An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) can be a powerful tool for individuals and families in Goshen who want to manage life insurance proceeds outside of their taxable estate. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, we provide clear, client-focused guidance about creating and funding an ILIT, drafting trust provisions, and coordinating the trust with your overall estate plan. This guide explains basic concepts, likely benefits, and common steps involved so you can make informed decisions about whether an ILIT aligns with your goals and family circumstances in Tulare County and throughout California.
Choosing to establish an ILIT involves more than signing documents; it requires planning to ensure the trust is properly funded, the trustee understands their role, and the policy ownership aligns with broader estate and tax objectives. We discuss how an ILIT interacts with wills, revocable living trusts, beneficiary designations, and powers of attorney. Whether you already have a life insurance policy or are considering a new policy to fund a trust, this overview will help you understand the practical implications and administrative responsibilities that accompany an irrevocable trust arrangement.
An ILIT can remove life insurance proceeds from an estate for tax purposes, provide liquidity to pay estate obligations, and create protected, directed distributions for heirs. For families with significant assets, business owners, or those seeking to preserve benefits for beneficiaries with special needs, an ILIT offers structured control over how proceeds are used and distributed. Properly drafted, it can also help avoid probate delays and provide a separate legal vehicle to manage policy proceeds according to your wishes while minimizing exposure to creditor claims and estate taxation.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman provides estate planning services for individuals and families across California, including Tulare County and Goshen. Our approach centers on listening to client goals, analyzing assets and family dynamics, and developing practical trust and estate documents that integrate with existing plans. We prepare wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, and specialized tools such as ILITs, retirement plan trusts, and special needs trusts. Our team focuses on clear communication and careful drafting to help clients achieve orderly transfers and preserve family intent for future generations.
An ILIT is a trust created to own and control life insurance policies for the benefit of named beneficiaries, with the grantor relinquishing ownership and control to the trust. By removing ownership, proceeds are typically kept out of the grantor’s taxable estate, and the trust terms dictate how beneficiaries receive proceeds. Establishing an ILIT usually requires careful coordination of premium payments, trustee duties, and beneficiary designations. It is a long-term arrangement that becomes irrevocable once properly executed and funded, so careful planning and accurate drafting are essential to meet the grantor’s objectives and comply with California law.
Funding an ILIT commonly involves transferring an existing policy to the trust or having the trust purchase a new policy with gifts to the trust used for premiums. When transferring a policy owned by the grantor, there is a potential three-year lookback period for estate inclusion, so timing and method matter. Trustees must manage premium payments, maintain records, and distribute proceeds according to the trust terms. Beneficiary protections, spendthrift provisions, and coordination with other estate documents should all be considered when integrating an ILIT into an overall plan.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a legal entity that holds ownership of a life insurance policy outside the grantor’s estate. The trust becomes the policyowner and beneficiary, and it is managed by a trustee who follows the trust terms to handle premiums and distribute proceeds. Because the grantor cannot reclaim the policy or direct changes after the transfer, the arrangement helps remove the death benefit from estate tax calculations and can provide creditor protection in many circumstances. The trustee’s fiduciary duties and recordkeeping responsibilities are essential to maintain the trust’s intended tax and asset-protection outcomes.
Forming an ILIT typically involves drafting trust terms, selecting a trustee, deciding whether to transfer an existing policy or have the trust obtain a new policy, and establishing a method for paying premiums. The grantor may make annual exclusion gifts to trust beneficiaries or to the trustee to cover premiums. Trustee appointment, successor trustee provisions, distribution rules, and administrative powers are important drafting considerations. Proper coordination with beneficiary designations, trustee acceptance, and clear documentation helps prevent unintended tax consequences and ensures the trust operates as intended at the time of the insured’s death.
Understanding the terminology used with ILITs helps you follow the planning process and make informed decisions. Terms like grantor, trustee, beneficiary, premium funding, and transfer-for-value can affect how a trust functions and its tax consequences. This section defines common phrases and clarifies how they relate to ownership transfers, estate inclusion rules, and the trustee’s administrative role. Familiarity with these terms will make consultations more productive and help you evaluate draft documents with confidence.
The grantor, often called the settlor or trustmaker, is the person who establishes the ILIT and transfers the life insurance policy or funding into the trust. Once assets are transferred into the trust, the grantor gives up direct ownership and control over those assets. The grantor’s initial decisions—such as which policy to place in the trust, funding method, and beneficiary designations—shape the trust’s future operation. Proper timing and documentation of transfers are important to achieve the anticipated estate planning and tax results under California law.
