When it comes to estate planning, a revocable living trust is an important document that can ensure your finances and assets are managed in the way you want if you pass away. Even if you’re not close to retirement yet, a revocable living trust is a smart move for protecting your family’s future.
A revocable living trust is an arrangement that allows you to place assets into a trust and retain the right to revoke or modify the decision at any time. You are the trustor, or the creator of the trust, and you determine who will act as the trustee; this is usually a financial institution, like a bank or a lawyer. The trustee will follow your instructions to manage the trust when the time comes, typically after you pass away.
When you place your assets into a trust, you essentially hand them over to the trustee who will manage them and ensure your wishes are honored. Your assets are completely safe and remain under your control for as long as you want; however, they will pass to your beneficiary – typically a spouse or a child – after you die.
Benefits of Setting Up a Revocable Living Trust
One of the major benefits of having a revocable living trust is that it allows you to control your assets after death. The trust can be used to direct money to charities, provide money for your beneficiaries’ education, and fund other assets that you want to have managed in your absence. Plus, many people prefer revocable living trusts simply because they are more private than a will; all the conditions of your will can be publicly available with a will, whereas a trust deals directly with the trustee, meaning your beneficiaries don’t need to go through a lengthy probate process.
In addition, since you can revoke the trust at any time with a revocable living trust, you can change your mind and update the terms as life situations change. You can also appoint any person, charity, or institution as the beneficiary and give them control of the assets once you pass away. Additionally, unlike a will, a revocable living trust requires no court validation to set it up or take effect.
A Revocable Living Trust Can Help You Cope With Unexpected Events
Creating a revocable living trust is the best way to prepare yourself and your loved ones for any uncertain situations. For example, if you become incapacitated and can’t make decisions for yourself, the trust can ensure the beneficiaries have access to the assets without going through a long legal process, like guardianship proceedings.
Regardless of whether you’re just starting to consider estate planning or you’ve been putting it off for a while, setting up a revocable living trust is an important step you should take. With a revocable living trust, you can ensure your loved ones have financial stability during difficult times, and the trust will provide peace of mind that your wishes will be fulfilled if anything unexpected happens.