A revocable living trust is a flexible estate planning tool that helps property owners in Shandon organize how assets will be managed during life and distributed after death. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman we assist clients in creating trusts tailored to their goals, often alongside complementary documents such as a last will and testament, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. This page explains what a revocable living trust does, how it differs from a will, and practical steps you can take to protect privacy, reduce delay after incapacity or death, and provide for loved ones in a clear, legally sound manner.
Residents of San Luis Obispo County often choose a revocable living trust to streamline the transition of assets and avoid some of the public and time-consuming aspects of probate. The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman is located in California and handles revocable living trust planning for clients in Shandon and surrounding communities. We discuss your priorities, explain document options like pour-over wills and certification of trust, and help you implement a plan that reflects your wishes. To begin the conversation, call 408-528-2827 or request an initial meeting to review your goals and the documents that best protect you and your family.
A revocable living trust offers several practical benefits that make it an attractive option for many families in Shandon. By transferring assets into the trust during life and naming successor trustees, a trust can provide continuity of management if incapacity occurs and often reduce the time and publicity associated with probate after death. It also allows for more detailed directions for distributing property to beneficiaries, including staged distributions or provisions for minors, and can simplify administration for those who own property in multiple locations. Implementing a trust in conjunction with other estate planning documents helps create a coordinated approach that addresses medical, financial, and disposition concerns.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides estate planning services throughout California with a focus on clear communication and practical planning. We work with individuals and families to prepare revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and related documents that reflect each client’s priorities. Our approach emphasizes careful fact gathering, plain-language explanations of options, and preparing durable documents that function smoothly when needed. Whether you live in Shandon or elsewhere in San Luis Obispo County, we strive to make the planning process manageable and to ensure that the documents are properly funded and maintained for the long term.
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement that holds title to designated assets during the creator’s lifetime and names successors to manage or distribute those assets later. The person who creates the trust typically retains control and may amend or revoke the trust while alive. The trust can include terms for management during incapacity, identify how assets should be distributed at death, and specify instructions for ongoing care of dependents or pets. Because the trust document itself is not usually part of public probate proceedings, it helps preserve privacy for families who prefer to keep their estate details confidential.
Using a revocable living trust requires a practical follow-up step: funding the trust by transferring ownership of assets into it. This can include real property, bank accounts, investment accounts, and some personal property. Trusts are also used in coordination with supporting documents such as a pour-over will, financial power of attorney, advance health care directive, and HIPAA authorization to create a comprehensive plan. For families with minor children, special needs concerns, or properties in multiple jurisdictions, a trust often simplifies administration and helps ensure that the creator’s intentions are followed without undue delay.
A revocable living trust is a trust created during a person’s lifetime that can be changed or revoked as circumstances evolve. The grantor transfers assets into the trust and can serve as trustee while alive, maintaining day-to-day control over assets. The trust designates successor trustees and beneficiaries for management and distribution when the grantor becomes incapacitated or dies. Because property held in a properly funded trust does not pass through probate in the same way as property solely titled in an individual’s name, the trust can reduce delays and keep details private. The document can also include detailed instructions for the care of minor children, pets, or beneficiaries with special needs.
Key elements of a revocable living trust include the grantor, the trustee, successor trustees, and beneficiaries, along with clear directions about asset management and distribution. The typical process begins with an information-gathering meeting to identify assets, family relationships, and planning goals. Next comes drafting trust documents and related forms such as pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. After signing, proper funding of the trust is essential, which may involve retitling real estate, updating account ownership, and preparing transfer documents. Periodic review and updates ensure the trust continues to reflect changes in family circumstances or laws.
This glossary highlights common terms you will encounter when considering a revocable living trust so you can better understand the planning process. Familiarity with these terms makes meetings more productive and helps you make informed decisions about trustees, beneficiaries, funding, and complementary documents. Knowing the role of a grantor, trustee, successor trustee, beneficiary, and the meaning of funding or pour-over wills can clarify why certain steps are important. If unfamiliar with any term, ask during your initial consultation so the planning documents reflect your objectives and the chosen language aligns with your intentions and family circumstances.
