Unfortunately, the same approach can be expected from a lot of estate attorneys. No matter who you are or what your situation, the attorney is very likely to tell you that you need a revocable trust. This is a one-size-fits-all answer, and you should proceed with caution. That said, a revocable trust often makes sense. Here are four reasons why a revocable trust may fit your situation:
1. To avoid probate
When prospective clients approach me, insisting they need a trust, it’s typically because of a good or bad experience they had because of a trust or lack thereof. Maybe a parent had a trust and things passed very smoothly. Or maybe their parents didn’t have a trust, and they had to deal with the probate courts in a tough jurisdiction. It’s either that, or they got a targeted ad on Facebook saying they should absolutely have one.Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance
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Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.2. To have control
Imagine a scenario where two of your kids are great with money, but the third, not so much. You can stop imagining, as this is probably the case. It is more common than not to have kids who are going to do very different things with the same inheritance.
The most common way that revocable trusts control this challenge is to release a certain percentage of assets once the beneficiary hits certain ages. While this is most common, it is by no means the only way to solve the problem.Along with the benefit of control comes flexibility. The trust I have in place would allow for annual distributions only up to the amount that my beneficiaries save each year. What kind of financial planner would I be if I didn’t incentivize saving?3. To ensure privacy
Putting together an estate plan can be a very emotional process. Ideally, there won’t be too much disagreement among the parties, and you will land with a plan that executes your wishes. That said, I’m guessing you wouldn’t post that plan on social media. Your wishes are typically something you keep private except from those who have some role or benefit in the plan.
If you plan to pass assets through a will, just remember that most of the time, that will becomes public once the probate estate is closed. So, if you left one of your kids out, left your favorite a bit more or are just a private person, you may be better off with a trust.4. To plan for incapacity
The scenario that no one expects or wants does, unfortunately, occur sometimes. If your bank accounts are titled only in your name, this can become a nightmare for simple tasks like paying your bills. A revocable trust won’t improve your situation, but it can create continuity and simplicity in managing financial matters.In the case of the trust, you will name a successor trustee who will manage the assets in the trust according to the terms of the trust should you become incapacitated. This can happen immediately rather than going through the legal process of seeking guardianship or conservatorship.
While I believe these are four very strong reasons for drawing up a living trust, and while most of our clients do employ these instruments, they are by no means necessary for everyone. My next column: Four Reasons You Don’t Need a (Revocable) Trust.
related content
- Eight Types of Trusts for Owners of High-Net-Worth Estates
- What Assets Should You Put (or Not Put) in Your Trust?
- The (Only) 3 Reasons You Should Have an Irrevocable Trust
- Three Key Things to Consider Before Agreeing to Be a Guardian in a Trust
- Best States for Trusts: How to Choose One That’s ‘Trust-Worthy’
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