The trustee is the individual or entity appointed to manage the ILIT’s assets, pay insurance premiums, maintain records, and distribute proceeds according to the trust terms. A trustee must act in the best interests of the beneficiaries and carry out administrative responsibilities such as accepting gifts, handling insurance company paperwork, and ensuring timely premium payments. Successor trustee provisions and clear instructions for handling proceeds and expenses help provide continuity and reduce the risk of disputes when the insured passes away.
Beneficiaries are the persons or entities designated to receive distributions from the ILIT when the life insurance proceeds become payable. The trust document specifies distribution rules, timing, and any conditions that beneficiaries must meet to receive funds. Designating beneficiaries through the trust rather than directly on the insurance policy gives the grantor and trustee more control over timing and use of proceeds, which can be important for protecting assets, supporting minors, or directing funds to pay estate obligations or fund family trusts.
Funding an ILIT refers to the method used to ensure the trust can own and pay for the life insurance policy, whether through transferring an existing policy, having the trust purchase a new policy, or making gifts to the trust to cover premiums. Annual exclusion gifts may be used to provide the trustee with funds for premiums, often accompanied by gift-splitting or Crummey withdrawal notices when appropriate. Attention to funding technique and timing is important to avoid unintended estate inclusion or gift tax consequences and to maintain the trust’s intended benefits.
When considering an ILIT, compare it to other estate planning choices such as leaving a policy in the estate, using a revocable living trust, or relying on beneficiary designations alone. Each approach has trade-offs in terms of control, tax treatment, probate exposure, and administrative burden. An ILIT can offer strong control and potential estate tax advantages, while a revocable trust or beneficiary designation may offer more flexibility but less protection from estate inclusion. Assessing family needs, asset types, and projected tax exposure will help determine the most suitable path for your circumstances.
For individuals with modest estates and limited risk of federal or state estate tax, keeping a life insurance policy owned personally with clear beneficiary designations may be an adequate choice. This approach reduces administrative complexity and avoids establishing and funding a separate trust. If family dynamics are straightforward, beneficiaries are financially responsible, and the policy proceeds will not create significant estate taxation or creditor concerns, a limited approach can provide liquidity while minimizing planning costs and ongoing trustee responsibilities.
When a life insurance policy is relatively small or intended to cover short-term obligations, the administrative burden of creating an ILIT may outweigh the benefits. In those cases, maintaining the policy outside of a trust and ensuring beneficiary designations reflect current wishes can be simpler and more cost-effective. Policy owners should still consider how proceeds will be used and whether any additional documentation, such as a pour-over will or beneficiary trust provisions, would enhance clarity for heirs and reduce the likelihood of post-death disputes.
For individuals with substantial assets, business interests, or complicated family arrangements, a comprehensive planning approach helps align the ILIT with broader estate, tax, and succession objectives. Coordinating the ILIT with business succession agreements, retirement plan trusts, and other estate documents prevents conflicts, reduces tax exposure, and helps ensure liquidity for estate obligations. Thoughtful planning helps anticipate future events and reduces the risk of unintended consequences such as estate inclusion or disputes among heirs, making an integrated strategy valuable for complex situations.
When beneficiaries have unique needs, are subject to creditor risks, or when preserving public benefits is a concern, a comprehensive plan that includes trusts like special needs trusts or spendthrift provisions can protect inherited proceeds. Integrating an ILIT with other protective devices and ensuring the trust terms align with long-term family goals offers stronger safeguards for vulnerable beneficiaries. A complete review of assets, beneficiary designations, and administrative mechanisms helps ensure that the ILIT accomplishes desired protections without jeopardizing benefits or triggering unintended tax consequences.
A comprehensive estate plan that incorporates an ILIT alongside wills, revocable trusts, and powers of attorney provides clarity about asset ownership, beneficiary intentions, and administrative responsibilities. This integrated approach can reduce probate delays, provide liquidity to cover taxes and debts, and ensure that proceeds are distributed per the grantor’s wishes. Clear coordination among documents and funding strategies minimizes the potential for disputes and offers a consistent framework for trustees and family members to follow during a stressful time after a loved one’s death.
