An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) is a focused estate planning tool designed to hold life insurance policies outside of an individual’s probate estate, helping manage how proceeds are distributed and potentially reducing estate-related taxes. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, serving Redwood Shores, San Jose and greater California, we assist clients in creating and funding ILITs that reflect personal goals for family, retirement and charitable giving. The process typically involves drafting trust terms, selecting trustees, coordinating beneficiary designations, and ensuring compliance with California trust and tax considerations so policy proceeds are handled according to your intentions.
An ILIT can be an effective component of a broader estate plan that includes revocable living trusts, pour-over wills and powers of attorney. Establishing an ILIT requires careful timing and coordination, particularly when transferring existing policies or purchasing new coverage through the trust. Grantors should consider gift tax rules, annual exclusion gifting for trust funding, and trust language that governs distributions and trustee powers. Working with a local Redwood Shores law office ensures documents are tailored to California law and the needs of your beneficiaries so the trust functions as intended across changing financial and family circumstances.
An ILIT matters because it separates life insurance proceeds from an estate, which can simplify distribution to heirs and can help minimize how estate assets are taxed or managed through probate. Beyond tax considerations, an ILIT offers clarity about who receives benefits, when distributions occur, and how funds should be used for education, care, or other needs. For families in Redwood Shores and across San Mateo County, an ILIT can be structured to support retirement planning, provide liquidity to settle estate obligations, preserve inheritances for future generations, or support charitable intentions while following California trust laws and personal wishes.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provide estate planning services to clients in Redwood Shores and San Jose with an emphasis on practical, personalized trust solutions. Our approach is collaborative and client-centered: we listen to family goals, review asset profiles including retirement accounts and life insurance, and draft trust instruments that reflect the client’s intentions. We coordinate with financial professionals and trustees to fund and administer ILITs properly. Our work focuses on clear drafting, careful trustee guidance, and ongoing support so trust administration proceeds smoothly for beneficiaries and aligns with California law and family priorities.
An ILIT is created when the grantor transfers ownership or designates a life insurance policy to the trust, which is then controlled by the trustee under the trust’s terms. The trust typically owns the policy and is named as beneficiary, so proceeds bypass probate and are governed by the trust document. Many clients use ILITs to provide liquidity for estate settlement costs, replace inheritances, or fund education and care for beneficiaries. Proper drafting addresses who may receive trust distributions, when distributions are permitted, and whether proceeds will be used for specified purposes, all while complying with applicable federal gift and estate tax rules and California trust law.
Setting up an ILIT also requires attention to practical administration matters, including appointing a trustee who understands fiduciary duties and coordinating with the insurance carrier about premium payments. Funding methods vary: some grantors transfer an existing policy into the trust, while others fund annual gifts to the trust so the trustee can pay premiums. The transfer timing affects whether proceeds remain outside the grantor’s estate for tax purposes, so planning around three-year transfer rules and gift tax considerations is commonly part of the process for clients in Redwood Shores and throughout California.
An ILIT is a trustee-managed agreement that owns life insurance on the grantor and directs how proceeds are used after the grantor’s death. People choose ILITs to keep insurance benefits out of their probate estate and to provide a structured mechanism for distributing funds to heirs or charities. ILITs can include instructions about income or principal distributions, spending for education or healthcare, or conditions that guide beneficiary access. Because the trust is irrevocable, the grantor gives up certain ownership rights, so clear drafting and careful planning are essential to reflect long-term intentions and to ensure compliance with California and federal rules relating to transfers and estate inclusion.
Key elements of an ILIT include trust terms that name the trustee and beneficiaries, provisions for funding and premium payments, and distribution instructions that reflect the grantor’s objectives. The process usually starts with a needs assessment, selection of trustees, and drafting the trust instrument. If transferring an existing policy, assignments and beneficiary updates are executed and coordinated with the insurer. If funding new insurance, the trust becomes the owner and the trustee manages premium payments. Ongoing administration can include tax filings, recordkeeping, and trustee decisions about how and when to distribute proceeds to beneficiaries consistent with the trust terms.
Understanding common terms helps when reviewing ILIT documents. This glossary explains words you will encounter during trust planning and administration, such as grantor, trustee, beneficiary, funding, and gift tax. A clear definition of each term makes it easier to evaluate draft trust language and to communicate with trustees, financial advisors and insurance carriers. Familiarity with these terms allows grantors and beneficiaries in Redwood Shores and San Jose to make informed decisions about trust design, funding strategies, and distribution priorities while ensuring documents align with California legal requirements and your personal objectives.
