A revocable living trust is a flexible estate planning tool many Gilroy residents use to manage assets during life and provide a smooth transition after death. This guide explains how a revocable living trust operates, common components such as pour-over wills and certification of trust, and the practical steps involved in creating and funding a trust. It also clarifies how this trust interacts with related documents like advance health care directives, powers of attorney, and guardianship nominations to form a complete plan tailored to your family and financial needs in Santa Clara County.
Choosing a revocable living trust can help reduce delays and simplify the administration of your estate for loved ones, while maintaining control of assets during your lifetime. This section outlines benefits such as continuity of management during incapacity, privacy compared to probate, and ease of transferring property held in trust. It also highlights practical considerations like the need to transfer titles and update beneficiary designations, and emphasizes how thoughtful planning integrates with retirement plans, life insurance arrangements, and special needs or pet trusts when appropriate for your circumstances.
A revocable living trust provides several advantages that may improve how your affairs are handled if you become incapacitated or pass away. It can allow a successor to manage assets without court supervision, preserve family privacy by avoiding probate proceedings, and offer straightforward mechanisms for distributing property to beneficiaries. Additionally, a properly funded trust can reduce administrative burden and potential delays for survivors, and can be combined with other documents like a pour-over will and financial power of attorney to create a cohesive plan tailored to your financial and family goals in Gilroy and throughout Santa Clara County.
Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman has served families in San Jose, Gilroy, and throughout Santa Clara County with estate planning services focused on practical results and clear communication. Our approach emphasizes listening to each client’s priorities, drafting documents that address family dynamics and financial realities, and guiding clients through funding and implementation steps. We prepare revocable living trusts alongside supporting documents, and we assist with trust management, trust modification petitions, and other post-creation needs so clients can feel confident their plans reflect current wishes and legal requirements under California law.
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement in which a person transfers assets into a trust they can modify or revoke during their life, retaining control while naming a successor trustee to manage or distribute assets later. Establishing a trust involves drafting clear trust terms, identifying beneficiaries, selecting trustees, and transferring ownership of assets into the trust. The trust document can be paired with a pour-over will to catch any assets not transferred during life, and it functions as part of a coordinated estate plan that addresses incapacity, health directives, and powers of attorney to ensure continuity of decision-making.
Creating an effective revocable living trust requires attention to funding, beneficiary designations, and the precise language governing trustee powers and distribution terms. Proper funding means retitling real estate, bank accounts, investment accounts, and certain personal property in the name of the trust, or otherwise designating the trust as beneficiary. Without funding, a trust may offer limited practical benefits. Additionally, the trust should be reviewed periodically to reflect changes in relationships, assets, or goals, and to coordinate with retirement accounts, life insurance, and any irrevocable trusts that may be part of your broader plan.
A revocable living trust is a written document that establishes a fiduciary structure for holding and managing assets during the settlor’s life and for distribution on incapacity or death. The person who creates the trust normally serves as trustee while alive and appoints successor trustees to act if they are unable to manage their affairs or after their death. Because the trust can be amended or revoked, it allows flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances. Trust language should clearly specify management powers, successor appointment procedures, and distribution provisions to avoid ambiguity for successors and beneficiaries.
Establishing a revocable living trust typically involves identifying the assets to fund the trust, drafting trust provisions that reflect your goals, and executing the document according to California legal formalities. Important elements include naming trustees and beneficiaries, defining successor trustee powers and successor distribution terms, and including provisions for incapacity management. After drafting, funding requires changing ownership titles or beneficiary designations so the trust holds the intended assets. Additionally, pairing a trust with a pour-over will, powers of attorney, and health care directives helps ensure comprehensive protection for you and your family.
Understanding common terms helps demystify the estate planning process and ensures that decisions match your intentions. This section defines frequently used words such as trustee, beneficiary, pour-over will, funding, and certification of trust. Clear definitions help you review draft documents with confidence. If any term feels unclear, ask for plain-language explanations and examples showing how a clause functions in real life. Being informed about these concepts makes it easier to take the steps necessary to implement a revocable living trust that aligns with your family, financial, and health care planning goals.
