What is a Living Trust?
A living trust, also known as a Revocable Living Trust, is a legal, written document that acts as a substitute for a Last Will and Testament. Assets put into the Living Trust will avoid Probate when you (and your spouse) are deceased, saving your heirs thousands of dollars and up to two years in court, or more!
Why Should I have a Living Trust?
A living trust protects the assets in the trust from PROBATE, which is a lengthy, expensive court process which occurs when someone dies, or becomes incapacitated. A typical living trust in California can save your loved ones as much as 4% of the value of the estate or more, and up to two years in court or more. If you have a house worth $500,000, the probate costs and fees are usually between $14,000 and $27,000, or more.
How Does a Living Trust Work?
In a living trust, you are the Trustor, also known as a Grantor or Settlor. The Trustor creates the living trust by signing the document. Only the Trustor may amend (change) the living trust, or revoke (cancel) it. You will also name yourself as Trustee. The Trustee of a living trust is the person who handles the assets in the trust. Once you put assets into the name of the living trust, a process called FUNDING, you will manage them for your own benefit, to use as you please.
You will also name successor Trustees, who will take over for you when you are deceased or incapacitated. The successor Trustee will pass your assets to your beneficiaries when you die, under the terms and restrictions written in the living trust document. Your heirs inherit under the circumstances you choose, and the assets are managed by the Successor Trustee pursuant to your trust.
Can I use My Assets When I have a Living Trust?
Yes! Since it is your trust, you will use your assets just like you do now. You are totally in control of your estate.
Will a Living Trust Protect Me from Creditor Lawsuits?
No, a living trust is not a creditor protection device. Since you handle your assets yourself for your own benefit, your creditors can attach those assets in a lawsuit.
Can a Living Trust Protect Me from Catastrophic Illness Expenses?
No, because the assets in the living trust are yours, any creditor, including medical expense creditors, may take payment for these expenses from your estate. Consulting an insurance agent who sells long-term care insurance may reduce or avoid these expenses.
Do I need other Documents if I have a Living Trust?
When you have a Living Trust, you should also have a Durable Power of Attorney for Property Management, which will name someone to handle your assets and day-to-day financial affairs in case you are incapacitated. You should also have an Advance Health Care Directive (Living Will) and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, which allows someone you name to make health care decisions for you when you can’t, and, if necessary, to “pull the plug”.
Do I need a Separate Tax Return for the Living Trust?
No, you file your income tax returns just as you do now.
Can I move Assets in and out of the Trust?
Yes, because it is revocable, and because you are the Trustee of your trust, you can sell or spend assets, change where your assets are, and add new assets to your trust, without consulting an attorney.
Will a Living Trust Avoid or Reduce Inheritance Taxes?
Inheritance taxes, which are technically called “Estate Taxes”, can be avoided or reduced by the use of an A-B TRUST. Under current law, an A-B TRUST can shelter $4 million dollars or more from estate taxes.
Do I still need a Will if I have a Living Trust?
Yes, you will need a Last Will and Testament, called a Pour over Will. It will do two things: 1) It will put assets which are not in the living trust at your death into your Living Trust when you die, and 2) If you have children under age 18, it names the Guardian for your children. The Guardian will raise the children, and act as their parent, if the children are under 18 when you pass away.
Protect Your Assets from
Nursing Home Expenses
Since October 1993, you can no longer create a Medicaid Qualified Trust. However, under new law, there are still many ways of allocating your assets to protect them as exempt.
Nursing home insurance, sometimes called Long Term Care insurance, is one option. Depending on your health and age, the premium and company placement will vary.
Gifting away assets is still legal, but must be done correctly to avoid ineligibility periods and possible criminal penalties. DO NOT give your assets away or make any unusual gifts without consulting a qualified elder law attorney.
What is a Living Trust?
A living trust, also known as a Revocable Living Trust, is a legal, written document that acts as a substitute for a Last Will and Testament. Assets put into the Living Trust will avoid Probate when you (and your spouse) are deceased, saving your heirs thousands of dollars and up to two years in court, or more!
Why Should I have a Living Trust?
A living trust protects the assets in the trust from PROBATE, which is a lengthy, expensive court process which occurs when someone dies, or becomes incapacitated. A typical living trust in California can save your loved ones as much as 4% of the value of the estate or more, and up to two years in court or more. If you have a house worth $500,000, the probate costs and fees are usually between $14,000 and $27,000, or more.
How Does a Living Trust Work?
In a living trust, you are the Trustor, also known as a Grantor or Settlor. The Trustor creates the living trust by signing the document. Only the Trustor may amend (change) the living trust, or revoke (cancel) it. You will also name yourself as Trustee. The Trustee of a living trust is the person who handles the assets in the trust. Once you put assets into the name of the living trust, a process called FUNDING, you will manage them for your own benefit, to use as you please.
You will also name successor Trustees, who will take over for you when you are deceased or incapacitated. The successor Trustee will pass your assets to your beneficiaries when you die, under the terms and restrictions written in the living trust document. Your heirs inherit under the circumstances you choose, and the assets are managed by the Successor Trustee pursuant to your trust.
Can I use My Assets When I have a Living Trust?
Yes! Since it is your trust, you will use your assets just like you do now. You are totally in control of your estate.
Will a Living Trust Protect Me from Creditor Lawsuits?
No, a living trust is not a creditor protection device. Since you handle your assets yourself for your own benefit, your creditors can attach those assets in a lawsuit.
Can a Living Trust Protect Me from Catastrophic Illness Expenses?
No, because the assets in the living trust are yours, any creditor, including medical expense creditors, may take payment for these expenses from your estate. Consulting an insurance agent who sells long-term care insurance may reduce or avoid these expenses.
Do I need other Documents if I have a Living Trust?
When you have a Living Trust, you should also have a Durable Power of Attorney for Property Management, which will name someone to handle your assets and day-to-day financial affairs in case you are incapacitated. You should also have an Advance Health Care Directive (Living Will) and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, which allows someone you name to make health care decisions for you when you can’t, and, if necessary, to “pull the plug”.
Do I need a Separate Tax Return for the Living Trust?
No, you file your income tax returns just as you do now.
Can I move Assets in and out of the Trust?
Yes, because it is revocable, and because you are the Trustee of your trust, you can sell or spend assets, change where your assets are, and add new assets to your trust, without consulting an attorney.
Will a Living Trust Avoid or Reduce Inheritance Taxes?
Inheritance taxes, which are technically called “Estate Taxes”, can be avoided or reduced by the use of an A-B TRUST. Under current law, an A-B TRUST can shelter $4 million dollars or more from estate taxes.
Do I still need a Will if I have a Living Trust?
Yes, you will need a Last Will and Testament, called a Pour over Will. It will do two things: 1) It will put assets which are not in the living trust at your death into your Living Trust when you die, and 2) If you have children under age 18, it names the Guardian for your children. The Guardian will raise the children, and act as their parent, if the children are under 18 when you pass away.
Protect Your Assets from
Nursing Home Expenses
Since October 1993, you can no longer create a Medicaid Qualified Trust. However, under new law, there are still many ways of allocating your assets to protect them as exempt.
Nursing home insurance, sometimes called Long Term Care insurance, is one option. Depending on your health and age, the premium and company placement will vary.
Gifting away assets is still legal, but must be done correctly to avoid ineligibility periods and possible criminal penalties. DO NOT give your assets away or make any unusual gifts without consulting a qualified elder law attorney.