Comprehensive planning also allows for tailored solutions for specific needs, such as preserving public benefits for a disabled beneficiary or setting aside funds for minor children. By addressing contingencies, successor fiduciary arrangements, and tax considerations in a unified plan, you create continuity and predictable outcomes. This foresight helps reduce uncertainty and administrative burdens for surviving family members, while providing a structured method for distributing life insurance proceeds and other assets according to the grantor’s priorities.
An ILIT within a comprehensive plan provides detailed instructions on timing and conditions for distributions, helping ensure that proceeds serve intended purposes such as paying estate obligations, funding education, or supporting a surviving spouse. This control can protect funds from impulsive spending or creditor claims and promote long-term financial stability for beneficiaries. Thoughtful distribution provisions and trustee guidance help balance immediate needs with preserving assets for future generations in a way that straightforward beneficiary designations cannot accomplish on their own.
Removing life insurance proceeds from a taxable estate may lower estate tax exposure for larger estates, while trust-based ownership can provide added protection from certain creditor claims depending on circumstances. When an ILIT is properly funded and administered, it can create a separate legal vehicle that limits how proceeds are included in estate calculations and how they may be accessed by third parties. Coordinating these protections with other estate planning tools helps ensure they function together to preserve family wealth and provide for intended beneficiaries.
Careful attention to how an ILIT is funded can prevent unintended tax consequences and ensure the trust functions as intended. Consider the timing of transfers, whether to transfer an existing policy or have the trust obtain a new policy, and how annual gifts to cover premiums will be documented. Keep records of premium payments and any gift notices provided to beneficiaries. Communicating with insurance companies and trustees early helps avoid administrative errors that might jeopardize the trust’s benefits or create confusion during claims and distributions.
An ILIT should not exist in isolation; coordinate it with your will, any revocable living trust, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and insurance policies. Ensure that the trust language and beneficiary forms are consistent to avoid conflicts that can lead to probate or disputes. Periodic reviews of the entire estate plan, especially after major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, or changes in assets, help maintain alignment among documents and preserve the intended outcomes for beneficiaries.
Consider establishing an ILIT if you want to remove life insurance proceeds from your taxable estate, provide liquidity to pay estate taxes and debts, or create controlled distributions for heirs. It can be particularly useful for business owners needing funds for succession, families seeking creditor protection for beneficiaries, or those with complex asset portfolios who want to direct how proceeds are used. An ILIT provides a legal structure for managing benefits after death, helping ensure your intentions are carried out with fewer interruptions and clearer direction for trustees and heirs.
Other reasons to consider an ILIT include protecting proceeds from potential claims against beneficiaries, ensuring funds are available to meet immediate estate obligations, and coordinating life insurance with comprehensive planning tools like special needs trusts or retirement plan trusts. The decision depends on the size of your estate, family dynamics, and long-term objectives. A careful review of assets, anticipated liabilities, and beneficiary needs helps determine whether establishing and funding an ILIT is the right strategy for preserving and directing life insurance benefits.
People commonly consider ILITs when they own large life insurance policies, face potential estate tax exposure, or want to protect proceeds for vulnerable beneficiaries. Business owners may use ILITs to provide liquidity for buy-sell arrangements, while blended families sometimes use them to ensure assets pass to specific heirs. Additionally, individuals seeking to preserve government benefits for disabled beneficiaries or to shield assets from creditor claims may find that an ILIT—properly drafted and coordinated—fits within a broader strategy to meet these goals while ensuring orderly administration after the insured’s death.
When life insurance coverage is substantial relative to other assets, the death benefit can significantly affect estate tax calculations and liquidity. Establishing an ILIT can help reduce estate inclusion of the policy proceeds, provide a dedicated source of funds to pay taxes and debts, and prevent forced asset sales. Careful timing and funding are important to achieve the intended tax outcomes, and coordinating the ILIT with the rest of the estate plan ensures that liquidity is available without compromising other legacy goals or family needs.
An ILIT can be used to set terms for how and when minor children or vulnerable beneficiaries receive funds, protecting proceeds until beneficiaries reach certain ages or milestones. This arrangement helps ensure that inherited funds are preserved for education, health, or long-term support rather than being disbursed in ways that might not align with the grantor’s intentions. Trust distribution provisions, spending guidelines, and trustee powers can be tailored to balance immediate needs with long-term security for beneficiaries.