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement that holds assets under terms set by the person who creates the trust and can be changed or revoked during that person’s lifetime. It names a trustee to manage the trust assets and successor trustees to act in the event of incapacity or death. The trust document outlines how assets will be managed and distributed, and it can be designed to provide ongoing management, asset protection for certain scenarios, and privacy by avoiding probate proceedings. Proper funding is essential for the trust to function as intended.
A pour-over will works alongside a revocable living trust by directing any assets that were not transferred to the trust during life to be transferred into the trust at death. It acts as a safety net to ensure assets end up under the trust’s distribution scheme, although assets passing under a will may still require probate to transfer to the trust. The pour-over will should be drafted to mirror trust intentions and to minimize confusion, and it should be reviewed periodically to remain consistent with changes in assets or family circumstances.
A trustee is the person or entity responsible for managing the trust assets according to the trust document’s terms for the benefit of the beneficiaries. The initial trustee often manages the trust during the settlor’s lifetime, and successor trustees take over if the initial trustee becomes unable to serve or after their death. Trustee responsibilities include investing assets prudently, keeping accurate records, communicating with beneficiaries, and carrying out distributions as directed by the trust document. Selection of trustees should consider availability, financial competence, and impartiality.
A certification of trust is a shortened document that provides key information about a trust—such as trustee identity and trustee powers—without disclosing the full trust terms or beneficiary details. It is commonly used when banks, title companies, or other institutions need proof of the trust’s existence and the trustee’s authority to act on behalf of the trust. The certification helps protect privacy while enabling transactions, and it should be prepared to comply with institutional requirements and California practice.
When selecting among estate planning tools, consider ease of administration, privacy, cost, and how each option handles incapacity. A revocable living trust typically offers greater privacy and smoother asset management upon disability compared to a simple will, which requires probate to transfer most assets. Powers of attorney and health care directives address decision-making during incapacity and work with either document. For some estates, a limited planning approach may be enough, while for more complex family or asset situations, a trust-centered plan provides continuity and tailored distribution terms without court involvement.
For individuals with modest assets and straightforward family situations, a limited estate plan that includes a will, financial power of attorney, and health care directive may adequately address common concerns. Such a plan can name guardians for minor children, provide clear instructions for medical decision-making, and set beneficiary designations for life insurance and retirement accounts. When assets consist mainly of accounts with designated beneficiaries or small-value property, the effort and expense of a trust may not be justified, though each situation benefits from a review to confirm whether probate avoidance or continuity during incapacity is needed.
If an individual’s assets are largely payable-on-death accounts or beneficiary-designated contracts and there is a single intended beneficiary, a simple estate plan can provide a direct route for asset transfer without the additional steps of funding a trust. This approach relies on effective beneficiary designations and clear directives for incapacity. However, even in these situations it is important to confirm that beneficiary forms are current, and to assess whether other documents like guardianship nominations or healthcare directives should be added to address unforeseen incapacity or family changes.
When family situations involve second marriages, blended families, or beneficiaries with special needs, a comprehensive plan anchored by a revocable living trust can provide tailored distribution instructions and protections to help minimize disputes. Trust provisions can set conditions for distributions, establish mechanisms for ongoing management for minors or individuals needing assistance, and coordinate assets so that stepchildren and biological children receive intended shares. Careful drafting helps ensure that distributions reflect long-term goals while addressing tax and public-benefit considerations as appropriate.
Estates that include significant real property, business interests, or illiquid assets often benefit from a trust-centered plan because it provides clear instructions for management and transfer without court supervision. A trust can facilitate the orderly management of assets when the settlor becomes incapacitated and can prevent the delays associated with probate. Trust documents can allocate responsibilities for property upkeep, succession of management for business interests, and phased distributions to beneficiaries, all of which help protect asset value and family relationships over time.
A comprehensive estate plan built around a revocable living trust offers multiple benefits including enhanced continuity of asset management, reduced need for court involvement, and clearer instructions for successor trustees and beneficiaries. It can preserve family privacy because trust administration generally occurs outside the public probate process, and it can be structured to address incapacity by appointing successor trustees with authority to manage trust property. A well-coordinated plan also aligns beneficiary designations, retirement accounts, and insurance policies with trust objectives to avoid unintended results.