Grantor refers to the person who creates the ILIT and transfers a life insurance policy or funds into the trust. The grantor sets the trust’s goals and provides initial direction about beneficiaries and distributions, but once the trust is irrevocable, the grantor generally relinquishes ownership rights to the trust assets. Choosing timing and funding methods is central to the grantor’s planning decisions, and these choices can affect estate inclusion, gift tax consequences, and how the trust functions under California law. The grantor’s intentions are memorialized in the trust instrument to guide trustee administration and beneficiary outcomes.
Trustee duties describe the responsibilities of the person or institution managing the ILIT on behalf of the beneficiaries. Duties include administering the trust according to its terms, managing premium payments and trust investments, maintaining accurate records, filing required tax returns, and making distribution decisions consistent with the grantor’s instructions. Trustees must act in the beneficiaries’ best interests and follow the trust provisions and California fiduciary rules. Selecting and instructing a trustee carefully helps ensure the trust operates smoothly and that proceeds are available and used as the grantor intended.
Beneficiary designation refers to naming the trust as beneficiary of the life insurance policy or naming individuals and organizations to receive proceeds under the trust’s terms. When a trust is used as beneficiary, proceeds are managed and distributed by the trustee according to the trust document. Correct beneficiary designation and coordination with the insurance company are essential to ensure proceeds are paid to the intended entity and are administered consistent with the grantor’s plan. Updating designations after major life events helps maintain alignment with estate objectives in California.
Funding and premium payments cover the methods used to keep the ILIT-owned policy in force, such as making annual gifts to the trust to allow the trustee to pay premiums, or transferring an existing policy into the trust. Funding choices affect gift tax treatment and whether death proceeds will be excluded from the grantor’s estate. Proper documentation of gifts, preparation of gift tax filings when necessary, and coordination with the insurer help ensure the trust functions as intended. These mechanics are discussed during initial planning to align funding strategy with broader estate goals.
When considering how to hold life insurance proceeds, options include leaving a policy in the estate, naming individual beneficiaries, or creating an ILIT. Each option has trade-offs: keeping a policy in the estate can complicate probate and estate tax treatment; naming individuals may give them immediate control without structured guidance; and an ILIT places proceeds under trust administration with distribution instructions. Choosing among these approaches depends on priorities such as tax planning, creditor protection, beneficiary age or needs, and the desire for controlled distributions. Local legal guidance helps weigh these options within California’s rules and your personal circumstances.
A limited approach may be appropriate when life insurance proceeds are modest and the grantor’s priority is simplicity. If heirs are financially responsible and there are no complicated creditor or estate tax concerns, naming individuals as policy beneficiaries can allow for direct and quick access to benefits without the ongoing administrative requirements of a trust. In such situations, straightforward beneficiary designations combined with basic estate documents like a pour-over will and powers of attorney provide a practical solution, particularly for families whose financial picture does not require the additional structure of an ILIT.
Some households already have comprehensive trust arrangements that address liquidity, creditor protection and distribution goals, reducing the need for a separate ILIT. If a revocable living trust or other provisions adequately provide for beneficiaries and potential tax strategies, keeping insurance outside of a dedicated ILIT may be reasonable. Coordination with financial and trust documents remains important to avoid unintended results, and regular reviews ensure that existing structures continue to meet family goals under California law and changing circumstances without adding unnecessary complexity.
A comprehensive ILIT strategy is often recommended when estate liquidity is important for settling debts, taxes or a family business without forcing asset sales. For larger estates, properly structured life insurance held in an ILIT can provide cash to beneficiaries in a tax-efficient and probate-avoiding manner. Comprehensive planning coordinates the ILIT with other documents such as retirement plan trusts, pour-over wills, and powers of attorney to ensure proceeds are available when needed and distributed according to your overall estate plan and California regulations.
When beneficiaries include minors, individuals with disabilities, or family members with creditor exposure, a well-drafted ILIT provides structure and protections for distributions. Custom distribution provisions, trustee guidance and integration with special needs planning—such as special needs trusts—help ensure that beneficiaries receive the intended support without jeopardizing public benefits or exposing funds to creditors. A comprehensive approach addresses the full range of family circumstances and aligns the ILIT with other trust-based planning tools commonly used in California estate plans.