The grantor is the person who creates the trust and transfers assets into it. As grantor, you retain the right to change or revoke a revocable living trust during your lifetime and typically name yourself as an initial trustee so you maintain control over assets and distributions. The grantor also designates successor trustees who will assume management if the grantor becomes unable to act or passes away. Clarity about the grantor’s intentions and the specific assets to fund the trust are essential to ensure the trust operates as planned and that beneficiaries receive the intended benefits according to the document’s terms.
The trustee is the person or entity responsible for managing trust assets according to the trust document’s terms. In a revocable living trust the grantor often serves as initial trustee and names one or more successor trustees to take over management upon incapacity or death. The successor trustee’s duties can include locating assets, paying debts and expenses, filing necessary tax returns, and distributing assets to beneficiaries as directed. Choosing someone with sound judgment and a willingness to fulfill fiduciary duties is an important decision in trust planning and should align with the trust’s management provisions.
A beneficiary is a person or entity designated to receive benefits from the trust. Beneficiaries can receive lump-sum distributions, staged payments, or ongoing support as specified by the trust document. The trust can name primary and contingent beneficiaries to ensure assets pass according to the grantor’s wishes if a primary beneficiary predeceases the grantor. Details such as conditions for distribution, age thresholds, and discretionary language for support can be included to address the unique needs of family members, dependents, or charitable organizations. Accurate beneficiary designations help avoid disputes and ensure the grantor’s intentions are honored.
Funding the trust means transferring ownership of assets into the trust’s name so the trust can govern those assets according to its terms. This process may include retitling real property, changing account registrations, designating the trust as beneficiary for certain accounts, and assigning personal property via a general assignment to the trust. Proper funding is essential; an unfunded trust may require probate for assets still titled in the individual’s name. We provide guidance on which assets to transfer, how to prepare necessary deeds or assignments, and how to coordinate beneficiary designations to align with the overall estate plan.
When deciding between a will and a revocable living trust, consider your goals for privacy, speed of administration, and management during incapacity. A will primarily takes effect after death and generally requires probate to transfer property, which can be public and time-consuming. A revocable living trust can reduce or avoid probate for assets properly transferred into the trust and can include directions for managing property if you become incapacitated. Other tools such as financial powers of attorney and advance health care directives are complementary, and in many cases a combined approach offers the most comprehensive protection for your finances and personal care preferences.
A limited approach, relying primarily on a straightforward will and a small set of complementary documents, may be appropriate for individuals with modest assets and uncomplicated family situations. If you own few assets that would not justify the time and expense of transferring multiple titles or coordinating accounts, a will may achieve your most important goals with minimal administrative steps. Nevertheless, even simple plans should include powers of attorney and an advance health care directive to address incapacity, and it is wise to review your situation periodically to ensure the selected documents continue to meet your needs as circumstances evolve.
A limited planning approach may also be appropriate when the likelihood of probate complications is low, for example if assets already pass automatically to surviving spouses or joint tenants and beneficiary designations are up to date. Where family structures are straightforward and privacy is not a primary concern, a will supported by financial and health care directives can be a practical solution. It remains important to confirm that beneficiary designations and account ownership reflect current wishes, and to document guardianship nominations for minor children so responsibilities are clearly outlined for those who may act on your behalf.
When an estate includes significant assets, real property in multiple jurisdictions, or interests in businesses or retirement accounts, a comprehensive trust-based plan can simplify administration and reduce delay for loved ones. Trusts help centralize management and can be structured to address tax planning, creditor protection in some contexts, and orderly distribution across generations. Coordinating the trust with beneficiary designations, retirement plan trusts, and other tools creates a consistent plan that minimizes conflicting instructions and helps ensure a smoother transition for those who will manage and inherit assets.
Families with blended relationships, children from different marriages, beneficiaries with special needs, or those who wish to control the timing and conditions of distributions often benefit from a comprehensive plan. A revocable living trust can provide mechanisms for staged distributions, trust protectors, or supplemental needs provisions to preserve public benefits. With careful drafting, the trust can address contingencies, preserve family property, and reduce the likelihood of disputes. Planning in advance allows thoughtful choices about who will manage assets and how distributions will be handled over time.