Beyond administrative advantages, a comprehensive approach enables thoughtful distribution provisions for different classes of beneficiaries and life stages, such as minor children or adult beneficiaries who may need ongoing financial support. It allows for integration with documents like irrevocable life insurance trusts or special needs trusts when appropriate, and it supports mechanisms for future modification through trust amendment or, where required, trust modification petitions. This proactive planning minimizes surprises for loved ones while providing a framework for orderly long-term management of assets.
One significant benefit of a revocable living trust is continuity of management if the trust creator becomes incapacitated. The trust names a successor trustee who can step in without a court-appointed conservatorship, enabling prompt access to funds and ongoing management of property, bills, and taxes. This continuity helps maintain financial stability and ensures that regular obligations are met, all while preserving privacy. Clear trust provisions about incapacity and successor authority reduce confusion, making it easier for families and designated trustees to act in the settlor’s best interests when needed.
A trust-centered plan can protect family privacy because trust administration typically takes place privately, unlike probate court proceedings which are public. Avoiding probate can also reduce delays in asset distribution and help beneficiaries gain access to assets more quickly. Privacy is particularly valuable for families with sensitive assets or business interests, where public disclosure of asset values or heirship could cause complications. Trust administration still requires proper recordkeeping and communication with beneficiaries, but it allows the family to address matters discreetly and with greater control over timing and process.
Start the trust process by compiling a thorough inventory of your assets, including real estate, bank and investment accounts, retirement plans, insurance policies, business interests, and valuable personal property. Note account numbers, title ownership, and current beneficiary designations. This inventory helps determine what must be retitled or otherwise assigned to the trust and highlights potential gaps where a pour-over will or updated beneficiary designation is needed. A clear asset list also streamlines conversations about distribution priorities and makes funding the trust more efficient for you and your appointed trustee.
An estate plan should be reviewed periodically to accommodate changes in family circumstances, asset composition, or goals. Life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or significant changes in financial holdings may require amendments to trust provisions, beneficiary designations, or trusteeship choices. Regular review ensures that the plan remains aligned with current intentions and that all funding and supporting documents are up to date. Additionally, reviewing documents helps identify whether new planning tools like special needs trusts or irrevocable arrangements might be warranted.
People consider revocable living trusts for several reasons, including the desire for smoother asset management during incapacity, privacy for family affairs, and orderly distribution of property without the delays of probate. A trust can also address complex distribution goals, support blended family arrangements, and allow for ongoing management of assets for beneficiaries who may need assistance. For Gilroy residents with real property, business interests, or multiple types of accounts, a trust-centered plan offers coordination and clarity that can reduce stress for loved ones at difficult times.
Another reason to choose a revocable living trust is the ability to plan for contingencies with specific instructions for successor trustees, alternative distributions, and provisions that reflect personal values such as care for a family member with disabilities or provisions for pets. When paired with powers of attorney and advance health care directives, a trust creates a comprehensive framework addressing both financial and medical decision-making. Considering these benefits in light of family dynamics and asset structure helps determine whether a trust-based plan is the right fit for your situation.
Revocable living trusts are commonly used when individuals want to avoid probate, provide continuity during incapacity, manage complex family situations, or protect privately held assets. Homeowners in Gilroy who own real estate in their name and wish to avoid county probate procedures often create trusts and retitle property. Similarly, people with blended families or beneficiaries who require managed distributions find trusts helpful for setting terms that reduce ambiguity and potential conflicts. Trusts are also used when individuals want a private process for handling their affairs rather than a public probate estate.
Homeowners who hold real estate in their own name frequently use revocable living trusts to avoid probate proceedings for property transfers at death. By retitling the property into the trust during life, the successor trustee can transfer ownership to beneficiaries under the trust terms without court involvement. This can speed up the transition, reduce public disclosure of estate details, and provide certainty for buyers or co-owners. Proper documentation and updated deeds are important to ensure that real property transfers occur as intended under the trust arrangement.
Individuals concerned about becoming unable to manage their finances often create revocable living trusts to ensure someone can manage assets without needing court-appointed conservatorship. The trust allows a successor trustee to access funds for health care, household expenses, and ongoing obligations, minimizing disruption. Including clear incapacity definitions and successor trustee authority in the trust document helps family members act promptly when necessary, and coordinates with powers of attorney and health care directives to address both financial and medical decision-making needs.
