustee for an ILIT can be an individual you trust, a family member with administrative abilities, or a professional trustee such as a bank or trust company. The trustee’s responsibilities include accepting ownership of the policy, managing premium payments, documenting gifts used for funding, and making distributions according to the trust terms. Trustees must keep accurate records and follow the trust document and legal requirements when administering the trust. Selecting a trustee should consider both administrative capability and impartiality. Naming successor trustees and providing clear instructions in the trust document reduces the chance of disputes and ensures continuity in administration when needed.
An ILIT can provide protection against certain creditor claims because the trust, rather than the grantor, owns the policy; however, the degree of protection depends on timing, trust design, and applicable law. If a transfer is made to avoid known creditors, courts may scrutinize the transaction, and protections could be limited. Proper planning conducted well in advance of creditor claims and with careful drafting enhances the likelihood that proceeds will be shielded for intended beneficiaries. For clients concerned about creditor risk, combine trust planning with other asset protection measures and legal guidance. A comprehensive review helps determine the best approach for protecting proceeds while staying within legal boundaries.
Yes. An ILIT typically complements a revocable living trust and a pour-over will by isolating life insurance proceeds and specifying how those proceeds should be handled independently of probate. A revocable trust provides flexibility while the grantor is alive, and an ILIT adds permanence and distribution control for life insurance benefits. Coordinating beneficiary designations and trust provisions ensures that proceeds are distributed according to the overall estate plan rather than creating conflicting directions. When integrating an ILIT with other estate documents, careful review is required to ensure consistent beneficiary designations and to avoid duplication or unintended overrides between documents.
An ILIT can be useful for business-related policies such as buy-sell arrangements or key-person insurance, as it separates the policy from the owner’s personal estate and clarifies how proceeds should be used for business continuity. For business owners, an ILIT can provide liquidity for transitions, support buyout payments, and reduce the potential for business assets to be entangled in probate. Coordinating trust provisions with corporate agreements and buy-sell contracts is important to ensure consistent treatment. Consulting about the interaction between business agreements and trust structures helps avoid unintended conflicts and ensures the life insurance proceeds serve both personal and business succession goals as intended.
Because an ILIT is irrevocable, making changes to the trust itself after execution is generally limited. However, related aspects of the estate plan may be adjusted, and certain mechanisms—such as successor trustee appointments or amendment powers built into other documents—can provide some flexibility. If circumstances change substantially, clients sometimes create new planning documents or establish supplemental arrangements that work alongside the ILIT to address evolving needs. It is important to assess the consequences of any attempt to modify an ILIT and to plan accordingly from the outset. Drafting with foresight and periodic reviews reduce the need for later changes and help preserve intended benefits.
Setting up an ILIT typically takes several weeks to a few months, depending on the complexity of the policy transfer, funding strategy, and coordination with other estate documents. The process includes consultation, document drafting, execution, and insurer paperwork for transferring ownership. Costs vary based on the scope of services, drafting complexity, and whether additional steps such as new policy acquisition or complex funding arrangements are required. We provide clear estimates during the initial consultation and discuss options that balance cost, timing, and planning objectives. Early planning and coordination reduce administrative delays and help achieve the intended trust benefits efficiently.
It is recommended to review an ILIT and related estate planning documents periodically or after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth, death, significant changes in assets, or changes in tax law. Regular reviews ensure premium funding remains sustainable, trustee appointments remain appropriate, and beneficiary designations continue to reflect current wishes. Reviews also provide an opportunity to verify that premium payments are being properly documented and that the trust is functioning as intended. Scheduling reviews on a regular basis, such as every few years or when circumstances change, helps maintain the effectiveness of the ILIT and the overall estate plan and reduces the risk of unexpected complications during administration.
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