A comprehensive approach aligns life insurance ownership with broader estate goals, reducing the risk of unintended probate, providing liquidity at death, and offering flexible distribution mechanisms tailored to beneficiary needs. Comprehensive planning enables coordination among ILITs, revocable trusts, retirement plan trusts and ancillary documents like advance health care directives so that each component supports the overall plan. This integrated design helps families in Redwood Shores and beyond maintain continuity for beneficiaries while balancing tax, administrative and personal considerations under California law.
Comprehensive ILIT planning also supports long-term administration by providing trustees with clear instructions and contingencies for events like trustee succession or changes in beneficiary circumstances. With thorough documentation and coordinated funding arrangements, an ILIT can reduce disputes, simplify trustee decisions, and provide predictable outcomes for heirs. Coordination with financial advisors and insurance carriers ensures premium payments and policy ownership are properly documented to maintain the intended estate planning benefits and to reflect changes in family and financial situations over time.
An ILIT can provide immediate access to funds at the time of a grantor’s death, enabling beneficiaries to cover estate settlement costs without forcing sales of property or other assets. Clear trust provisions and coordinated beneficiary designations ease administration for trustees and reduce probate exposure for policy proceeds. Ensuring the trust contains practical instructions about distributions, trustee powers, and contingencies supports smoother administration and aligns with the grantor’s intentions under California law, benefitting families who need quick access to financial resources after a loss.
A comprehensive ILIT helps protect beneficiary interests by setting conditions for distributions, establishing age or milestone-based releases, and providing trustee guidance for prudent management. These provisions maintain the grantor’s intent across time and changing circumstances, ensuring funds are used for their intended purposes such as education, healthcare, or long-term support. By documenting those intentions and building administrative clarity into the trust, an ILIT reduces conflict among beneficiaries and supports predictable outcomes consistent with the grantor’s wishes and California legal norms.
Make sure the trust is correctly named as the policy owner and beneficiary, and confirm that the insurer has updated records reflecting the transfer or purchase through the ILIT. In many cases, paperwork must be carefully reviewed to prevent a mismatch that could result in proceeds being paid outside the trust. Coordination also includes documenting gifts that fund premium payments and keeping clear records of trustee actions. Taking time to confirm these administrative details helps ensure the ILIT functions as intended when benefits are payable under California practices.
Select a trustee who is willing to administer the trust according to its terms and keep thorough records of premium payments, distributions and communications with beneficiaries. Provide clear written instructions about distribution standards, investment approaches and reporting expectations so trustees can act efficiently and confidently. Trustee succession provisions and backup trustees should be included to avoid administrative gaps. Thoughtful trustee selection and guidance help prevent disputes and ensure the ILIT operates smoothly for the benefit of named beneficiaries in Redwood Shores and beyond.
Families and individuals consider an ILIT when they want to keep life insurance proceeds outside of probate, provide liquidity to heirs, or establish controlled distributions over time. An ILIT can be particularly useful when there are estate tax planning concerns, business succession needs, or beneficiaries who might benefit from trustee-managed distributions rather than immediate lump-sum payments. When combined with other estate planning documents such as revocable living trusts and pour-over wills, an ILIT can play a strategic role in ensuring orderly transfer and management of assets in accordance with the grantor’s intentions.
Considering an ILIT also makes sense when protecting proceeds from potential creditor claims or when donors wish to direct funds for specific purposes like education, healthcare or charitable giving. The trust’s structure allows for flexibility in setting distribution parameters, naming contingent beneficiaries, and outlining trustee duties. Careful drafting and funding help ensure the ILIT provides the protection and guidance desired while complying with gift and estate tax rules and California trust laws, making it a valuable planning tool for many households.
Typical circumstances prompting an ILIT include the need for estate liquidity to pay taxes or debts, planning for business succession, protecting proceeds for vulnerable beneficiaries, and coordinating large life insurance policies with broader estate strategies. Changes in family dynamics such as second marriages, blended families, or beneficiary needs can make structured distribution through an ILIT advantageous. Clients in Redwood Shores and San Jose often consider an ILIT as part of a comprehensive plan that addresses both immediate financial needs and long-term wishes for how life insurance benefits should be applied after a grantor’s death.
