An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) can be a powerful component of an estate plan for people in Oakdale and throughout Stanislaus County. This page explains the role an ILIT plays in protecting life insurance proceeds from estate taxation, controlling distribution to beneficiaries, and securing funds for long-term needs. The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman assists individuals and families in structuring these trusts to align with their financial and personal goals while observing California law. We will walk through the basics, common scenarios, and practical considerations so you can make informed decisions about whether an ILIT fits your plan.
Choosing to put a life insurance policy into an irrevocable trust requires careful planning and attention to timing, beneficiary designations, and trustee selection. An ILIT is generally permanent once established, and it changes how the policy is owned and managed. Many clients turn to this approach to reduce potential estate tax exposure, protect proceeds for specific beneficiaries, or provide liquidity for paying final expenses and obligations. This guide outlines what an ILIT does, who benefits, and how it interacts with other estate planning tools like wills, revocable trusts, and powers of attorney in the context of California law.
An ILIT can offer distinct planning benefits by separating life insurance proceeds from the insured’s taxable estate and by providing clarity about how proceeds will be used. For families with significant assets, an ILIT may reduce estate tax exposure, provide creditor protection for beneficiaries, and preserve funds for long-term care, education, or business continuity. Because the trust owner is not the insured, proceeds typically avoid probate, leading to faster distributions and greater privacy. Establishing an ILIT also allows specific distribution terms to be set, ensuring proceeds are used according to the policyholder’s intentions rather than default inheritance rules.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves Oakdale and surrounding communities with practical estate planning counsel tailored to California rules and local needs. Our approach focuses on clear communication, careful document drafting, and proactive planning to align trust arrangements with each client’s personal, family, and financial objectives. We emphasize explaining options and implications in plain language so you can compare approaches and choose what fits your goals. Whether you are considering an ILIT for wealth preservation, creditor protection, or legacy planning, we provide thoughtful guidance through each step of the process.
An ILIT is a trust that owns a life insurance policy and is structured so the insured does not retain ownership control over the policy. Once the policy is transferred into the trust or purchased by the trust, the terms generally cannot be changed by the insured. This separation is what allows life insurance proceeds to be excluded from the insured’s taxable estate in many circumstances. The trust document will set out the trustee’s duties, how proceeds will be distributed to beneficiaries, and any conditions on distributions to provide long-term protection and guidance for the use of the policy proceeds after the insured’s death.
Creating an ILIT involves coordinating trust documents, beneficiary designations, and ownership transfers while considering potential gift tax consequences and three-year lookback rules that may affect estate inclusion. Careful trustee selection ensures that the person or entity managing the trust can follow distribution instructions and interact with the insurance carrier effectively. The ILIT can be drafted to provide staged distributions, purchase provisions, or restrictions designed to protect proceeds from creditors or to preserve eligibility for public benefits for certain beneficiaries. Proper administration helps ensure the trust accomplishes the intended planning goals.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a legal arrangement that holds life insurance policies outside of an individual’s taxable estate by transferring ownership to a trust. The insured typically cannot make changes once the transfer is completed, which is a defining feature of this tool. The trustee controls the policy and receives benefits on behalf of named beneficiaries according to trust terms. Because the trust, not the insured, owns the policy, proceeds are usually not subject to probate and may be protected from beneficiary creditors. The trust document details who benefits, how funds are used, and any conditions for distribution.
Key elements of an ILIT include the trust agreement, trustee appointment, policy ownership transfer, gift tax considerations, and coordination with other estate planning documents. The process typically begins with drafting the trust to meet client goals, selecting a reliable trustee, and outlining distribution rules and administrative powers. Funding the trust can be accomplished by transferring an existing policy or arranging for the trust to purchase a new policy. Throughout, it is important to consider timing and tax implications, drafting clear trustee powers, and establishing a framework for ongoing administration and insurance premium payments.
Understanding common terms helps demystify ILITs and related planning tools. This section defines essential language you will encounter when considering a trust that holds life insurance, including ownership, beneficiary designations, trustee responsibilities, gift tax rules, and probate implications. Clear definitions ensure you can read documents with confidence and communicate your intentions precisely. By becoming familiar with these terms, you can better evaluate trust provisions, ask informed questions, and make choices that align with your family’s needs and the broader estate plan.
