Build a Trust Around Your Life. Not Just Your Assets.

Shield Legal Group’s Family Trust Plans start at $3,495. Final flat-fee pricing depends on the agreed scope and complexity of the plan and is provided before representation begins.

A revocable living trust is an estate-planning arrangement created during your lifetime. You transfer ownership of certain assets to the trust while generally retaining the ability to modify or revoke it. You may serve as your own trustee and name successor trustees to manage the trust if you become unable to do so or after your death. The appropriateness of a trust depends on your particular circumstances.

There is no universal answer. Whether a living trust is appropriate depends on your family, assets, real estate, ownership structure, goals, and other circumstances. Some families benefit significantly from trust-based planning; others may be appropriately served by a will-based plan. Our job is to understand your objectives and discuss the planning structure appropriate for your situation.

Assets properly transferred to and held in a revocable living trust generally may be administered according to the trust rather than passing through probate. However, creating a trust document by itself does not guarantee that an estate will avoid probate. Ownership, beneficiary designations, trust funding, the nature of the assets, and individual circumstances all matter. The specific outcome depends on your particular situation.

Yes, most trust-based estate plans include a pour-over will. A pour-over will is designed to work with the trust by directing that any assets not already in the trust at death generally pass into the trust for administration. The specific documents appropriate for your plan depend on your individual circumstances.

Florida real estate, particularly homestead property, requires individualized analysis before changing title. Homestead law, mortgage terms, title insurance, tax considerations, and other factors may affect whether transferring your home to a trust is appropriate. You should consult with an attorney before making any changes to how your home is titled.

Florida homestead involves constitutional and statutory considerations that may be affected by changes in ownership. Individual circumstances should be reviewed before any transfer. Whether a homestead exemption or protection is affected depends on the specific property, the trust terms, and applicable law. You should consult with an attorney before making any changes.

Mortgage and loan documents, as well as applicable law, should be reviewed before changing ownership of mortgaged property. Some mortgages contain due-on-transfer provisions, and the specific terms of your loan and the nature of the transfer may matter. You should consult with an attorney and review your loan documents before making any changes.

Asset-specific analysis is necessary, and not every asset should necessarily be retitled to a trust. Real estate, bank accounts, and certain investments may be appropriate for trust coordination, while retirement accounts, life insurance, and other assets may be better addressed through beneficiary designations. The appropriate coordination depends on your particular assets, goals, and circumstances.

Not necessarily. Retirement accounts involve beneficiary and tax considerations that require individualized coordination. In many cases, retirement accounts are addressed through beneficiary designations rather than being transferred to a trust. The appropriate approach depends on your specific accounts, beneficiaries, tax situation, and planning goals. You should consult with an attorney before making any changes.

It depends. Entity documents, transfer restrictions, tax considerations, and the specific business structure may all affect whether a business interest can or should be held in a trust. Business ownership can create additional estate and succession-planning considerations. The appropriate approach depends on your particular circumstances.

Generally, yes. A revocable living trust can typically be amended or revoked by the grantor while they have the legal capacity to do so, subject to the trust terms and applicable law. Changes in circumstances, family, or objectives may warrant reviewing and updating the trust. The specific process depends on your particular trust and circumstances.

A will generally takes effect at death and typically passes through probate. A revocable living trust is created during your lifetime, can provide for management of assets during incapacity, and may allow assets to pass outside of probate if properly funded. A trust also allows for more structured distribution instructions for beneficiaries. The appropriate tool depends on your family, assets, goals, and circumstances.

A successor trustee should be someone you trust to manage trust assets according to the trust terms. This may be a family member, a trusted friend, or a professional trustee. The appropriate choice depends on the complexity of the trust, the assets involved, family dynamics, and your particular circumstances.

Funding a trust means coordinating your assets with the trust so that the trust governs those assets as intended. This may involve changing ownership of certain assets to the trust, updating beneficiary designations, preparing deeds for real estate, or taking other implementation steps. Not every asset should necessarily be transferred to a trust, and the appropriate funding steps depend on your particular assets and circumstances.

Yes. If you already have a trust, Shield Legal Group can review your existing documents, assess whether they still reflect your current wishes and circumstances, and recommend updates if appropriate. The scope of any review depends on the particular documents and your current situation.