Business owners often use life insurance held in a trust to provide liquidity for buy-sell agreements or to compensate the surviving ownership interests after a partner’s death. Holding policies inside an ILIT ensures proceeds are managed according to a predetermined plan, providing a clear source of funds without mixing business assets with personal estate matters. The ILIT structure helps ensure proceeds are available to support continuity, pay estate obligations, or facilitate transfers consistent with the business succession strategy designed by the owners.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serves Goshen and the surrounding Tulare County communities with practical estate planning services, including ILIT preparation and administration. We work with clients to clarify goals, draft tailored trust provisions, and coordinate funding strategies to align with broader estate plans. Our approach emphasizes transparent communication and careful document drafting so trustees and family members understand the trust’s operation. If you are considering an ILIT or need to review an existing trust, we provide thoughtful support to help you plan for a secure transfer of life insurance proceeds.
Clients turn to the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman because we provide comprehensive estate planning services tailored to each family’s circumstances, including ILIT formation and coordination with other estate documents. We help clients navigate the technical and administrative steps involved in funding a trust, selecting trustees, and documenting gifts for premium payments. Our firm focuses on practical solutions that consider tax implications, family dynamics, and long-term administration to help achieve predictable outcomes for beneficiaries.
We prioritize clear explanations and collaborative planning so clients understand how an ILIT will operate and what responsibilities trustees will have. Our team prepares detailed trust language, assists with policy transfers or acquisitions, and coordinates beneficiary and premium funding strategies. We also review related documents such as wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives to ensure consistency across your entire estate plan and to reduce the risk of conflicting provisions that can create disputes or administrative delays.
Our services extend beyond document preparation to practical support for trustees and beneficiaries, including guidance on claims administration, recordkeeping, and distribution procedures. We help clients anticipate potential issues and provide solutions tailored to family needs, whether the goal is tax efficiency, creditor protection, or controlled distributions. This hands-on approach helps ensure an ILIT functions as intended and that beneficiaries receive benefits in an orderly manner aligned with the grantor’s wishes.
Our process begins with a thorough review of your assets, life insurance policies, and overall estate plan to determine whether an ILIT fits your objectives. We then draft trust documents tailored to your wishes, name trustees and beneficiaries, and outline premium funding options. After document execution, we assist with policy transfers or trust-owned policy procurement, prepare any necessary gift documentation, and provide guidance to trustees on administration. Periodic plan reviews help ensure the ILIT remains aligned with changing circumstances and laws.
In the initial phase we gather information on existing policies, estate assets, family dynamics, and goals for proceeds to determine the best structure for the trust. This includes reviewing beneficiary designations, policy ownership, and potential tax considerations. We discuss trustee selection and distribution preferences, and explain funding methods such as transferring existing policies versus having the trust purchase new coverage. Clear communication during this step sets expectations and ensures the trust is designed to serve its intended purpose.
We collect details about your insurance policies, financial accounts, real property, and family circumstances to analyze how an ILIT would integrate with your estate plan. Conversations focus on the reasons you are considering an ILIT, such as tax planning, creditor protection, or controlled distributions. Understanding these objectives allows us to recommend trust provisions, funding approaches, and trustee responsibilities that support your goals while anticipating potential implementation challenges.
We evaluate whether transferring an existing policy or issuing a new trust-owned policy best suits your situation, considering factors like the three-year estate inclusion rule, premium affordability, and policy terms. Timing can affect whether proceeds remain outside the estate, so we discuss strategies to minimize risk while achieving funding objectives. This evaluation helps you make informed decisions about premium payments, annual gifting strategies, and any adjustments needed to align with broader estate tax planning.
Once objectives and funding are confirmed, we prepare clear trust documents that specify trustee powers, beneficiary distribution rules, and administrative procedures. The trust will include provisions for premium payments, successor trustees, and instructions for claims and distributions. We coordinate signing and notarization, and assist with insurance company forms and ownership change requests. Properly executed documents and coordinated transfers help preserve the trust’s intended benefits and minimize post-death administrative obstacles.
Trust provisions are drafted to reflect your distribution preferences, define trustee authority, and address contingencies such as beneficiary incapacity or predeceasing beneficiaries. Clear trustee instructions regarding premium payments, recordkeeping, and claim processing facilitate efficient administration. We also include language to protect trust assets and provide mechanisms for dispute resolution where appropriate, helping ensure the trust can operate smoothly over time and respond to changing circumstances.
