Living Trusts
Living trusts are legal documents. You place assets into the trust during life, and when you die, the beneficiaries receive their inheritance.
- You decide which assets to place in the trust and you name beneficiaries.
- You can “revoke” or change the trust during life (revocable trusts). Once you die, it can’t be changed.
- Unlike wills, assets held in living trusts bypass probate.
There’s no need to have a huge estate to benefit from living trusts. Our law firm can help you decide if a living trust is right for you.
About Attorney Alice A. Salvo
With over 25 years’ experience, attorney Alice Salvo understands the issues clients face when planning their estates. She can walk you through every element of estate planning, from will drafting to trust administration.
If you’re considering a living trust, let Alice Salvo and her team of living trust lawyers help. It’s our privilege to give clients the peace of mind and reassurance they deserve.
MORE INFORMATION >Knowing Whether a Living Trust Is Right for You
Our Los Angeles living trust attorneys can explain your options to help you make the right estate planning decisions. However, here are some benefits of living trusts you may consider.
Avoid the Probate Process
One common reason families hire a California trust attorney to set up a living trust is the avoidance of the probate process. When you place assets in living trust, you no longer “own” the asset. It belongs to the trust when you pass away – it becomes irrevocable.
The benefit? There’s no need for the asset to go through probate. You can relax, knowing that you’re protecting your family’s financial future.
Plan for Incapacity
The California Living Trust offers a method to plan for incapacity. Once you create your trust, you can name yourself as a trustee. In addition, many clients name a successor trustee to manage and control their assets in the event they become incapacitated. When you name a successor trustee, you are ensuring that someone you know and trust will handle your assets diligently and competently when you cannot do so yourself.
Furthermore, this power is given to the successor trustee automatically if you become incapacitated, which rules out the need to get the court system involved. Don’t worry—if you ever need to change the successor trustee, you have the flexibility to do so.
Finally, you can define what “incapacity” means in your trust documents, which allows you to choose the conditions that trigger a successor trustee takeover.
Control and Flexibility
A living trust allows you to have more say over when and how your assets are allocated to your beneficiaries. Specifically, it allows you to include terms and conditions that must be met before your property goes to any one of your beneficiaries. For example, if you have a child and want the trust assets to be used for a specific purpose (such as college or other continuing education), you can set the schooling as a condition precedent to them receiving their inheritance.
Another common reason clients place parameters within a trust is to preserve the assets within it and ensure their beneficiary does not spend their share irresponsibly. Another benefit of creating a living trust is that they’re highly flexible.
Our living trust lawyers understand that families evolve over time. Priorities shift and goals change. Helpfully, you can change the terms of a revocable trust during life. Contact the living trust attorneys at the Law Offices of Alice A. Salvo to learn more.
Plan Ahead with The Help of a Living Trust Attorney
If you’re living out your golden years in the Golden State, for the financial security of your family, consider setting up your estate plan with a living trust attorney. California residents can expect the best from Alice A. Salvo, because she will make sure that your money is safe and your family provided for, even after your passing – allowing you to spend your time comfortably and worry-free.
When you set your trust up with a complete estate plan at the Law Offices of Alice Salvo, it includes the following estate planning documents:
- Living trust
- Advance health care directive
- Durable power of attorney
- Will
- Assignment agreement
- Funding letter
- Trust transfer deed
- Preliminary change of ownership report
There are occasions when people do not plan ahead for the distribution of their assets. When this unfortunate situation occurs probate court becomes the way to handle the problems of transferring assets to heirs.
Hopefully, you have taken care of your family all your life, and getting a lawyer for a living trust is very important to ensure they are well cared for upon your passing or the passing of your spouse.
Protect Your Family and Contact A Living Trust Attorney Today
Let our Los Angeles living trust lawyers assist your family to avoid uncertainty by utilizing our living trust services. When doing this in conjunction with an estate plan you will be able to decide how your assets are distributed, set up healthcare directives and more. Have you ever wondered what the best way is to get your affairs in order?
If you are a homeowner we encourage you to have us draw up a living trust as soon as possible. Our lawyers will create a comprehensive plan. We can take into account all the needs of your family’s special requirements.
For those requiring a living trust attorney in Los Angeles, throughout Los Angeles County, Ventura County or the San Fernando Valley, simply call with any questions or concerns. Call 818-676-9572 or use our online contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.