Trusts put you in control, and can help avoid probate.
Probate is a long process. It’s expensive. It puts all of your wishes, expectations, desires, and assets into the public realm for anyone who wishes to view it. A trust is a legal document that can help avoid the cumbersome process and help maintain your privacy.
Trusts are, generally speaking, more complex than wills, trading the relative ease and simplicity of set-up, for flexibility in managing multifaceted estates. They provide substantial power to help dictate how your estate will be handled, both now, and in the future. Additionally, unlike a will, it can be used to manage your assets as soon as it’s executed and funded. A properly-constructed and well-managed trust can sidestep the probate process after death almost completely, shrinking the government’s role in the distribution and management of your estate to an absolute minimum. It can also provide a more active and ongoing benefit to your estate while you’re still alive, adding another layer of security to your property in the face of legal challenges and other unfortunate events. Creating a trust as the keystone of your estate planning strategy grants you the utmost control over your assets and the ultimate peace of mind that your posthumous desires will be recognized and respected fully.
Take the next step up from directives and wills to fully round out your comprehensive estate plan. Give me a call at (805) 705-4433 or contact me to set up an appointment, and together we can get it done.