A Trust Is A Powerful Tool If Utilized Correctly
Where do you start when you want to plan for your future? It’s hard; you want to make sure your loved ones are taken care of, your assets are protected, and your wishes are respected—but how?
That’s where a trust comes in.
A trust isn’t just paperwork; it’s a complete plan of how to honor your wishes and assets after you pass away.
With a trust, you control how your assets are managed and distributed (and who they go to), avoid unnecessary legal complications (like probate expenses and family disputes), and make life easier for the people you care for.
That’s where a trust comes in.
A trust isn’t just paperwork; it’s a complete plan of how to honor your wishes and assets after you pass away.
With a trust, you control how your assets are managed and distributed (and who they go to), avoid unnecessary legal complications (like probate expenses and family disputes), and make life easier for the people you care for.
Why Do You Need A Trust?
If you’ve ever watched a loved one go through probate, you know how stressful and slow it can be. If you haven’t, it’s definitely something you don’t want to experience. Without a trust, your estate could end up tied up in probate court, leaving important information public, stopping your family from accessing your assets for months to years, all while paying off expensive court fees.
A trust solves these problems. It lets you decide exactly who gets what, when, and how. You can protect your home, savings, business interests, or family heirlooms. You can make sure children or loved ones with special needs are provided for, and you can even include charitable goals if that’s part of your plan.
A trust should be practical, not intimidating. That’s why we focus on creating documents that make sense and are tailored for your life, so you don’t have to spend the rest of your days worrying.
A trust solves these problems. It lets you decide exactly who gets what, when, and how. You can protect your home, savings, business interests, or family heirlooms. You can make sure children or loved ones with special needs are provided for, and you can even include charitable goals if that’s part of your plan.
A trust should be practical, not intimidating. That’s why we focus on creating documents that make sense and are tailored for your life, so you don’t have to spend the rest of your days worrying.
What Kind Of Trust Is Best For You?
Whatever your situation, we help you figure out what type of trust works best for your needs.
Some of the most common trusts we help create include:
Revocable Living Trusts
You keep control over your assets while you’re alive, but your beneficiaries (people you choose to inherit your assets) get a smooth, simple transfer after you’re gone. These trusts are flexible and perfect for families who want to avoid probate.
Irrevocable Trusts
Once established, these trusts are permanent, offering protection from creditors (a person or company to whom money is owed) and giving you potential tax benefits. They’re often used to preserve wealth and protect family assets long-term.
Special Needs Trusts
If you have a loved one with disabilities, a special needs trust allows you to provide for their long-term care and quality of life without jeopardizing government benefits like Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid. These trusts are carefully designed so that your financial support (whether for medical costs, housing, or everyday comforts) provides continuously rather than replaces the assistance they already receive.
Asset Protection Trusts
This is made to safeguard your wealth from potential risks like lawsuits, creditors, or divorce settlements. It helps ensure that what you’ve built stays secure and passes to your chosen beneficiaries—not lost to financial disputes or claims.
Family and Charitable Trusts
Family trusts ensure your assets are distributed to your loved ones according to your wishes, keeping your wealth in the family and reducing potential legal disputes between loved ones. Charitable trusts let you support causes you care about while potentially providing income for yourself or your heirs.
Should You Hire An Attorney To Create Your Trust Or Use A Template?
When you make a trust, you’re making decisions that affect your family, your assets, and your legacy.
While DIY templates might seem easy or cheap, they often overlook critical legal requirements, trigger unexpected taxes, or create small errors that can turn into costly problems later. Without professional guidance, you could end up with invalid documents, improperly titled assets, or unintended tax consequences—mistakes that can completely undo your planning and leave your loved ones with far less than you intended.
A trust lawyer ensures your plan is legally sound, protects your family, and reflects your intentions.
Working with a professional also means your trust is flexible enough to handle life’s changes, whether it’s adding beneficiaries or adjusting for new assets or updated laws. If problems arise among heirs or unexpected tax issues come up, your plan is made to address them without putting your family at risk.
While DIY templates might seem easy or cheap, they often overlook critical legal requirements, trigger unexpected taxes, or create small errors that can turn into costly problems later. Without professional guidance, you could end up with invalid documents, improperly titled assets, or unintended tax consequences—mistakes that can completely undo your planning and leave your loved ones with far less than you intended.
A trust lawyer ensures your plan is legally sound, protects your family, and reflects your intentions.
Working with a professional also means your trust is flexible enough to handle life’s changes, whether it’s adding beneficiaries or adjusting for new assets or updated laws. If problems arise among heirs or unexpected tax issues come up, your plan is made to address them without putting your family at risk.
Common Questions About Trusts
How does a trust avoid probate?
A trust avoids probate because the assets it holds are legally owned by the trust, not the individual. This lets your beneficiaries inherit faster, privately, and without the court fees that come with probate.
Can trusts reduce taxes?
Yes. Certain trusts can reduce estate or inheritance taxes by legally sheltering assets or providing tax benefits, letting more of your wealth go to your beneficiaries. The right trust planning ensures your family keeps a larger portion of your estate.
Who should I choose as my trustee?
A trustee should be someone you trust to manage your assets responsibly, as you would’ve wished. If you are unsure who to pick, we can help you decide between a family member, a trusted friend, or a professional trustee based on your situation.
Can I update my trust later?
If you have a revocable living trust—yes! These can usually be updated as your circumstances change in life. On the other hand, irrevocable trusts are permanent, but we can discuss the right strategy for your needs.
How do I know if I need a trust lawyer?
If your goal is to protect your family, make asset transfer easier, lower your taxes, or avoid probate, a trust lawyer makes sure your plan is legally solid and actually works the way you intend. If you want a trust, a trust lawyer is the way to go.
How Much Does a Trust Cost In California?
The cost of creating a trust varies depending on the type and complexity of the case. Simple revocable living trusts typically range from $1,500 to $3,500, while more detailed options—such as irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, or asset protection trusts—can range from $2,500 to $5,000 or more.
Factors that influence cost include the number of assets you have, the structure of the trust, and any special provisions needed to protect your family or plan for future tax considerations.
Factors that influence cost include the number of assets you have, the structure of the trust, and any special provisions needed to protect your family or plan for future tax considerations.
Start Your Trust Journey Today
Creating trust isn’t about worrying for the future—it’s about making sure your family doesn’t have to. With us, you get more than a legal document—you get a plan that works, a partner who cares, and security that your wishes will be honored.
A proper estate plan addresses critical issues such as:
Proper estate planning is about preparing for the more difficult and inevitable seasons of life (incapacity and/or death).
If done properly, an estate plan will ensure that your loved ones will avoid undue emotional stress during the more difficult seasons of life.
Estate planning should encompass all stages of life. While one is alive and well, a proper estate plan allows one to control their assets. A proper estate plan allows one to care for themselves and loved ones if they become seriously ill and/or incapacitated.
Upon death, a proper estate plan provides a roadmap for your loved ones. You can decide the following:
Components of an Estate Plan
Generally, a proper estate plan includes the following:
A proper Estate Plan also needs to be reviewed and updated to ensure it keeps up with changes in life. We provide our clients with a complimentary review every three years to ensure an accurate and up-to-date Estate Plan is still in place.