Trust ownership refers to the legal arrangement in which a trust holds title to an asset, such as a life insurance policy, and the trustee manages that asset for the benefit of named beneficiaries. When a policy is owned by an ILIT, the trust itself becomes the policy owner and the insured is no longer the owner. This change affects control over the policy, who can change beneficiaries or loan against the policy, and can impact estate inclusion and probate. Clear documentation and proper transfer procedures are essential when transferring ownership to ensure the trust accomplishes its intended objectives.
Gift tax considerations arise when transferring a life insurance policy into a trust or when contributors make gifts to the trust to pay premiums. Depending on the timing and structure, these transfers may be treated as taxable gifts, and annual exclusions or lifetime credits may apply. There may also be a lookback period under federal rules that could include the policy proceeds in the insured’s estate if certain conditions are not met. Proper planning, documentation of premium gifts, and an understanding of the applicable tax rules help reduce unintended tax consequences for donors and the insured’s estate.
Trustee responsibilities include managing the trust assets according to the trust terms, paying premiums for policies owned by the trust, filing necessary tax returns, communicating with beneficiaries, and distributing proceeds when directed. The trustee must act in good faith, follow the trust document, and maintain records of trust administration. Selecting a trustee who is reliable, understands fiduciary duties, and is willing to handle ongoing administrative tasks is an important decision because the trustee’s actions directly affect the trust’s effectiveness and a beneficiary’s ability to receive benefits when appropriate.
Probate and estate inclusion refer to whether life insurance proceeds are subject to probate or estate taxes when the insured dies. If a policy is owned by the insured at the time of death, proceeds may be included in the estate and could be subject to estate tax and probate. When a properly structured ILIT owns the policy and the insured neither retained incidents of ownership nor made transfers within prescribed timeframes, proceeds are generally excluded from the taxable estate and avoid probate. Proper drafting and administration are essential to achieve these outcomes under applicable laws.
When planning for life insurance, individuals often compare an ILIT with other options such as keeping the policy personally owned with designated beneficiaries or integrating the policy into a revocable living trust. Each option has trade-offs around control, flexibility, tax outcomes, and creditor protection. A personally owned policy allows greater control and easier changes but may expose proceeds to estate inclusion. Revocable trusts offer flexibility while the trust maker is alive but do not achieve the same estate exclusion benefits as an ILIT. Exploring these options helps determine which approach best matches your objectives and family needs.
For individuals with modest assets or uncomplicated family arrangements, maintaining a personally owned life insurance policy with clear beneficiary designations can meet needs without the added complexity of an ILIT. If estate tax exposure is unlikely and the goal is to provide immediate liquidity to a spouse or dependent, keeping the policy under personal ownership may offer the simplest path. This approach allows flexibility to change beneficiaries and manage the policy without trust administration, making it an appropriate choice for those whose circumstances do not require advanced tax mitigation or long-term creditor protection.
A limited approach can be appropriate for people who prefer ongoing control over the policy and anticipate changing family or financial circumstances. Because an ILIT is irrevocable, it limits the ability to modify ownership or distribution terms once established. If you expect to revise beneficiaries often or need to maintain direct control over the policy asset, keeping the policy personally owned or using a revocable trust might provide the flexibility you need while still allowing coordinated estate planning and beneficiary instructions.
A comprehensive approach that includes an ILIT is often appropriate when estate tax liability is a potential issue or when beneficiaries require creditor protection. By transferring ownership of a policy to a properly drafted ILIT, the proceeds can be kept outside of the insured’s probate estate and potentially sheltered from creditors. For families with complex asset holdings, business interests, or specific legacy goals, this structure provides a controlled and durable solution that aligns life insurance proceeds with broader estate planning objectives and helps preserve wealth for future generations.
If you want to ensure life insurance proceeds are used for specific purposes, such as education, long-term care, or structured inheritances over time, an ILIT provides a framework for controlled distribution. The trust document can require staged payments, conditions for release, or mechanisms to protect funds for vulnerable beneficiaries. This level of control is particularly helpful for blended families, beneficiaries with special needs, or those with creditor exposure, allowing the policyholder to set expectations and protect the intended legacy for many years after death.