We assist with the administrative steps required to transfer ownership of a policy to the trust or to have the trust purchase new coverage, including communicating with insurance carriers and preparing necessary forms. If gifts are used to fund premiums, we help document annual exclusion gifts and prepare any required notices to beneficiaries. Accurate documentation and timely communication with insurers help avoid delays and ensure the trust is properly funded according to plan.
After the ILIT is in place, ongoing administration includes timely premium payments, maintaining records, and periodic plan reviews to ensure the trust remains effective. We provide guidance to trustees on handling claims, distributing proceeds, and coordinating with other estate components when the insured dies. Regular reviews of beneficiary designations, policy performance, and changes in law or family circumstances help maintain the trust’s relevance and effectiveness over time.
We advise trustees on essential recordkeeping practices, including tracking premium payments, preserving correspondence with insurers, and documenting distributions and expenses. Clear records facilitate efficient claims processing and support the trustee’s fiduciary responsibilities. We also assist with resolving administrative issues that may arise, helping trustees understand required actions and timelines when the insured’s death triggers the trust’s distribution provisions.
Periodic reviews are important to confirm that the ILIT continues to meet objectives and to make adjustments in response to changes in law, family circumstances, or policy performance. While the trust is irrevocable, surrounding estate documents, funding strategies, and beneficiary arrangements may require updates to maintain coherence across the estate plan. These reviews help identify potential issues early and allow proactive steps to preserve the trust’s intended function for your beneficiaries.
An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust is a trust created to own a life insurance policy and receive the death benefit for the benefit of named beneficiaries. The grantor transfers ownership of a policy to the trust, which is managed by a trustee who follows the trust terms for premium payments and distributions. An ILIT can serve purposes such as removing proceeds from a taxable estate, providing liquidity to pay estate obligations, and controlling how funds are used by beneficiaries after the insured’s death. Deciding whether to use an ILIT depends on your estate size, tax planning goals, and family needs. An ILIT is often considered when life insurance proceeds are substantial relative to the estate, when beneficiaries require protection, or when coordinated liquidity is needed for business succession or estate settlement costs. Because the trust is irrevocable once funded, careful planning and accurate drafting are needed to ensure it fits within your overall estate plan.
Common funding methods for an ILIT include transferring an existing personally owned policy to the trust or having the trust purchase a new policy with gifts provided by the grantor to pay premiums. When transferring an owned policy, there is a potential three-year lookback period that can cause proceeds to be included in the grantor’s estate if the grantor dies within three years of the transfer. For new policies, funding typically involves making annual gifts to the trust sufficient to cover premiums and documenting those gifts appropriately. Annual exclusion gifts and gift-splitting options are often used to fund premiums without creating gift tax consequences. Proper documentation, including any required notices to beneficiaries when Crummey withdrawal rights are used, ensures that the gifts qualify for exclusion and that the trust has lawful access to premium funds. Coordination with insurance carriers and clear recordkeeping is essential for smooth administration.
Transferring a policy to an ILIT can have gift tax implications if the transfer is treated as a completed gift, and there is a potential estate inclusion issue if the grantor dies within the three-year lookback period. The three-year rule generally causes proceeds to be included in the estate if the grantor transfers policy ownership and dies within three years. Understanding these timing rules and planning accordingly helps reduce the risk that the policy proceeds will be pulled back into the estate for tax purposes. When properly funded and timed, an ILIT can keep life insurance proceeds out of the grantor’s estate while avoiding immediate gift tax consequences through annual exclusion gifts. Documenting gifts and coordinating transfer timing requires careful attention to IRS rules and accurate recordkeeping so that the intended tax benefits are realized and administrative requirements are satisfied.
A trustee should be someone or an entity capable of handling administrative duties such as paying premiums, maintaining records, and making distributions according to the trust terms. Consider appointing a reliable family member, a trusted advisor, or a professional fiduciary who understands financial administration. The trust should name successor trustees and specify trustee powers, responsibilities, and whether compensation will be paid, so administration continues smoothly if the initial trustee cannot serve. Trustee duties include accepting policy ownership, coordinating premium payments, keeping accurate financial records, and overseeing claims and distributions. Clear trustee instructions in the trust document minimize ambiguity and help prevent disputes among beneficiaries. Trustees may need to consult legal and financial advisors, and the trust can provide guidance on when professional assistance is appropriate to handle complex matters.
