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Tri-Valley Living Trust Lawyer

Estate Planning Attorney

An "inter vivos" trust is one created during your life. A "testamentary" trust is one created at your death by documents you have executed. Living trusts are, of course, created while you are living, and they serve multiple important purposes.

Revocable Trusts

A revocable living trust is a legal device to manage your affairs during your life.  You may alter or revoke it at will.  If you pass on with a trust holding your property, trust beneficiaries receive their inheritances without the need for probate. Sound planning seeks to avoid probate due to the associated delay and expense, as well as the public nature of the proceeding. The low cost of setting up a living trust typically makes it worthwhile, particularly if you have a real estate asset.

Irrevocable Trusts: Long-Term Care Planning

An irrevocable trust serves a different purpose. It may not be altered, once executed. It may have tax advantages and avoid probate like a revocable trust. But unlike a revocable trust, Medicaid regulations cannot force you to terminate the trust and use the assets for your medical care.  Mr. Schlies also advises about gifting plans and home health care considerations which may lessen the impact of long-term care or other end-of-life expenses on the estate you wish to pass to your heirs.

Privacy: Trusts are private documents, administered outside the public court system, as opposed to wills, which are made public in probate. There may be disadvantages to trusts if judicial supervision is needed. Contact a lawyer to discuss the best ways to control your assets while benefiting those you love and minimizing their taxes and inconvenience.

Your years of working, saving and investing warrant careful handling of your estate. Based in Pleasanton, California, Mr. Schlies has provided sound counsel to individuals throughout the East Bay and Tri Valley area for over 40 years. Mr. Schlies brings a breadth of legal experience to his estate planning practice, including an appreciation of the continuity of the process, starting with business planning and retirement planning and continuing with estate planning, elder care planning, and estate and trust administration.

Lawyer Christopher P. Schlies is licensed to practice law in the State of California