If you read this article, someone has likely told you you need or should have a “Revocable Trust” or a “Living Trust.” Someone might have told you a horror story about what will happen if you do not have a Living Trust. You also might have attended a seminar. Most of these seminars claim Living Trusts are a cure-all, and they will draft a Revocable Living Trust for a specific dollar amount. And, you will get the Trust in a handsome, faux leather binder.
If only I had a nickel for every one of those faux leather binders I have ever seen!
Is a Revocable Living Trust Right for You? These Estate Planning tools are not cookie-cutter documents that are good for everyone. A careful analysis of your goals, assets, and applicable taxes is necessary to determine if the cost of setting up a Revocable Living Trust is worth the benefits.
To help you understand these documents, let me first give you some Quick thoughts. Then let me Debunk Some Revocable Living Trust Myths and Half-Truths. Finally, let’s review the pros and cons of a Revocable Trust. This way, you can deduce if paying the cost to set up a Revocable Living Trust Makes Sense.
I have been an estate planning attorney for more than twenty years. In those years, I drafted Revocable Living Trusts as a member of five state bars. I pride myself in saying that the hundreds of Revocable Living Trusts I drew were for clients for whom these trusts were a good fit. I have probably told twice as many people that they do not need Revocable Trusts than need them. For many people, the best idea is to avoid the expense of forming a trust because it is not a good fit for the client’s estate plan. Without careful analysis, there is no way to know if you are a good fit for a Revocable Living Trust. Like most tools, a Revocable Trust is not a one-size-fits-all tool.
Is the Revocable Living Trust right for you? The short answer is that a Revocable Living Trust can be a helpful estate planning tool for many people. But, another unfortunate truth is that many people use lies and half-truths to sell unneeded Revocable Living Trusts.
If you attended a seminar whose theme was that everyone needs a Revocable Living Trust, you are lucky to have escaped with your wallet. Were you told that a Revocable Living Trust would avoid Estate Taxes and creditors? If so, you were lucky your car still was in the lot when you came out.
So first, let’s debunk the most prevalent Revocable Living Trust lies and half-truths.
A Revocable Living Trust does NOT reduce your inheritance or estate taxes. These are the most common myths. These myths are often touted by those who sell canned revocable living trusts (in faux leather binders). These people feel comfortable telling you this lie because the inheritance and estate taxes are due when you are dead. So, you will never know that they lied to you. Remember that the Trust is “revocable.” Because you can revoke the Trust, you can, at any time, take all the assets back into your name. Therefore, the IRS and Department of Revenue ignore the Trust’s existence. Your assets in a revocable trust are considered yours when calculating your estate, inheritance, and income taxes. If you need more proof, email me, and I will send you links to the IRS website that state this fact.
Again, the “Revocable” Living Trust can be “revoked,” If you can get the asset back, your creditors can take it. The Trust does not protect you from creditors during your lifetime or at your death. Asset protection differs with an Irrevocable Trust, which you cannot revoke, and can be used to remove assets from creditor’s claims.
Because the Trust is “revocable,” the assets are considered yours when evaluating Medicaid eligibility. Use of an “Irrevocable Trust” where you have no right to the assets you gave away into the Trust could shelter your assets, but never a “Revocable” trust. Again, for further proof, review the Medicaid website.
Forming the Revocable Living Trust is only the first step. You must arrange all your assets to utilize the Revocable Trust to avoid the Probate Process. Deeds must be filed, placing your real estate into the Trust. Bank accounts must be moved to the Trust or designed to pour into the Trust at your death. You must complete beneficiary designations for other appropriate assets, such as life insurance policies, annuities, and qualified plans (IRA, 401k, TIAA-CREF, SEP, etc.).
Further, as the years pass, you will likely change your investments. You may buy a new CD or open a new checking account. Make these changes with the overall Revocable Living Trust plan in mind. Otherwise, you might undermine the goals, which caused you to form the Trust in the first place.
The answer depends on the rules of the state in which you are a resident at your death. If you die a Floridian, Florida law requires that your successor trustee file a notice with the court in the county where you passed a resident. Other states are beginning to require similar filings. Furthermore, if your successor trustee wishes to start specific statutes of limitation for creditors, they will likely file some paperwork with the states.