An ILIT can be structured to help preserve government benefits for a beneficiary in some situations, but it depends on the specific benefits and trust design. Certain trusts, such as specialized supplemental needs provisions or separate trusts for benefit preservation, can be used to prevent proceeds from affecting eligibility for means-tested programs. However, the rules for public benefits vary, so careful drafting and coordination are required to avoid inadvertently disqualifying a beneficiary from assistance. Consulting about the interaction between trust distributions and benefit eligibility is essential before establishing an ILIT intended to preserve benefits. A tailored plan will consider timing, distribution restrictions, and trustee discretion to ensure that available resources supplement rather than replace government benefits, while complying with applicable program rules and legal constraints.
An ILIT should be coordinated with your will, any revocable living trust, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations to ensure consistent and complementary outcomes. The ILIT governs the disposition of the policy proceeds and operates separately from a revocable trust, but both should be aligned so beneficiaries and trustees understand each document’s role. A pour-over will may be used to capture assets not otherwise transferred to trusts, while beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and insurance policies should be reviewed to prevent conflicts with trust arrangements. Regularly reviewing all estate documents after establishing an ILIT helps ensure they remain synchronized as circumstances change. Clear coordination reduces the risk of probate disputes, conflicting beneficiary instructions, or unintended estate tax consequences, and provides a coherent plan for distributing assets and managing administration after death.
If premiums are not paid after a policy is transferred to an ILIT, the policy may lapse or be subject to reduced benefits, which can undermine the trust’s purpose. Trustees must maintain premium payments either from trust funds or through gifts from the grantor intended for premiums. The trust document should address how premium obligations will be met and include provisions for addressing shortfalls, including trustee authority to borrow or access alternative funding if allowed by the trust terms. To avoid lapse, proactive administration and clear instructions are important. Periodic reviews of funding arrangements and coordination with the grantor and trustees can identify potential shortfalls early. If a lapse occurs, options may be limited and costly to remedy, so preventive measures and ongoing communication are critical to preserve the policy and the planned benefits for beneficiaries.
Timing concerns are significant when transferring an existing policy into an ILIT because of the IRS three-year lookback rule that may cause policy proceeds to be included in the grantor’s estate if the grantor dies within three years of the transfer. For clients concerned about this timing, alternatives include having the trust purchase a new policy or structuring transfers well in advance of any foreseeable health decline. Planning the transfer timeline helps preserve the trust’s intended tax benefits when possible. Additionally, coordination with the insurance company and ensuring completed transfer paperwork are processed promptly helps avoid administrative delays that could affect the trust’s operation. Consulting early about timing, medical underwriting for new policies, and any potential estate inclusion issues helps develop a funding strategy aligned with your estate plan and timeline.
Life insurance proceeds held by an ILIT are distributed according to the trust’s terms, which may include immediate lump-sum distributions, staggered payments based on age or milestones, or distributions for specific purposes such as education or medical expenses. The trustee follows directions in the trust document, balances beneficiary needs, and manages tax and administrative responsibilities. Clear distribution rules and trustee guidance reduce the potential for disputes and ensure proceeds are used in ways the grantor intended. Trustees should also handle claims processing, pay any debts or administrative expenses if directed, and maintain records of distributions. If beneficiaries’ circumstances change, the trust’s terms will control unless there is a valid legal reason to modify the trust. Providing detailed instructions for distributions and trustee discretion helps preserve the grantor’s wishes while offering practical administration for beneficiaries.
It is advisable to review your ILIT and related estate planning documents periodically and after major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or significant changes in assets. Periodic reviews ensure the trust remains aligned with your objectives, beneficiary needs, and changes in tax or trust law. Because an ILIT is irrevocable once funded, surrounding documents and funding strategies should be monitored and adjusted where possible to maintain coherence across your estate plan. Regular reviews also allow you to confirm that premium funding remains adequate, trustee arrangements are current, and policy performance meets expectations. Proactive maintenance helps identify issues before they become problems and keeps the overall estate plan functioning smoothly for the benefit of your heirs and fiduciaries.
Criminal Defense
Homicide Defense
Manslaughter
Assault and Battery
Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Battery Causing Great Bodily Injury
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Protection Orders
Domestic Violence Restraining Order
Arson Defense
Weapons Charges
Illegal Firearm Possessions
Civil Harassment
Civil Harassment Restraining Orders
School Violence Restraining Orders
Violent Crimes Defense
Estate Planning Practice Areas