Incorporating an ILIT into a wider estate plan can yield benefits such as estate tax mitigation, probate avoidance for policy proceeds, and clear, enforceable distribution instructions. It also allows families to specify how insurance proceeds should be managed for beneficiaries who may not be ready to receive a lump sum. In addition, an ILIT can help preserve benefits for those who require public assistance by directing funds in a way that minimizes impact on eligibility. These advantages make the trust a valuable option when planning for long-term financial security and legacy objectives.
A comprehensive approach also helps ensure coordination among documents like wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives so that the entire plan functions consistently. Properly drafted ILIT terms work in concert with beneficiary designations and other planning mechanisms to reduce the likelihood of unintended results. Regular review and administration of the ILIT and related documents keeps the plan aligned with changes in family circumstances, tax rules, and financial situations, providing ongoing assurance that your intentions will be honored.
One of the primary advantages of an ILIT is its potential to exclude life insurance proceeds from the insured’s taxable estate, which may reduce estate tax exposure for larger estates. Additionally, because the trust owns the policy, proceeds are generally not subject to probate, allowing quicker and more private distribution to beneficiaries. This combination of tax and probate considerations can preserve more value for heirs and reduce the administrative burden on the estate, making the ILIT an effective tool for families looking to manage transfer costs and streamline post-death administration.
An ILIT allows the trustmaker to set clear conditions and schedules for distributions, protecting proceeds from mismanagement, creditors, or unplanned spending by beneficiaries. Terms can include staged distributions for different ages or milestones, provisions for education or healthcare needs, and safeguards for beneficiaries with special circumstances. These controls help ensure funds are used as intended and provide a structure that promotes long-term financial stability for beneficiaries, aligning the distribution of insurance proceeds with the trustmaker’s goals and family values.
Timing and the manner in which ownership transfers occur are important when establishing an ILIT. Transfers made close to the insured’s death can cause the proceeds to be included in the estate, so plan early and document gift transfers for premium payments. Coordinating the trust terms with the insurance company ensures the transfer is processed correctly, and naming successor trustees provides continuity. Thoughtful timing reduces the risk of unintended tax or estate implications and allows the ILIT to function as intended for the long term.
An ILIT should not be created in isolation; it needs to work in harmony with your will, revocable trust, powers of attorney, and healthcare directive. Review all estate planning documents together to confirm beneficiary designations match trust goals and to avoid conflicts that could undermine the plan. Update documents regularly after major life events like marriage, divorce, births, or changes in assets. Regular reviews keep the ILIT effective and aligned with your evolving intentions and legal requirements.
You may consider an ILIT if you want to ensure life insurance proceeds are kept out of your taxable estate, provide structured support for beneficiaries, or protect proceeds from creditors and probate. People with business interests, larger estates, or beneficiaries who require managed distributions often find ILITs useful. The trust can be crafted to respond to specific family circumstances, such as providing for minor children or protecting an inheritance for a beneficiary with financial vulnerability. Exploring these objectives will help determine whether an ILIT meets your broader planning goals.
Another reason to consider an ILIT is to create guaranteed, directed uses for proceeds, such as paying estate taxes, supporting a surviving spouse, or preserving assets for future generations. The ILIT may also be appropriate when you want to preserve public benefit eligibility for a beneficiary or impose spending safeguards. Because the structure is irrevocable, it is especially important to weigh the benefits against the loss of ownership control and consider the implications of gifting and trustee selection before finalizing the arrangement.
Typical scenarios for considering an ILIT include business owners needing liquidity for succession, individuals with estates that could face estate tax, parents who wish to protect inheritances for minor children, and families seeking creditor protection for beneficiaries. Those with blended families or beneficiaries who may be vulnerable to financial predators may also benefit from an ILIT’s structured distribution approach. Discussing your unique circumstances helps determine whether an ILIT is the right tool and how it should be tailored to fit with other planning documents and family objectives.
When a business owner wants to ensure funds are available to pay estate taxes or provide liquidity for business succession, an ILIT can hold a policy earmarked for those purposes. The trust can be structured to provide a ready source of funds to facilitate business continuity without forcing the sale of business assets. Creating this arrangement helps preserve the business for successors and reduces the financial strain on the estate, allowing for smoother transitions and maintaining enterprise value for family or partners.
