Why should I consider a revocable living trust? Part 1

• The revocable living trust avoids probate. It lets you keep control of your assets while you are living — even if you become incapacitated — and after you die.
• Avoidance of probate. Probate process can be long and costly. The court allows a personal representative to collect the decedent’s assets, pay valid claims, debts and taxes and finally distributes the remaining assets to those names in the will to receive them.
• For small estates (personal property [cash, belongings etc.] valued under $75,000 and real property [real estate] under $100,000) a quick probate process using a small estate document can be used.
• Probate avoidance occurs with a revocable trust because assets owned by the trust at the decedent’s death pass to trust beneficiaries from the trustee who holds title to them, not according to the terms of the decedent’s will.
• Costs for probating a will include court costs, appraisal fees, attorney’s fees, and executor’s commissions.
• A valid reason for a revocable trust exists if an individual owns real property in more than one state which, at his or her death, would require a probate procedure in each state.
• Probate is a public process and all documents are part of the public record, including the will. A revocable trust does not require probate and does not become public. May want to keep private if providing only a minimum distribution to a spouse or disinheriting a child.
• A possible will contest may be reason to consider a revocable trust. A trust does not require to notice to next of kin like when a will is probated- a disgruntled heir can then contest the validity of the will. A trust avoids this notice requirement and can circumvent a potential will contest.
• A trust can be challenged but less vulnerable to an attack and therefore can prove to be a useful tool for same-sex couples, non-traditional families, and families with multiple children from prior marriages.
• The Revocable Living Trust generally DOES NOT require any court action! Your heirs have immediate access to your estate after your death to pay bills and distribute your assets as you want them to be distributed. You DO NOT lose control of your estate in any way. You can handle your affairs the same way you always did. All you need to do is keep your Trust updated!
• A revocable trust can be beneficial in a case where a will probate would require notifying distant relatives or difficult-to-find distributees (persons who must be served in probate). If the distributes are unknown or cannot be traced, a company may have to be hired to find them.