A comprehensive trust-based approach provides benefits that often extend beyond probate avoidance. It can support continuity of financial management if incapacity occurs, allow for private resolution of the estate, and provide detailed instructions for distribution that match your goals. By coordinating the trust with powers of attorney and healthcare directives, families can reduce uncertainty during transitions. Additionally, a full plan can address business succession, retirement plan trusts, and specific provisions for dependents, thereby minimizing the administrative burden on loved ones and reducing the potential for costly disputes.
When combined with supporting documents such as a pour-over will, general assignment of assets to trust, certification of trust, and HIPAA authorization, a comprehensive plan ensures your financial and medical wishes are aligned and enforceable. Regular reviews keep the plan current with changes in law, asset ownership, and family circumstances. While not every household requires the same level of complexity, many clients in Shandon choose a comprehensive approach to provide clarity, protect beneficiaries, and preserve privacy during a period when loved ones need to focus on personal matters rather than legal administration.
One primary benefit of a comprehensive trust plan is the potential to reduce delay and administrative burdens imposed by the probate process. A properly funded revocable living trust allows successor trustees to locate, manage, and distribute assets without waiting for a court-supervised probate administration in many cases. This can speed distributions to beneficiaries and lower the overall stress associated with estate administration. The trust’s instructions also guide the trustee through responsibilities such as notifying creditors, paying taxes, and handling ongoing obligations, which helps preserve estate value and provide clarity for all parties involved.
A revocable living trust tends to keep matters private because trust administration often occurs outside public probate records. This privacy can be important for families who wish to limit exposure of asset values, beneficiary names, or distribution details. Trusts also allow for nuanced directions, such as staggered distributions or conditions tailored to beneficiary needs, and can include provisions for guardianship nominations and care of pets. The ability to articulate precise instructions provides reassurance that personal wishes will be followed while minimizing misunderstanding and conflict after the grantor’s incapacity or death.
Begin the trust process by compiling a detailed inventory of assets, including real property, bank and investment accounts, retirement accounts, personal property, and business interests. Accurate records of titles, account numbers, and beneficiary designations make funding the trust more efficient and reduce the chance of assets unintentionally remaining outside the trust. Include documents such as deeds, account statements, and insurance policies. This preparation allows your planning meeting to be productive and helps ensure that the trust can be funded properly so your intended plan for distribution and management will operate as intended when needed.
After signing trust documents, actively fund the trust by retitling property and updating account ownership or beneficiary designations where appropriate. Periodically review the trust and supporting documents to account for new assets, changes in family relationships, and updates in the law. Life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or changes in health may require trust amendments to reflect current wishes. Maintaining accurate records and scheduling regular reviews helps ensure the plan remains effective and that assets pass according to your intentions without unnecessary delay or confusion.
People choose a revocable living trust for reasons that include maintaining control during life, providing for management in the event of incapacity, protecting privacy, and simplifying the transfer of property after death. Trusts give grantors the ability to tailor distributions to family members, designate successors, and include provisions for minors or beneficiaries with special needs. For property owners with real estate in multiple places or assets that might otherwise require separate probate actions, a trust can minimize administrative steps and reduce delays for heirs who need access to support and property when a grantor is no longer able to manage affairs.
Another common reason to consider a trust-based plan is the desire to coordinate estate planning with financial and medical decision-making documents. Using a revocable living trust alongside a financial power of attorney, advance health care directive, and HIPAA authorization creates a cohesive plan for ongoing management and care. These combined tools allow you to name trusted people to act on your behalf, protect privacy during administration, and provide clear directives for the care of dependents, distribution of assets, and management of affairs should you become unable to do so yourself.
Certain circumstances often make a revocable living trust a practical choice, including owning real estate in more than one state, having beneficiaries who are minors or who may need staged distributions, owning a family business, or wanting to keep estate matters private. Trusts can also be useful when planning for incapacity, as they name successor trustees who can step in to manage assets immediately and avoid court-appointed conservatorship in many situations. Discussing your personal circumstances with counsel helps determine whether a trust aligns with your goals and how to structure it for maximum clarity and benefit.
When you own real property in multiple jurisdictions, administering an estate can become more complex due to separate probate proceedings or additional legal requirements in each location. A revocable living trust can centralize ownership and administration for trust assets, helping reduce the need for ancillary probate actions. Properly funding the trust with deeds and coordinating property records reduces administrative burdens and helps ensure a smoother transfer to beneficiaries. Early planning and careful titling choices can prevent surprises and reduce time and expense for family members who will manage affairs.