For beneficiaries who may face creditor challenges, spendthrift concerns, or special needs, an ILIT provides a framework for protected distributions. The trust terms can allow for ongoing support while shielding funds from creditors or imprudent spending, and can be combined with other provisions to preserve eligibility for benefits. Such protections allow the grantor to provide for the beneficiary’s well-being while maintaining oversight and long-term financial security, tailored to the beneficiary’s individual circumstances and needs.
Families seeking to pass wealth across generations often use an ILIT to ensure life insurance proceeds fund legacy goals such as education, property preservation, or long-term family support. The ILIT can stipulate multi-generation distribution rules to reinforce family objectives and reduce the chance of proceeds being dissipated. This structure helps align the use of proceeds with long-term planning and can complement other trust arrangements designed to maintain family assets and provide for descendants over extended periods.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman is available to discuss ILIT options with Oakdale and Stanislaus County residents who are evaluating life insurance in their estate plans. We provide consultative meetings to review financial circumstances, family goals, and timing considerations to determine whether an ILIT is appropriate. Our office can assist with drafting the trust, coordinating transfers, and documenting premium gifts. We aim to make the process understandable and practical so clients feel confident about the structure and administration of their planning choices.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman brings a client-focused approach to ILIT planning, focusing on clear drafting, thorough explanation of tax and legal implications, and coordination among estate planning documents. Our practice emphasizes careful attention to detail in trust language, trustee powers, and funding strategies to ensure the ILIT meets your goals. We work with clients to clarify intentions, review policy ownership, and develop administration procedures that reduce the risk of unintended estate inclusion or administration issues down the road.
When working through ILIT planning, we prioritize communication so clients understand timing risks, gift tax considerations, and trustee responsibilities. We help craft documents that align with California law and with the client’s broader plan while keeping the process manageable and responsive to family dynamics. Our goal is to provide guidance that allows you to make confident decisions about the disposition of life insurance proceeds, trustee selection, and coordination with existing estate planning documents such as wills and revocable trusts.
Clients appreciate practical counsel that balances planning objectives with realistic administration steps. We assist with beneficiary coordination, preparing trustee instructions and paperwork for insurance carriers, and reviewing how the ILIT integrates with overall asset protection and legacy goals. Our team can also advise on reviewing and updating documents after life events to maintain alignment with changing needs and circumstances, providing ongoing support and clarity to help preserve your intentions for beneficiaries.
Our process begins with an initial consultation to review goals, assets, and timing; this is followed by drafting a trust tailored to your objectives and coordinating policy ownership or purchase. We prepare trustee instructions and help document premium gifts for tax purposes. After the trust is funded, we provide administration guidance to the trustee including recordkeeping and communication with beneficiaries. We also offer periodic reviews to ensure the ILIT continues to serve your plan as laws and family circumstances change, helping maintain the trust’s effectiveness over time.
The first step focuses on understanding your goals and drafting an ILIT that reflects your intentions for policy ownership and proceeds. This includes selecting trustee powers, distribution terms, and any restrictions or staging of distributions. We also review existing insurance policies to determine whether transfer or new purchase is preferable, taking into account timing and gifting implications. Clear drafting at this stage reduces the risk of later disputes and ensures the trust document supports your broader estate plan.
During the initial consultation, we gather details about assets, family circumstances, business interests, and the specific objectives you have for life insurance proceeds. We discuss how an ILIT would fit with your broader plan, including tax, probate, and beneficiary protection goals. This meeting ensures all considerations are reviewed before drafting, allowing us to tailor the trust language and address potential pitfalls relating to timing, premium payments, and trustee authority.
After the goals assessment, we draft the ILIT to include the trustee’s duties, distribution instructions, and provisions for premium funding and administration. The document specifies who the beneficiaries are, when and how distributions will be made, and any conditions for release of funds. Clear instructions for trustees and contingency provisions for successor trustees are included to ensure smooth administration and to protect the trust’s intended function over time.
Once the trust is in place, funding occurs either by transferring an existing policy into the ILIT or by having the trust acquire a new policy. We assist with insurance carrier forms, ownership change documentation, and establishing procedures for premium gifts if third parties will contribute to payments. Proper funding and accurate paperwork are critical to achieve the desired estate and probate results, and we verify that each step is performed in a way that aligns with applicable tax and trust rules.