When planning for minor children or beneficiaries who need ongoing support, a revocable living trust can establish mechanisms for staged distributions, funds for education, and management safeguards to protect inheritances over time. The trust can name a successor trustee to oversee funds until beneficiaries reach specified ages or milestones, and it can include terms that preserve eligibility for public benefits when appropriate by coordinating with special needs trusts. Thoughtful trust language reduces uncertainty about how resources are used and helps ensure long-term financial care for vulnerable beneficiaries.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides local assistance for residents of Gilroy and Santa Clara County who are establishing or updating revocable living trusts. We guide clients through drafting trust documents, funding assets, and integrating supporting documents like advance health care directives and financial powers of attorney. Our firm assists with filing necessary paperwork, preparing certification of trust documents for financial institutions, and advising on practical steps to ensure the trust functions as intended while reflecting the client’s current family and financial circumstances.
Clients choose our office for practical, client-focused estate planning services that prioritize clear communication and workable documents. We take time to understand personal goals, family relationships, and asset structures before drafting trust provisions and related documents. That process helps ensure that the trust aligns with distribution preferences, incapacity planning needs, and long-term management expectations. Our approach aims to reduce uncertainty for families and to provide straightforward guidance on funding and implementing the trust in accordance with California practice.
We provide hands-on assistance with the procedural steps often required after drafting, including retitling real property, coordinating with financial institutions, and preparing documentation like certification of trust for third parties. This practical follow-through helps avoid common pitfalls that can leave assets outside the trust. The firm also answers questions about interactions with retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and tax considerations so clients can make informed choices about beneficiaries and funding strategies that support broader estate planning goals.
Beyond initial creation, we assist clients with trust administration matters, trust modification petitions when circumstances change, and preparation of related documents such as pour-over wills and HIPAA authorizations. Our role includes advising trustees and beneficiaries on their duties and available options, and providing representation if disputes arise. By offering attentive service throughout the planning lifecycle, we help families maintain a cohesive plan that responds to changing needs and protects the settlor’s intentions over time.
Our process begins with an initial consultation to review your family, assets, and objectives, followed by preparation of a draft trust and supporting documents tailored to your needs. We discuss funding steps and assist with retitling or beneficiary designations as appropriate. After execution, we provide instructions and documentation to help you complete funding and maintain records. Should circumstances change, we advise on amendments or trust modification petitions. Throughout, we focus on clear explanations and practical actions to ensure the plan functions as intended.
The first step involves identifying your goals and compiling a comprehensive list of assets, titles, and beneficiary designations. We discuss family dynamics, desired distributions, and any special planning needs such as provisions for minors, special needs, or pets. This review determines whether a revocable living trust is appropriate and what supporting documents are required. It also reveals which assets must be retitled or have beneficiary designations updated to ensure the trust receives intended property during life or at death.
During the planning meeting we explore your objectives for asset distribution, decisions about successor trustees, and any concerns about incapacity or family disputes. We talk about the timing of distributions, whether staggered distributions are preferred, and how to provide for dependents while preserving eligibility for public benefits if needed. This conversation helps shape trust provisions that reflect personal values and practical needs, and it sets the framework for drafting documents that match your intentions and reduce ambiguity for successors and beneficiaries.
A careful inventory of real property, bank and investment accounts, retirement plans, life insurance policies, and business interests is essential to determine funding needs. We examine current titles and beneficiary forms to identify changes necessary to implement the trust plan. This process also helps uncover assets that may unintentionally pass outside the trust, and we provide guidance on how to correct those gaps. Accurate documentation created during this stage simplifies funding and reduces the risk of unintended probate for assets that should be held by the trust.
Once planning decisions are finalized, we prepare the trust document and related instruments such as pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. The draft sets out trustee powers, successor trustee appointments, distribution terms, and any special provisions for children or beneficiaries with particular needs. We review the documents with you, explain practical implications, and make revisions as requested. After approval, we assist with proper execution formalities to ensure the documents are legally effective under California law.
Drafting requires translating planning decisions into clear trust language that specifies management powers, distribution conditions, and procedures for successor trustees. Supporting documents such as pour-over wills, advance directives, and powers of attorney are prepared to complement the trust and cover assets or decisions not directly controlled by the trust. We aim for clarity to reduce later disputes and to make trustee responsibilities straightforward. Each document is reviewed to ensure consistency and to address potential conflicts between beneficiary designations and trust provisions.
