Menu
Call
Contact
Blog

What is a Revocable Living Trust?

A revocable living trust is a legal document that allows you to transfer property to a person or entity—a trustee—that will manage them for the benefit of another person or entity—trust beneficiaries.

As the name suggests, the document is revocable—meaning you can change it anytime, like adding or subtracting assets, changing beneficiaries, or revoking the trust altogether. As the trust maker—the grantor—you can set special provisions to control the management and distribution of assets to your beneficiaries in case of death or incapacity.

The Trustee’s Role

The trustee is the person or institution that manages your trust assets. A trustee can be a bank, an attorney, a family member, or even yourself. The trustee’s responsibility is to manage and control the assets of your revocable trust for you and for those who inherit from you.

If something happens to the trustee, you can designate successor trustees to step in under the terms of the trust to manage the assets.

The trustee must keep a record of every transaction made by or with funds from your revocable trust, including all income earned on those funds. And when the time comes, they’ll be responsible for administering your trust to your beneficiaries.

Benefits of a Revocable Trust

Revocable living trusts are great asset protection vehicles, sheltering your assets while you’re here and protecting them from the courts once you’re gone.

Revocable trusts are good for:

  • Avoiding the costly and time-consuming probate process
  • Expediting asset transfer to your beneficiaries at death
  • Protecting assets in the event of incapacity
  • Maintaining control over your assets during your lifetime

A revocable trust can be a useful estate planning tool and an efficient way to leave money to your heirs.

Revocable Living Trust Vs. Irrevocable Living Trust

An irrevocable living trust is also a type of trust that can be started during your lifetime. It shares many of the same benefits as a revocable trust, with the main difference being that an irrevocable trust can’t be changed or revoked once it’s created. It’s often used by people who have significant assets and want to protect those assets from creditors, lawsuits, estate taxes, or other claims against them.

Both types of trusts allow you to protect your assets for your future beneficiaries but deciding which type is best for you will depend on which benefits are most important to you.

Who Should Have a Revocable Living Trust?

Whether you are young or old, rich or poor, married or single, if you own titled assets such as a house and want your loved ones to avoid probate court at your death or incapacity, consider a revocable living trust.

A trust allows you to bring all of your assets together under one plan. Of course, there is no single strategy that is right for everyone. Whether a revocable living trust is right for you will depend on your unique circumstances.

Contact a Trust Attorney Serving Santa Barbara County

As with any legal document, certain rules and regulations must be followed in order to keep them valid and enforceable. To maximize the benefits of your revocable trust and ensure it meets your long-term goals, you should work with a Santa Barbara estate planning attorney at Santa Barbara Estate Planning & Elder Law.

To explore your options, book an estate planning session today!

And make sure to follow us on social media to learn more about estate planning and estate planning attorney Julianna Malis. Follow us on Facebook.

Yes, we’re big fans of our estate planning services.

But check out what our clients are saying...

(That's what really matters!)

Your estate plan starts with a simple, free consultation

Our Process

Dedicated to Protecting Your Assets, Supporting Your Family, And Providing Peace of Mind

 Our Process

1You Schedule A Call

  • Meet briefly to learn more
  • Understand your specific business needs
  • Determine if we can help

2We Suggest A Solution

  • Know what you’ll spend
  • Know how long it’ll take
  • Know if you & loved ones are eligible

3We Work Together

  • Gather & create your docs
  • Create your plan
  • Provide updates without you even asking

4Enjoy Peace Of Mind

  • Your plan is in place
  • Your family is protected
  • You’re in control
  • We got your back when you need changes

Our Team

Our Blog