Transferring an existing policy requires completing ownership and beneficiary change forms with the insurer and documenting the transaction in accordance with tax rules. We review whether any retained incidents of ownership would cause the policy proceeds to remain part of the estate and provide guidance about timing to avoid inclusion under lookback rules. Clear records of the transfer and any premium gifts are essential for demonstrating the trust’s validity and achieving the intended planning results.
When the trust purchases a new policy, we coordinate policy application and ownership documentation so the ILIT is the named owner from inception. This approach avoids ownership transfer issues and simplifies administration by ensuring the trust controls the policy at all times. We outline payment arrangements and trustee responsibilities for premium payments and ensure policy provisions are compatible with the trust terms to meet long-term planning objectives.
Ongoing administration includes premium payment coordination, recordkeeping, beneficiary communications, and periodic reviews to confirm that the ILIT continues to reflect your wishes and complies with current law. We help trustees understand reporting duties, maintain documentation of gifts for tax purposes, and respond to beneficiary inquiries. Regular reviews also provide opportunities to adjust complementary estate planning documents to maintain coherence across your plan and adapt to life changes or legal developments.
Trustees must maintain accurate records of premium payments, correspondence with the insurer, trust accounting, and distributions. Proper recordkeeping supports transparent administration and is often necessary for tax and legal purposes. We provide templates and guidance to trustees on maintaining files and documenting decisions, helping ensure that the trust operates smoothly and that beneficiaries receive timely updates regarding the trust status and anticipated distributions.
We recommend periodic reviews of the ILIT and related estate planning documents to ensure they remain aligned with your financial situation and family needs. Changes in law, asset values, or family circumstances may warrant adjustments to other parts of the estate plan, even though the ILIT itself is irrevocable. These reviews help coordinate beneficiary designations, trustee succession provisions, and other documents to preserve the trust’s effectiveness and fulfill your long-term legacy objectives.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a trust that owns a life insurance policy and holds the proceeds for named beneficiaries under terms you set. Unlike a revocable trust where the grantor can change terms and retain ownership, an ILIT is structured so the grantor relinquishes ownership and control once the trust is funded. This arrangement can allow proceeds to remain outside of the taxable estate and avoid probate, depending on timing and retained incidents of ownership. The trust document will specify who benefits, how distributions occur, and the trustee’s duties. The main functional difference compared with other trusts is the ownership and control of the policy during the grantor’s lifetime. Because the grantor gives up ownership, the ILIT requires careful drafting and administration to ensure premium funding, trustee instructions, and beneficiary coordination are clear. This structure is commonly used to achieve specific tax and distribution objectives not available with personally owned policies or revocable arrangements.
Transferring an existing policy into an ILIT or making gifts to the trust to pay premiums can have gift tax implications, depending on the amounts and timing. Annual exclusions may apply when contributors make premium gifts, and lifetime gift tax exemptions can offset larger transfers. It is important to document each gift and any premium payments carefully so the trust and donors can rely on applicable exclusions. Working through the mechanics ahead of time reduces surprises and ensures compliance with reporting requirements. Additionally, transfers made within a specific lookback period before the insured’s death may cause the proceeds to be included in the estate, potentially negating the intended tax benefits. Because of these rules, timely planning and accurate documentation of premium gifts and transfers are important to achieve the intended estate treatment of policy proceeds and to avoid unintended tax consequences for donors or the insured’s estate.
When properly structured and funded outside of applicable lookback periods, an ILIT typically keeps life insurance proceeds out of the insured’s probate estate, which can lead to faster distributions and greater privacy. This separation may also reduce the estate’s exposure to estate tax by excluding the proceeds from the taxable estate. Avoiding probate for the insurance proceeds can also reduce the administrative burden and potential delays for beneficiaries who rely on those funds for immediate needs. However, California estate and federal tax implications depend on the estate’s overall size and the timing of transfers. If the insured retains incidents of ownership, or if transfers occur too close to death, proceeds may be included in the estate for tax purposes. Careful drafting and planning help ensure the ILIT functions as intended under both state and federal rules, and regular review can address changes in assets or law that affect estate tax risk.