If you have minor children or beneficiaries with special needs, a revocable living trust allows you to set specific terms for how and when distributions occur, including provisions that preserve eligibility for public benefits or create supplemental needs arrangements. You can name knowledgeable trustees, outline support schedules, and create educational or healthcare funding provisions to reflect long-term goals. These tailored instructions provide clarity for caregivers and trustees, reduce the likelihood of conflict, and help ensure that vulnerable beneficiaries receive thoughtful, ongoing support under the terms you set.
Families who wish to keep asset values, beneficiary names, and distribution details out of the public record often prefer a revocable living trust because trust administration tends to occur privately outside probate court files. This privacy can be meaningful for those with sensitive family dynamics or assets they do not want widely disclosed. A trust still requires careful funding and complementary documents to be effective, but when properly implemented it allows for a more discreet transition that focuses on fulfilling the grantor’s intentions without exposing personal financial information to public scrutiny.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves clients in Shandon and throughout California, offering personalized assistance with revocable living trusts and related estate planning documents. We help clients identify appropriate strategies for funding a trust, coordinate pour-over wills, and implement financial and healthcare directives. Our office assists with petitions and trust modifications when circumstances change, and we provide practical guidance on guardianship nominations and other family-oriented planning issues. If you would like to discuss your options for protecting assets and providing for loved ones, call 408-528-2827 to arrange a consultation.
Choosing a legal advisor for estate planning involves finding a firm that listens carefully to your goals, explains options in plain language, and prepares documents that function as intended. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman we focus on creating practical trust plans that reflect each client’s priorities while coordinating necessary supporting documents. We work to make the drafting and funding process straightforward and to prepare a cohesive set of documents that guide family members and trustees when action is needed. Our aim is to deliver dependable, accessible service throughout the planning process.
Local understanding of California law and practical experience with county procedures can make a difference when preparing estate planning documents. We are familiar with procedures in San Luis Obispo County and nearby jurisdictions and tailor recommendations to the realities of multi-jurisdictional ownership or family circumstances. Our approach emphasizes communication and clarity so you can make informed decisions. We help clients review beneficiary designations, prepare pour-over wills, and ensure the trust is properly funded to work as intended when management or distribution becomes necessary.
We prepare a full suite of estate planning documents including revocable living trusts, last wills and testaments, financial powers of attorney, advance health care directives, general assignments of assets to trust, certifications of trust, irrevocable life insurance trusts, retirement plan trusts, special needs trusts, pet trusts, Heggstad petitions, trust modification petitions, pour-over wills, HIPAA authorizations, and guardianship nominations. These documents are coordinated to provide a comprehensive plan that addresses medical decision-making, financial management, and the orderly distribution of assets according to your wishes.
Our process is designed to be clear and manageable. We begin with a thorough intake to understand your assets and goals, draft tailored documents, and guide you through funding the trust so it functions as intended. Throughout each stage we explain options and next steps, prepare necessary deeds and transfer forms, and coordinate related documents such as powers of attorney and health care directives. After execution we provide guidance for maintaining and updating the trust over time so it continues to reflect your wishes as circumstances change.
The initial meeting focuses on gathering information about your assets, family relationships, and planning objectives. We ask about real estate, bank and investment accounts, business interests, retirement accounts, and personal property, as well as any special considerations for beneficiaries. This stage allows us to recommend which documents and trust provisions best meet your needs, and to create a plan for funding the trust. We also discuss nominee trustees, guardianship nominations, and the coordination of powers of attorney and health care directives to provide a comprehensive approach.
During the initial conversation we work to understand your personal objectives, family structure, and any concerns that should shape the plan. Topics may include protecting assets, providing for minor children, accommodating beneficiaries with special needs, and preserving privacy. By discussing potential scenarios and desired outcomes we can design trust provisions that reflect your values. Clear communication at this stage reduces ambiguity later and allows drafting to proceed with confidence that the resulting documents will operate according to your intentions.
A careful review of asset ownership, account registrations, and beneficiary designations is essential to determine which assets should be transferred into the trust and which may remain titled outside it. We examine deeds, retirement accounts, life insurance beneficiary forms, and contract rights to identify funding steps and potential conflicts. Updating beneficiary designations and retitling property, when appropriate, ensures the trust accomplishes its purpose. This review also identifies any items that may require specialized documents such as irrevocable life insurance trusts or retirement plan trusts.
