What’s the Primary Purpose of a Living Trust?

One of many options for people who want to pass an inheritance to loved ones is a living trust, also known as a revocable trust. There are several benefits, as detailed in this article from msn.com, “3 Benefits of Using a Living Trust to Pass an Inheritance to Your Family.”

Trusts are used to avoid the probate process. This is a court process where the court evaluates the will, decides whether or not it is valid and then supervises how the assets in the estate are distributed. If you’ve ever had the misfortune of experiencing the probate process, you know it can be stressful.

Probate takes time. While it varies depending on the jurisdiction, it can take months and sometimes years to complete. While the estate is in probate, heirs cannot access estate assets.

Probate can be expensive. There are court costs, administrative fees, legal fees and accountant's fees if the estate is complicated.

Probate is public, and trusts are private. Once a will is entered into probate, it becomes public information and anyone can access it. This includes estranged relatives, creditors, salespeople and thieves. They all look at the will to learn about the size of the estate, asset values, names of beneficiaries and where they live and whatever information is in the will.

The only people who have access to trusts are the estate planning attorney who created them, the trustee and the beneficiaries. This level of privacy is sometimes a bigger reason to have a trust than avoiding probate, especially for people who scammers could target.

Trusts allow flexibility. Living trusts are also called “revocable” because they can be changed during your lifetime. You can change the terms of the trust, the names of the beneficiaries, what assets you want heirs to receive, etc. If you have a big change in your financial situation, good or bad, the trust can be modified.

If a revocable trust sounds like a good option for your situation, speak with an experienced estate planning attorney. They’ll help you create a trust and estate plan to protect you and your loved ones.

A living trust offers privacy, flexibility, and an effective way to avoid probate, making it a great option for passing an inheritance to your loved ones. At The Werner Law Firm, our estate planning attorneys in Los Angeles are here to guide you through creating a comprehensive estate plan tailored to your needs. Contact us today to learn more about how a living trust can protect your assets and secure your family's future.

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Reference: msn.com (Aug. 21, 2024) “3 Benefits of Using a Living Trust to Pass an Inheritance to Your Family”