A living trust is an arrangement in which an individual (legally referred to as a settlor), during his/her lifetime, assigns a trustee to manage his/her property and/or assets for a beneficiary chosen by the settlor. Although the trustee is legally responsible for overseeing the activities of the property designated to the living trust, this agreement will also stipulate when the beneficiary is to receive payment from the trust, as well as when (or if) he/she will take over legal control of the trust entirely.
Benefits of establishing a living trust include:
• Privacy, as wills are public information while living trusts are not
• Preventing beneficiaries from recklessly spending the money
• Establishing a charity, a corporate structure or an investment vehicle
If you or a loved one is considering establishing a living trust, you should work with a knowledgeable, professional living trust lawyer who will ensure the legal process is properly followed so the trust is valid and your wishes are followed. If you are in the Harnett County, NC region, the seasoned living trusts lawyers at Kelly & West invite you to attend an initial consult to learn more about the process and how we can help. We have been establishing living trusts for nearly 30 years and are dedicated to putting our clients’ needs first.