Family Living Trust

Privacy Book by Jay Lashlee and Private Trust Book

Trust Definition

A "trust" usually means a "living trust" or "family trust" or "revocable living trust" or any combination of those words. These trusts are the standard basic trust that usually costs around $500.00. A simple trust and a will are the basis for estate planning and should be the starting point in any estate plan.

Simple Estate Planning

A trust, as well as a will can be short, simple, and in plain language. Remember... anything is better than nothing. You can start with the free forms at
Trust Forms, or with other free forms at Trust Quote.

First, a trust, as well as a will; does absolutely nothing while you are still alive. It's simply a standby document that installs the new controller upon your death, and sets out who, what, where, when, and how assets are to be controlled when you are deceased.

Second, a trust usually shelters you from court control over your assets. Otherwise upon death, the court initiates a probate over your assets, wealth, and control over your estate.

Literally, probate is the process of "proving" your will (or none) and transferring remaining assets to your heirs.

It's well worth the time and effort to bypass probate, for these reasons:
  1. Expense - Depending on your state and the size of your estate, the total cost of probate might be 3%-7% of your assets. Say you die with a total estate of $300,000, certainly not a huge amount in today's world. From $12,000 to $28,000 might go to lawyers, executors and court fees - just for reviewing papers. For a married couple, two probates may be needed, costing as much as $24,000 to $48,000, before all of their assets can go to their kids. What's more, the probate fees get paid first, before your family gets the leftovers, if any. Many estates have nothing left when the court is finished.

  2. Delays - Not only will probate cost your heirs, it can cause critical holdups. Although some states probate an uncomplicated estate in a matter of a few weeks, an "expedited" probate might take six months in others and a few states tie up assets for up to two years. Delays allow monthly legal expenses to be continually charged.

  3. While assets are in probate, the court is in control. That means your executor or an administrator appointed by the court will manage them until the estate is settled. Will the administrator take advantage of market or tax-planning opportunities? Not likely.

  4. Publicity - Adding insult to injury, probate proceedings are on the public record. Anyone can see a list of your assets and the debts you've incurred. Illegitimate claims may be brought against your estate and various scam artists may try to prey upon your heirs. If you own a closely held company and it goes through probate, its records will be exposed to competitors and creditors and management during probate will be awkward.

  5. Multiple probate - Suppose you own a vacation home or investment property outside your state of primary residence. Your estate will have to go through probate in that state, too, adding still more expense and aggravation.

That's where the trusts come in. In essence, once you transfer assets into the trust, they're controlled by the trust (that is controlled by you). At your death, the assets stay in the trust, to be distributed by the trustee (that you selected), rather than by the probate court or government administrator.

Distributions, for example, can go to your heirs right away, without the delays of probate.

Free Consultation Trust Help A formal trust makes it very difficult for a disgruntled heir (or would-be heir) to challenge your disposition of assets. Another benefit is privacy. Your assets and their disposition are not exposed to the general public, as they are when assets go through probate.

Trusts and wills can be changed. You can change controllers, beneficiaries, assets, distributions, or conditions. You can change the terms whenever you want even cancel the trust altogether. You can set up a revocable living trust naming yourself as trustee as well as beneficiary. You can even give it all to charity, or just cancel the trust.

You will, of course, name a successor trustee and successor beneficiaries to manage and receive the trust assets after your death. In the meantime, you have full control of the assets, just as you did before creating the trust. If you transfer stocks into the trust, for example, you can buy or sell them at will. You will receive the income from any trust assets; however, you'll owe the resulting income taxes.

The bottom line: With a will and a standard trust, you have control over your assets while living. You can name who gets what at your death, and you can change your mind if you want to.

The Private Asset Trust

Our Private Asset Trust includes the selected benefits, and has the most flexibility.

See more...

  1. Domestic Partnership Trusts
  2. Trust Funds For Minor Kids
  3. Guardians for Minor Children & Trusts
  4. Offshore Trusts
  5. Education Trusts
  6. 529 Plan Education Trusts
  7. Family Business Safety, Success, and Transfer
  8. Spenthrift Trust
  9. Crummey Trust
  10. IPUG Irrevocable Pure Grantor Trust
  11. Private Asset Protection Trust
  12. Avoid Family Conflicts Trust
  13. Marital Deduction Trust
  14. Marriage or No Marriage Trust
  15. Pet Care & Pet Guardian Trust
  16. Easy Prenuptial Agreement Trust
  17. Senior Protection Trust
  18. Family Living Revocable Trust
  19. Get a Private Asset Protection Trust Quote

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