The need for a lawyer to help with your estate has nothing to do with a Revocable Living Trust. If your executor could handle your estate alone, then there is no need for a lawyer, even if you had no Revocable Living Trust. Similarly, your executor may need help with some steps with or without a Revocable trust. For example, filing inheritance and estate tax returns, obtaining beneficiary releases, and selling real estate, a business, or settling lawsuits. All are examples where your Trustee will still need a lawyer’s assistance, even if you have a Revocable Living Trust.
A thorough analysis of if a Revocable Living Trust is right for you begins with some necessary information. This article is meant to give you the truth about Revocable Living Trusts. It is not a complete analysis of your situation, which can only come with an interview with a competent Estate Planning Lawyer. An experienced Estate Planning Attorney will obtain a clear understanding of your assets, family standing, and testamentary goals. Our Estate Planning Lawyers do this analysis every day in free consultations.
A revocable living trust is a legal entity that your signature brings into existence. Once signed, it will exist, but it will state that all the terms are “Revocable.” The Trust may own things, such as your real estate, but you can “Revoke” the Trust and take the assets back at any time. Further, most Revocable Living Trusts state that the Trustee must use all assets for your care during your lifetime. In most cases, you, as the Grantor, serve as the sole Trustee.
In contrast, an “Irrevocable Trust” is a trust you sign and bring into existence that you cannot revoke. If you transferred your house into an Irrevocable Trust, the Trust owns the home like the Revocable Trust. But, you will likely never be able to get the house back into your name.
A Revocable Living Trust is designed to hold title to your assets (bank accounts, real estate, personal property) during your lifetime for your benefit and then manage and dispose of your assets after your death. If structured correctly, a Revocable Living Trust may completely replace your Will. If you properly arrange all your assets leaving nothing in your name at your death, there is no need to file your Will with the state. Probate is avoided.
Does a Revocable Trust still sound like a good fit for you? Then the next question you should ask is the cost. Then analyze the charge against Probate’s expense. Is it cheaper to use the Probate Process, or is it more economical to pay for the Revocable Living Trust avoiding the Probate Process?
Costs of creating the Revocable Living Trust include the actual drafting of the Trust by an Estate Planning Attorney. Also, there is the cost of transferring any real property deeds into the Trust and moving your other assets into the Revocable Trust. The expenses of Probate vary from state to state.
Is your only goal avoiding the cost of probate (see below for other reasons)? If so, in my experience, it is not cost-efficient to set up and fund a Revocable Trust in Pennsylvania or New Jersey. But, setting up a Revocable Trust to avoid probate in New York and Florida is cost-efficient. That is a general observation.
You are aiding the Elderly or Those with Alzheimer’s. A Revocable Living Trust can be an excellent tool if you are reaching an age or a medical condition where you need some help with your finances. The Trust allows the family to help but will enable you to control assets when you do not yet wish to turn overall control. You can name a trusted person co-trustee with the right to act independently but retain the right to act alone. This way, you can work now, but as your abilities diminish, your co-trustee can seamlessly take control.
You are reducing the Chance and Cost of a Will Contest. If you believe the chance of a Will Contest in your estate is high, then a Revocable Living Trust can reduce that risk. You cannot stop someone from filing a Will Challenge, but you can make it much more challenging, expensive, and less likely to succeed.
Convenience. A Revocable Living Trust can be used to avoid probate altogether. So even if its cost does not save your estate much money, it can make it easier for the person handling your estate. Making things easier is especially true if that person lives far from your county.
They are helping You Manage Your Assets. If properly drafted, a Revocable Living Trust can appoint someone as your co-trustee who can help you manage your assets and bills, but without you giving up control. It is unfortunate that banks will work more willingly with your co-trustee than with your Agent under a Power of Attorney.
Real Estate in More Than One State. If you have real estate in several states, then at your death, your estate needs to be opened in each state. Ancillary Probate increases the cost of probating your estate. Avoid this added cost by placing each property into a Revocable Living Trust, avoiding probate in each state.
Bank Accounts or Investments in Several States. Ancillary Probate may be necessary if you have bank accounts without branches in your home state. Another example is investments in businesses outside your home state that are not listed publicly. Avoid this added cost by placing each asset into a Revocable Living Trust, avoiding probate in each state.