Once goals and assets are documented, we draft a revocable living trust and related forms tailored to your situation. Drafting includes provisions for successor trustees, distribution terms, incapacity management, and any special directions for minor or protected beneficiaries. Supporting documents such as a pour-over will, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives are prepared to complete the plan. We provide clear explanations of the draft documents and make revisions based on your feedback so the final versions reflect the intended results and are ready for signing with appropriate witnessing and notarization.
Drafting includes not only the trust itself but also a pour-over will that captures any assets not transferred into the trust and directs them into the trust at death, along with certification of trust and general assignment of assets forms as needed. We ensure each document’s language is consistent and that the combined set provides a clear roadmap for trustees and family members. When appropriate we also prepare petitions for trust modification or Heggstad petitions to address particular title or probate issues that may arise during administration.
A comprehensive plan includes financial powers of attorney and advance health care directives that name trusted decision-makers for medical and financial matters. We prepare durable powers of attorney that allow a designee to manage finances if you become incapacitated, and healthcare directives that state your treatment preferences and name someone to make medical decisions in line with your wishes. HIPAA authorizations are also prepared to ensure medical providers can communicate with designated individuals. Together these documents ensure continuity of care and financial management when you cannot act for yourself.
Funding the trust and completing a final review are the final steps in the process. Funding typically requires preparing deeds to transfer real property, updating account registrations, and completing assignment forms for personal property. During the final review we confirm that all documents are signed, notarized where appropriate, and that instructions for trustees and beneficiaries are clear. We provide instruction on safekeeping originals and advise on periodic review to keep the plan current. Our goal is to make sure the trust is effective and that your intended arrangements will be honored.
Practical funding steps vary by asset type and may include recording new deeds, changing titles on accounts, notifying financial institutions, and updating beneficiary designations where permitted. We prepare and review the necessary transfer documents and guide you through interactions with banks, title companies, and other institutions so retitling is handled correctly. Completing these steps is essential because an unfunded trust may not prevent probate for assets still titled in the individual’s name. We provide a checklist and assistance to make funding efficient and accurate.
After the trust is in place we recommend periodic reviews to reflect life changes such as births, deaths, marriages, divorces, or changes in financial circumstances. When administration is needed, successor trustees benefit from clear instructions, checklists, and consultation on fiduciary duties. We provide guidance on record keeping, distributions, creditor notice requirements, and tax filings relevant to trust administration. Maintaining current documents and providing trustees with necessary resources reduces uncertainty and helps ensure the plan operates smoothly when management or distribution becomes necessary.
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement in which a person (the grantor) transfers ownership of certain assets into a trust managed under written terms. While alive the grantor can typically serve as trustee and retain control, and the trust can be amended or revoked if wishes change. The trust names successor trustees who will manage and distribute assets according to the instructions provided in the trust document, and it often works together with other estate planning documents to cover financial and healthcare decision-making. A key practical element of a revocable living trust is the funding step: assets intended to be governed by the trust must be retitled or otherwise assigned to it. A trust helps with management during incapacity and can allow for a private transfer of trust assets after death when properly funded and coordinated with supporting documents.
A revocable living trust can help avoid probate for assets that have been properly transferred into the trust’s name because those assets are no longer owned solely by the individual at death. Instead, successor trustees can follow the trust’s terms to manage and distribute trust property without the need for a court-supervised probate in many situations. Avoiding probate often reduces public exposure of estate details and can speed distributions to beneficiaries. Not all assets are transferred automatically, so it is essential to identify which property must be retitled or assigned to the trust. Certain accounts with designated beneficiaries may pass outside the trust, and some items may require additional steps, so a careful review ensures the trust accomplishes the intended goals.
Yes, a revocable living trust is designed to be flexible and may be amended or revoked during the grantor’s lifetime, subject to the terms of the trust and applicable law. This flexibility allows you to update beneficiaries, change trustees, or adjust distribution terms as circumstances change. It is important to follow the trust’s amendment requirements, which typically involve signed written amendments or restatements executed with the same formalities as the original trust. After the grantor’s death the trust generally becomes irrevocable, meaning changes are no longer permitted by the grantor. Prior to that point, regular reviews and documented amendments make sure the trust reflects current wishes and family situations, and we can assist with formalizing any changes.