After drafting, we coordinate signing and notarization as required, provide copies to relevant parties when appropriate, and prepare certification of trust documents for institutions that require proof of trustee authority. We explain how and when to deliver documents to successor trustees, and we provide written guidance about the funding steps needed to effectuate the trust. Clear instructions and organized documentation help clients complete the practical steps necessary to have a functioning trust that reflects their objectives.
The final step focuses on funding the trust, which may include retitling real estate, updating account ownership, and coordinating beneficiary designations for life insurance and retirement plans. We assist with these tasks and provide checklists and templates to help you document transfers. After funding, periodic reviews are recommended to confirm that the plan continues to match your goals as assets and family circumstances change. We remain available to advise on amendments, trust modification petitions, and administration issues that arise over time.
To complete funding, we help clients prepare deeds to retitle real property, provide guidance to financial institutions on transferring accounts, and assist with beneficiary designation changes where appropriate. These practical steps are essential to ensure assets are held by the trust and will be administered according to its terms. We also prepare documentation such as certification of trust to present to third parties, and provide direction on organizing records for successor trustees so trust administration proceeds efficiently when needed.
After the trust is funded, ongoing maintenance includes reviewing beneficiary designations, updating the trust for life changes, and revisiting trustee choices as circumstances evolve. Periodic plan reviews are recommended after major life events and periodically for tax or legal changes that may affect your plan. We assist with amendments, trust modification petitions when necessary, and providing guidance to trustees and beneficiaries about administration duties to help ensure the trust remains effective and aligned with your intentions over time.
A revocable living trust and a will both direct how assets should be handled at death, but they operate differently. A will becomes effective only after death and typically requires probate to distribute assets that are titled in the decedent’s name. A revocable living trust can hold assets during life and provide directions for management and distribution without court involvement, offering more privacy and continuity. The trust also provides mechanisms for managing assets if the creator becomes incapacitated, which a will does not address. Deciding between or combining these tools depends on your goals and asset structure. Many people use a pour-over will alongside a trust to capture any assets not transferred during life, ensuring they ultimately fall under the trust’s terms. Whether a trust is advantageous depends on factors like real property ownership, family complexity, and preferences about probate avoidance and management during incapacity. A tailored review helps determine the right combination for your situation.
Funding a revocable living trust requires transferring ownership or beneficiary designation of assets into the trust’s name. For real estate, this usually means preparing and recording a deed that conveys the property to the trust. Bank and brokerage accounts can be retitled or a financial institution can accept the trust as account owner. For retirement accounts and life insurance, naming the trust as beneficiary may be an option, though those assets have special tax considerations and often remain individually owned until distribution. A careful inventory and step-by-step approach minimize oversights that can leave assets outside the trust. We provide checklists, assist with deed preparation, and coordinate with financial institutions to confirm acceptable documentation. Because each institution has specific requirements, coordinating transfers and keeping clear records helps ensure the trust receives assets as intended and that successor trustees can manage property smoothly when the time comes.
Yes, a revocable living trust can generally be amended or revoked by the person who created it at any time while they have the legal capacity to do so. This flexibility allows the settlor to update beneficiaries, substitute trustees, change distribution terms, or alter incapacity provisions as family and financial circumstances evolve. Amendments should be made in writing and executed with the same formalities required for the original trust to ensure enforceability under California law. Although revocability offers flexibility, frequent or informal changes can create confusion for successor trustees and beneficiaries, so documenting revisions carefully is important. If circumstances require more significant alterations such as changes in tax planning or complex restructuring, we can assist with properly drafted amendments or with preparing petitions if court involvement becomes necessary for certain types of modifications.
A properly funded revocable living trust can help your family avoid probate for the assets that are titled in the trust’s name. Assets held in the trust at death are administered according to the trust document, typically allowing for transfer without court-supervised probate proceedings. This can save time, reduce public exposure of estate details, and streamline distribution for beneficiaries. However, assets that are not transferred into the trust may still be subject to probate unless they pass to a beneficiary by designation or other nonprobate mechanism. Avoiding probate depends largely on the completeness of the funding process and the types of assets involved. For homeowners in Gilroy, retitling real estate into the trust is a common step to prevent property from needing probate. Reviewing account titles, beneficiary designations, and the coordination of estate documents helps ensure that the trust accomplishes the intended probate-avoidance goals and reduces administrative burdens for loved ones.