You are replacing Your Will. If drafted correctly and appropriately funded, a Revocable Living Will can replace your Will. But still allow you to create asset protection trusts and use other techniques to protect your heirs. The terms can mirror terms that would have otherwise been in your Will.
If any of these reasons fit your needs, paying the costs of setting up a Revocable Living Trust, even in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, will make sense.
The most significant difference is that the Grantor can revoke a Revocable Trust and reclaim any assets placed in the Trust. While in a typical Irrevocable Trust, the Grantor cannot cancel the Trust or recover gifted assets. Because of these revocation powers, courts and creditors treat Revocable Trusts like they do not exist. For example, a Revocable Trust uses the Grantor’s social security number rather than a tax ID number. Creditors can easily access a revocable trust, and the Grantor’s taxable estate includes its assets. In contrast, an Irrevocable Trust can be designed to avoid creditors and have assets excluded from the Grantor’s estate.
A Revocable Trust and a Living Trust refer to the same type of Trust. “Living” refers to the ease of modifying the Trust. “Revocable” applies to you retaining the right to revoke the Trust entirely.
This refers to either using a Will or replacing your Will with a Revocable Living Trust. Read about Is a Revocable Living Trust Right For Me to determine if the cost to create a Revocable Trust is worth the Trust’s benefits.
A Revocable Living Trust is a Grantor Trust, so you report all income under your social security number. Notifying the IRS or the State of the Trust’s formation is unnecessary.
When real estate funds a Revocable Trust, the land’s ownership shifts from your name to the Trust’s. The deed will state that the Trust owns the property. Even though you don’t own the land, the Revocable Trust is for your benefit. Further, you can remove the property anytime or revoke the Trust.
Because the Trust is Revocable, you can always modify the Trust as your life situation changes. But, like a Will, a well-drafted Revocable Trust clearly states where assets pass should a beneficiary die before the Grantor. A good Estate Planning Lawyer asks you what result you wish and drafts terms accordingly.
For example, a Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, client wants me to set up an Irrevocable Third Person Special Needs Trust for her autistic Grandson. This Grandson could live in Camden County, New Jersey. I would ask her what should happen to any unused funds at the Grandson’s death. She might say that if her Grandson doesn’t survive her, the resources earmarked for the Special Needs Trust instead pass to other living grandchildren. She might also say that if her Grandson dies after her, any remaining funds pass to a charity supporting Autism research. Whatever her wish, I will then incorporate those terms into her Trust. The Trustee must follow the Trust’s terms.
You create a trust by signing the document. Your signature “brings the trust to life.” A Revocable Trust may serve many purposes during your life and after your death. For example, your Revocable Living Trust could have Disclaimer Trust provisions to protect your spouse or Dynasty Trust provisions creating protective trusts sheltering your inheritance from your children’s spouses and creditors. Reviewing your goals and assets will help determine what provisions best fit your needs. Call for a free consultation!
No person must have a Revocable Living Trust, but depending on your assets and goals, a Revocable Living Trust provids savings and privacy. Read more about Is a Revocable Living Trust Right for Me?
When using a Revocable Living Trust, a Trustee is often a Beneficiary. When using an Irrevocable Trust, the Trustee can be a Beneficiary, but this comes at a cost. Depending on the type of Trust, having the Beneficiary serve as the Trustee could open the Trust to attack by creditors.
Revocable Living Trust might be an excellent estate planning tool for you, but it will take more than a short seminar to find out. Luckily, it will not cost you anything to get more information. Contact Us to set up a complimentary initial estate planning consultation. You can count on one thing; we won’t sell you a Revocable Living Trust unless it fits your estate plan. Please read more about our Estate Planning Process.
Klenk Law has focused only on Estate Law for more than two decades. We’ve seen it all, and this experience allows us to explain sophisticated estate planning techniques clearly and concisely. We make it easy for you to understand Revocable Living Trusts so you can make the best decisions for yourself and your family.
Peter Klenk is the founding member of Klenk Law, a seven attorney boutique estate planning law firm. We serve clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota and Florida. Peter Klenk received his Masters in Taxation LL.M. from NYU Law School and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School. He served his country in the Navy JAGC during Desert Storm. Easy to talk to, feel free to call Peter for an appointment. We will make the process as easy as possible!
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