When estates include illiquid assets like real estate or closely held business interests, life insurance held in an ILIT provides cash that can be used to pay estate taxes, debts, or equalize distributions among heirs. This liquidity reduces the likelihood that heirs will need to sell assets at unfavorable times to cover obligations, and it helps preserve family-owned property or business continuity. An ILIT structured for liquidity ensures proceeds are available for those purposes and are distributed under the trust’s guidance rather than through probate or direct beneficiary control.
If beneficiaries include minors, individuals with disabilities, or those with creditor exposure, an ILIT can safeguard proceeds by placing them under trustee management and defining permissible uses. The trust can provide staged distributions, spendthrift protections and instructions that help preserve funds for essential needs while avoiding immediate full access. Such protections support a grantor’s desire to provide for loved ones while reducing the risk that proceeds are lost to creditors, mismanagement, or disqualification from public benefits.
When an estate plan includes a revocable living trust, pour-over will, or retirement plan trusts, adding an ILIT creates a cohesive structure for handling life insurance proceeds. Coordination ensures beneficiary designations, trust funding, and distribution rules work together to carry out the grantor’s overall objectives. Proper alignment among these documents reduces administrative complexity, prevents conflicts, and helps ensure that proceeds are handled consistently across different assets and accounts in accordance with California law and the grantor’s intentions.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serve clients in Redwood Shores, San Jose and throughout California with comprehensive estate planning services, including formation and administration of ILITs. We assist with drafting trust documents, coordinating policy transfers, advising on funding methods, and guiding trustees through administration. Our goal is to provide practical, well-drafted plans that reflect client priorities and comply with applicable legal requirements. We also coordinate with other professionals when needed to ensure the trust is integrated with retirement accounts, powers of attorney, pour-over wills and other estate planning components.
Clients choose our Redwood Shores practice because we emphasize clear communication, careful drafting, and practical solutions tailored to family goals. We walk through options for funding life insurance trusts, coordinate necessary beneficiary and ownership changes with insurers, and prepare trust language that reflects long-term distribution goals and contingencies. The firm’s approach focuses on minimizing administrative challenges for trustees and providing beneficiaries with a straightforward path to receive benefits according to the client’s plan.
Our team prioritizes client education so grantors understand the mechanics and implications of an ILIT, including funding choices, gift tax rules, and trustee responsibilities. We prepare the paperwork needed to transfer ownership or to allow the trust to purchase a new policy, and we advise on how an ILIT fits within a wider estate plan that may include revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, powers of attorney and health care directives. This coordination helps families create a cohesive strategy for the future.
We also help trustees and family members with administrative matters after a trust is in place, such as recordkeeping, premium payments, and distribution decisions consistent with the trust terms. Our aim is to reduce friction during administration, clarify trustee duties, and assist beneficiaries in understanding their rights and responsibilities under the trust. Families in Redwood Shores and San Jose value this hands-on assistance during what can be a stressful time.
Our ILIT process begins with a consultation to review your goals, insurance holdings and family circumstances. We draft trust documents tailored to those goals, advise on funding and premium strategies, and coordinate necessary transfers or purchases with the insurance carrier. Once the trust is in place, we provide instructions for trustees on recordkeeping and administration and can assist with any necessary tax filings or trust amendments that reflect changed circumstances. Our focus is on clarity, compliance with California law, and practical support during implementation and administration.
The first step is a detailed meeting to assess your assets, life insurance policies, family dynamics and estate objectives. We review how an ILIT would interact with existing estate planning documents and discuss funding methods and timing. This assessment identifies potential issues, such as transfer timing or coordination with retirement plan trusts, and sets the stage for drafting trust provisions that reflect your instructions and California legal considerations. The goal is to develop a tailored plan that meets immediate needs and long-term priorities.
During the initial phase we gather details about life insurance policies, ownership forms, beneficiary designations, and related estate documents. We also discuss family relationships, potential future needs of beneficiaries, and any business interests or special planning concerns. This information allows us to recommend whether a separate ILIT is appropriate, how it should be funded, and how it should interact with other planning tools to achieve your objectives while following California rules.
We evaluate whether to transfer an existing policy to the ILIT or have the trust acquire new coverage, review gift tax considerations, and discuss the annual exclusion approach for premium funding. Timing is important, particularly with transfers near the date of death, and we explain rules that affect estate inclusion and tax consequences. This assessment results in a recommended approach for funding the trust while balancing administrative simplicity and planning goals.