A trustee should be someone or an entity capable of managing trust duties, paying premiums, and communicating with beneficiaries and the insurer. Many clients choose a trusted family member, friend, or a professional fiduciary such as a bank or trust company. The selected trustee should understand the responsibilities of recordkeeping, handling premium funds, and following distribution instructions in the trust document. Designating successor trustees provides continuity in the event the initial trustee is unable to serve. Trustee duties include maintaining financial records, paying premiums from trust funds or coordinating premium gifts, filing any required tax returns, and distributing proceeds according to the trust’s terms. Clear trustee instructions and a practical administration plan reduce the risk of disputes and help ensure beneficiaries receive timely and transparent information about the trust and any distributions made on their behalf.
An ILIT can be structured to help preserve a beneficiary’s eligibility for certain public assistance benefits by holding funds within the trust and controlling distributions. Careful drafting is necessary to ensure distributions are made in a manner that does not count as personal income or assets for means-tested programs. Special trust provisions and tailored distribution rules can provide support while protecting benefit eligibility where appropriate. Because public benefit rules can be complex and vary by program, it is important to coordinate trust terms with legal advice focused on maintaining eligibility for those benefits. This coordination helps craft distribution standards that provide for the beneficiary’s needs while minimizing the risk of disqualifying them from necessary public assistance programs.
Once an ILIT is established and a policy is owned by the trust, modifying the policy can be more complicated than if the policy remained personally owned. Changes such as increasing coverage, taking loans against the policy, or changing beneficiaries should be evaluated in light of the trust terms and potential tax implications. If the trust is to purchase additional coverage, it is best to arrange ownership by the trust from the outset to avoid transfer complications. In some cases, replacing or exchanging a policy may be feasible but requires attention to transfer rules and documentation to avoid unintended estate inclusion. Working through proposed changes with legal and financial advisors helps ensure that modifications preserve the trust’s purpose and comply with applicable tax and trust law requirements.
Federal rules include a lookback period that can cause transferred assets, including policies, to be treated as part of the insured’s estate if the insured retains incidents of ownership or if transfers occur within three years of death. Because of this rule, it is generally advisable to implement an ILIT well before the end of life to reduce the risk of estate inclusion. Early planning helps assure the trust achieves its intent and avoids timing-related setbacks. That said, every situation is different and state and federal rules can interact with other aspects of a person’s estate plan. Discussing timing and strategy in advance helps identify the best approach for your circumstances and minimize the risk that the transfer would fail to achieve the desired estate planning objectives.
Common pitfalls include failing to properly transfer ownership with the insurance company, neglecting to document premium gifts, and selecting a trustee without the capacity or willingness to manage trust duties. Incomplete or incorrect paperwork can undermine the trust’s intended benefits and lead to disputes or tax exposure. It is important to coordinate transfers with the insurer and maintain careful records of any gifts used to pay premiums. Another common issue is overlooking how an ILIT interacts with beneficiary designations and other estate documents. Conflicts between the trust terms and beneficiary forms can cause confusion and unintended outcomes. Periodic reviews and coordinated updates across all estate planning documents help avoid these pitfalls and preserve the trust’s effectiveness.
An ILIT can be an effective component of business succession planning by providing funds for buy-sell arrangements or liquidity to pay estate taxes without forcing the sale of business assets. Placing a policy in an ILIT ensures that the proceeds designated for business continuity are held and distributed according to the trust terms, which can help maintain operations and facilitate orderly transitions. The trust can be linked to buy-sell agreements or other succession mechanisms for seamless coordination. When using an ILIT for business purposes, coordination with business counsel and financial advisors is important to align trust distributions with operating needs and succession timelines. Clear funding plans and trustee instructions enable the business to access funds promptly when required, preserving value and reducing the reliance on sale or forced liquidation to satisfy obligations.
Costs to set up an ILIT vary depending on document complexity, the number of parties involved, and whether additional coordination with tax or financial advisors is needed. Setup fees typically reflect drafting the trust, coordinating with insurance carriers, and advising on gift tax and funding matters. There may be separate costs for trustee services if a professional trustee is used. Because an ILIT is irrevocable, investing in careful drafting and administration upfront helps avoid more significant expenses later due to disputes or tax issues. Ongoing administration costs include recordkeeping, premium payment coordination, and any trustee fees for managing the trust. Regular reviews to ensure the trust remains aligned with the estate plan may incur additional fees. Transparent discussions about anticipated costs during the planning process help clients budget for setup and ongoing administration in the context of their overall estate plan.
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