In many cases, a revocable living trust does not change the basic federal or state tax treatment of assets during the settlor’s lifetime because the settlor retains control and the trust is generally treated as a grantor trust for income tax purposes. For estate tax purposes, assets in a revocable trust are typically included in the settlor’s taxable estate. California does not currently impose a state-level estate tax, but federal estate tax considerations can influence planning for larger estates. Tax consequences for beneficiaries depend on the types of assets and how distributions are structured. Because tax implications can be complex—especially for retirement accounts or assets with appreciated value—coordinating trust provisions with tax planning is important. Beneficiary distributions from an estate or trust can have income tax consequences, and different asset types may require distinct strategies to minimize tax burdens. Consulting with knowledgeable tax and legal advisors helps align the trust with tax-efficient transfer approaches while meeting your distribution objectives.
Choosing a trustee and successor trustee involves weighing availability, judgment, financial responsibility, and willingness to serve. Many people name a trusted family member or friend who understands family dynamics, or they may choose a professional fiduciary when impartial management or continuity is desired. Successor trustees should be able to act if the initial trustee becomes incapacitated or passes away, and naming alternates provides redundancy in case a chosen trustee cannot serve. When selecting trustees, consider communication skills, recordkeeping ability, and potential conflicts of interest. Trustees have fiduciary duties to administer the trust prudently and in beneficiaries’ best interests, which includes handling investments, paying bills, and preparing accountings. Discussing the role ahead of time with potential trustees helps ensure they are prepared to accept responsibilities and reduces the risk of disputes later on.
If you already have a will but want a trust, the common approach is to consult about your goals and whether converting to a trust-based plan makes sense given your assets and family situation. We can draft a revocable living trust and a pour-over will to ensure assets not transferred during life are captured by the trust at death. Transitioning to a trust may also involve retitling property and updating beneficiary designations so the trust functions as intended. A review of existing documents is critical to identify conflicts between the will and the new trust, and to confirm that beneficiary designations align with trust terms. We help coordinate changes so the overall plan is consistent, provide guidance on necessary funding steps, and advise on whether additional documents like powers of attorney or advance directives should be updated alongside the trust.
A pour-over will operates with a revocable living trust by directing any assets not already transferred into the trust to be transferred into the trust upon your death. The pour-over will functions as a safety net to ensure that assets discovered after trust creation still pass according to the trust’s terms. However, assets transferred by will typically pass through probate before being moved into the trust, so relying solely on a pour-over will does not always avoid probate for those assets. Because of the probate implication, relying on a pour-over will should be accompanied by a careful funding plan to move significant assets into the trust during life when feasible. The will and trust should be drafted to work together, and periodic reviews help confirm that the pour-over will remains consistent with trust provisions and updated beneficiary designations.
A trust can be structured to provide financial support for a beneficiary who also receives public benefits, but this requires careful planning to avoid disqualifying the beneficiary from means-tested programs. One commonly used technique is to create a supplemental needs trust or special needs trust that holds assets for the beneficiary’s supplemental needs without being treated as countable income or resources for public benefits. Such trusts must be drafted with precise language about permissible uses and distribution discretion to preserve benefits eligibility. Coordinating with public-benefit rules and considering whether the trust should be revocable or irrevocable are important decisions that affect eligibility and flexibility. Working with counsel who understands public-benefit planning helps ensure the trust provides meaningful support while protecting access to needed government programs, and that distribution language and trustee discretion are carefully tailored to meet both objectives.
If you fail to fund your trust before you die, assets that remain solely in your name may not pass under the trust’s terms and could instead be subject to probate administration. While a pour-over will may direct such assets into the trust after probate, probate can be time-consuming, public, and potentially costly for beneficiaries. The practical benefits of a trust, such as avoiding probate and providing immediate access to assets by a successor trustee, depend on whether property was properly transferred during life. To avoid this outcome, it is important to follow through on funding steps after the trust is executed, including title transfers and beneficiary updates. We provide checklists and assistance to help ensure assets are moved into the trust and to document transfers so successor trustees can locate and manage property without needing probate involvement for assets intended to be held by the trust.
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