A living trust is a useful way to help heirs avoid the probate process.
It’s smart to think about what you would like to happen to your property, after you have passed. No doubt you’d like to have certain people receive certain assets. One way to do this is through a living trust.
Yahoo! Finance’s recent article, “How to Create a Living Trust in Tennessee” explains that creating a living trust is mostly the same, regardless of where you live in the U.S.
Let’s look at the basic steps you’ll need to take, with the help of a qualified estate planning attorney:
List the assets that should go into the trust. There are some assets, such as 401(k) plans and IRAs, which must be in an individual’s name. Other items like bank accounts, securities and life insurance policies can but don’t need to, provided you set up payable-on-death accounts or designate your beneficiaries. Usually real estate and business interests are shielded with living trusts.
Select the right type of living trust. If you use a revocable trust, you can remove assets or cancel the trust. With an irrevocable trust, you don’t have this luxury. If you’re not married, you can create a single trust. If you’re married, a Tennessee Community Property Trust will hold what you own jointly without having to split property or say who owns what. However, this type of trust isn’t a good option, if you’re in a later marriage with separate assets and children from previous relationships.
Name a trustee. The trustee will manage the trust. With revocable trusts, you can also be the trustee, or in the case of a joint trust, you and your spouse can be co-trustees. If you name yourself, name a successor trustee for when you pass away.
Create a trust agreement. It’s best to hire an estate planning attorney to create the trust, because it must be done correctly and legally. If the trust is found to be invalid, there may be penalties, taxes and added costs.
Sign and notarize the trust document.
Transfer property into the trust. The law states that the trust won’t be effective, unless and until property is retitled in the name of the trust.
These documents seem simple but they require following state-specific rules. An estate planning attorney will be able to help you make sure that your trust accomplishes your goals.
Reference: Yahoo! Finance (September 27, 2019) “How to Create a Living Trust in Tennessee”