Once a plan is agreed upon, we prepare the trust document with clear provisions governing trustee powers, beneficiary distributions, funding instructions and contingencies. We coordinate the necessary assignments, beneficiary designation updates, and insurer paperwork. The execution phase includes guiding clients through signatures, notarization and transferring ownership or arranging for the trust to be named owner/beneficiary as intended. Clear documentation helps prevent errors that could compromise the trust’s intended benefits under California law.
Drafting includes specifying distribution standards, trustee powers, successor trustee provisions and any special limitations or uses for proceeds. We discuss potential trustee candidates and responsibilities so clients can name appropriate fiduciaries. The trust language is tailored to reflect whether the trust will serve short-term liquidity needs or long-term stewardship of policy proceeds, always with an eye toward administration and beneficiary protections.
We work directly with insurance carriers to confirm policy assignments, ownership changes and beneficiary designations, and consult with financial advisors when needed to align the ILIT with broader asset management strategies. Documentation of premium funding and gift records is organized to support the intended tax and estate treatment. Coordination reduces the risk of administrative errors and ensures the trust is set up to operate as planned.
After formation, trustees need to manage premium payments, maintain accurate records, handle any required tax filings, and make distributions according to the trust. We provide trustee instruction packets, assist with documentation of gifts and payments, and can advise trustees on discretionary distribution decisions consistent with the trust terms. Ongoing attention ensures the ILIT remains properly funded and positioned to deliver the intended benefits to beneficiaries when a claim arises.
Trustees should maintain detailed records of all premium payments, gifts to the trust, correspondence with insurers, and any distributions made to beneficiaries. Good recordkeeping supports transparent administration and eases reporting obligations. We help establish practical procedures for trustees so that administration is clear, defensible and aligned with the trust’s instructions and California legal requirements.
When the time comes to claim the policy proceeds, trustees must file required documentation with the insurance company and administer distributions per the trust. We assist trustees through the claims process, help interpret trust provisions for distribution decisions, and advise on tax or reporting matters that may arise. Our guidance aims to reduce administrative friction and to ensure beneficiaries receive the trust proceeds in accordance with the grantor’s expressed wishes.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a trust that owns and controls a life insurance policy, with a trustee managing the policy and its proceeds for the benefit of named beneficiaries. When a policy is owned by an ILIT, proceeds are paid to the trust rather than directly to individuals, allowing the trustee to distribute funds according to the trust’s instructions. Owning a policy personally means proceeds may be subject to probate and estate administration and are controlled by beneficiary designations, which may not offer structured distribution or long-term stewardship. The trust structure provides a framework for distributing proceeds according to the grantor’s intentions, such as setting staged distributions or specifying uses like education or healthcare. Because the trust owns the policy, the grantor generally loses ownership control, so careful planning and clear trust language are important to ensure the ILIT accomplishes the desired estate planning goals under California law.
Once an ILIT owns a policy, beneficiary designations are typically coordinated so the trust is the named beneficiary and the trustee administers distributions. This structure limits the grantor’s ability to change beneficiaries unilaterally because ownership and beneficiary control rest with the trust. If a grantor wishes to preserve flexibility, options may include naming contingent beneficiaries or drafting limited revocation mechanisms before making the trust irrevocable, all while considering the implications for estate inclusion and gift tax rules. Any changes after the trust holds the policy require compliance with trust terms and coordination with the trustee, and in many cases, significant modifications may not be possible without court approval or trustee consent. Discussing intended changes with the drafting attorney and setting clear provisions up front helps avoid unintended restrictions and ensures desired flexibility within the trust’s legal structure.
Premium payments for a policy owned by an ILIT are typically made by the trustee using funds that have been gifted to the trust for that purpose or by other trust assets. Grantors often use annual exclusion gifts to transfer funds to the trust so the trustee can pay premiums without immediate gift tax consequences. Proper documentation of gifts and clear instructions about premium payment timing are important to maintain the policy in force and preserve intended tax treatment. If premium funding is not managed properly, the policy could lapse, undermining the trust’s purpose. Trustees must keep detailed records of gifts and payments and coordinate with the insurer about payment schedules. Legal guidance helps ensure funding strategies align with the grantor’s intentions and California legal and tax considerations.