Yes; even if you create a revocable living trust, a pour-over will is still recommended as a backup to capture any assets not transferred into the trust during lifetime. The pour-over will directs remaining probate assets to the trust so they can be distributed according to the trust’s terms. Wills also provide a mechanism for guardianship nominations for minor children, which is an important consideration for parents. Using both a trust and a will provides redundancy and ensures that assets inadvertently left outside the trust are handled consistently with your plan. Coordinating beneficiary designations and account ownership with the trust reduces the need for probate and aligns all documents with your objectives.
Choosing a successor trustee involves selecting someone you trust to manage and distribute assets responsibly and in line with your wishes. Consider practical qualities such as financial literacy, organizational ability, impartiality, and willingness to serve. Family members, friends, or a professional fiduciary are common choices depending on the complexity of the estate and family dynamics. Naming backup trustees provides added resilience if your first choice is unable or unwilling to act. Clear trust language about trustee powers, compensation, and decision-making authority reduces ambiguity and helps trustees fulfill their duties. Discussing expectations in advance and documenting access details for accounts and records also streamlines administration when the trustee steps in.
A revocable living trust by itself does not typically reduce federal estate taxes because the assets remain within the grantor’s taxable estate while the trust is revocable. However, trusts can be part of broader estate tax planning strategies that include lifetime gifting, the use of irrevocable trusts, or other measures tailored to larger estates. State tax consequences may also depend on local rules, and careful planning can address those concerns when they are relevant. For most clients with estates below federal and state exemption thresholds, the primary advantages of a revocable living trust are management during incapacity, privacy, and streamlined administration rather than direct tax reduction. When tax planning is a priority we coordinate with financial and tax advisors to pursue the appropriate strategies.
The cost to create a revocable living trust varies depending on the complexity of the estate, the number of assets being transferred, and the extent of customization required in the trust provisions. Simple trusts with standard provisions tend to be less costly, while plans that address multiple properties, business interests, or special needs arrangements require more drafting and coordination. The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides a clear explanation of fees during the initial consultation so you understand the scope and cost of the services proposed. Costs can include drafting the trust and related documents, preparation of deeds and transfer paperwork, and follow-up assistance with funding. Investing in thorough planning and proper funding can reduce future administrative expense and potential disputes, which many clients find worthwhile.
The time it takes to set up a revocable living trust depends on the level of detail required and the complexity of asset funding. Drafting the trust and related documents typically takes a few weeks to complete when information is provided promptly and any necessary title changes can be arranged. Property transfers and account retitling may take additional time depending on third-party institutions and local recording offices. To keep the process efficient, prepare documentation listing assets, titles, account numbers, and beneficiary forms in advance. We will provide a timeline during the intake phase and assist with deeds, assignments, and communications with financial institutions to expedite funding and finalize the plan.
Common documents that accompany a revocable living trust include a pour-over will, a financial power of attorney, an advance health care directive, a HIPAA authorization, a certification of trust, and any necessary general assignments of assets to the trust. For some clients additional documents such as irrevocable life insurance trusts, retirement plan trusts, or special needs trusts may be appropriate depending on goals. Documentation is coordinated to form a coherent plan so each piece supports the others and reduces the risk of conflicting instructions. We review the full set of documents with clients before signing, explain how they interact, and prepare any deeds or beneficiary updates needed to fund the trust. Clear instructions and proper execution help ensure the plan functions as intended when management or distributions are required.
Funding a revocable living trust involves transferring ownership of assets into the trust’s name. Common steps include preparing and recording deeds to transfer real property to the trust, retitling bank and investment accounts where allowed, and updating certain beneficiary designations. Personal property can be assigned to the trust with a general assignment document. Some assets, such as retirement accounts, may be better handled through beneficiary designations or a specialized retirement plan trust, depending on tax considerations. Because funding is essential to the trust’s effectiveness, we assist clients in identifying which assets to transfer and prepare the paperwork required by banks, title companies, and other institutions. Completing funding steps promptly reduces the likelihood that assets will inadvertently remain outside the trust and subject to probate.
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