An ILIT can help reduce the taxable estate by placing life insurance proceeds outside the grantor’s probate estate, provided transfers are done with attention to timing and legal rules. Transfers made well in advance of death generally avoid inclusion in the estate, while transfers within certain lookback periods may still be treated as part of the estate for tax purposes. Planning the timing of transfers and documenting gift funding strategies are part of the analysis when an ILIT is used to address estate tax exposure. While California does not have a separate statewide estate tax, federal estate tax considerations and estate liquidity needs often make ILITs beneficial for larger estates. Each situation is different, so evaluating how an ILIT fits with other planning tools and current tax rules helps determine its potential effectiveness for minimizing estate-related burdens.
If a trustee is unable or unwilling to serve after the grantor’s death, the trust should name successor trustees to ensure continuity of administration. Well-drafted ILITs include backup trustee provisions and instructions for trustee succession, which helps avoid administrative gaps and potential disputes. If no successor is named or available, California courts may appoint a fiduciary to administer the trust, which can introduce delay and additional cost during an already stressful time for the family. Selecting reliable successor trustees and setting clear guidance about their duties reduces the risk of interruption. It is also useful to discuss trustee expectations with potential candidates in advance so they understand the responsibilities associated with managing insurance proceeds on behalf of beneficiaries.
Whether to transfer an existing policy into an ILIT or have the trust purchase a new policy depends on factors such as the policy’s age, insurability, premium costs and tax timing concerns. Transferring a current policy is common, but if the transfer occurs shortly before death it could be included in the estate. Purchasing a new policy through the trust avoids transfer timing issues but requires underwriting and may involve different premium costs. Evaluating these trade-offs helps determine the most appropriate approach for your circumstances. Discussing options with legal and financial advisors helps ensure the chosen route aligns with funding plans, gift tax considerations and long-term estate objectives. This coordination helps maintain the policy and prevent unintended tax or administrative consequences under California planning practices.
An ILIT complements other estate documents by creating a specific vehicle for life insurance proceeds while revocable trusts, pour-over wills and powers of attorney address broader asset management and distribution. Coordination ensures beneficiary designations and trust terms do not conflict and that each document supports the overall estate plan. For example, a pour-over will can transfer residual assets into a revocable trust, while the ILIT specifically handles life insurance benefits under its distribution rules. Regular plan reviews keep documents aligned as family circumstances and assets change. Integrating the ILIT into the broader plan provides clarity for trustees and beneficiaries and promotes consistent administration across the grantor’s estate planning instruments in California.
An ILIT can offer protection from creditor claims and divorce proceedings in some instances by placing proceeds under trust control and limiting direct beneficiary ownership. Spendthrift-style provisions and trustee-managed distributions can help shield funds from immediate claims when drafted appropriately. However, protections depend on the trust’s terms, applicable state law, and the timing of transfers, so results vary by circumstance and legal context. It is important to evaluate an ILIT along with asset protection strategies and to understand limitations under California law. Properly structured trust language and timely implementation increase the likelihood that proceeds are protected and administered in a manner consistent with the grantor’s goals.
When beneficiaries include minors or individuals with disabilities, an ILIT provides mechanisms for staged distributions, trustee discretion and safeguards to prevent depletion of assets. For beneficiaries receiving public benefits, coordination with special needs planning is important to avoid jeopardizing eligibility. Combining an ILIT with other trust vehicles, such as trusts designed for special needs, ensures funds provide support without interfering with government assistance. Clear instructions regarding permissible uses of trust funds and careful trustee selection support responsible administration. Planning ahead and specifying distribution standards help trustees make decisions that reflect the grantor’s intentions while protecting beneficiaries’ long-term interests under California planning principles.
Reviewing an ILIT periodically ensures the trust continues to meet your needs as family, financial and legal circumstances change. Life events such as births, deaths, marriages, divorces, or significant changes in assets may prompt updates to related estate planning documents or funding strategies, although the core ILIT instrument is irrevocable and often not easily changed. Regular reviews with your attorney help identify whether amendments, successor trustee updates or other administrative actions are necessary. Even if the trust itself is not amended, confirming that premium funding, policy ownership records and beneficiary designations remain aligned with the trust is important. Periodic checks reduce the risk of administrative errors and help maintain the intended benefits for beneficiaries under current California rules and your evolving priorities.
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