Glendale Trust Lawyer

Trusts and the creation of an estate plan can lead to disputes about how your assets should be distributed. In short, trusts are confidential, cost-effective, and also efficient. A California estate planning attorney can create an enforceable trust and provide both guidance and zealous advocacy for parties that have an interest in the estate. A Glendale trust attorney can help you secure what’s rightfully yours, resolve legal conflicts, and provide peace of mind.

What Is a Trust?

A trust is a legal entity (not a person) that can hold certain assets for the creator of the document. Trusts help avoid unnecessary expenses and time to efficiently bring an estate through probate after someone’s death. A trust also can provide helpful instructions to manage someone’s assets in case the person becomes legally incapacitated.

What Is Probate?

Probate is the legal process of distributing the assets of a deceased person, and it can include formally recognizing the enforceability of their will. Probate is necessary to protect a deceased person’s estate (assets) and to distribute their assets to their intended beneficiaries.

What Is a Trustee?

Since a trust is not, in fact, an actual person, the specific assets that are placed into a trust must be managed by a trustee, an individual designated to manage the trust. A trust creator appoints the trustee who they believe will oversee their wishes to the fullest extent following their death or incapacitation.

A trustee must determine how to manage the trust in the interest of the beneficiaries and as contemplated by the trust agreement. Also, a trustee must comply with relevant estate laws when allocating any trust assets to the beneficiaries.

What Is a Trust Beneficiary?

A trust beneficiary is a person, or even a group of people, who receive any benefits of the trust at its creation. The trust documents determine who receives distributions of income or the assets from the property held within the specific trust.

What Is Trust Litigation?

Trust litigation is the area of law involving the final resolution of trust, estate, and protection proceedings. If needed, an estate planning attorney can litigate to resolve any issues with a trust. They can also help with a wide variety of legal matters, including:

• Guardianships
• Conservatorships
• Contests over wills
• Issues involving breaches of a fiduciary duty by any fiduciary or trustee
• Demands for an accounting
• Petitions (requests) for instructions from the court for estate administration
• Trust formation, modification, or reformation
• Issues with undue influence
• Matters involving conveyances alleged to be fraudulent
• Issues with capacity or decedent’s intention
• Determining the validity and protection of fiduciary conduct against state standards
• Recovery of attorney fees

With such complexity involved in this area of law and so much at stake financially, an experienced Glendale, CA attorney can be extraordinarily helpful.

Why Should I Retain an Attorney for My Trust?

If you’re considering creating a California trust, an attorney can prove invaluable assistance. An experienced estate planning attorney can help:

• Approach your unique situation with a collaborative approach based on their knowledge of estate planning, corporate, civil, appellate, and real estate law
• Help navigate the complexities of family relationships that can be difficult
• Provide compassion during an emotional experience
• Resolve a complex matter as cost-effectively as possible
• Explain the complexities involved in estate planning law
• Help you determine your estate planning goals

There is a high potential for complex litigation in this area of law. Therefore, it’s crucial to retain an attorney with extensive experience handling matters in California estate planning law. An experienced Glendale attorney can help you create a legally enforceable trust to manage your family’s generational wealth and maximize the value of your estate assets.

FAQs

Q: What Is a Revocable Trust?

A: Revocable trusts are sometimes also referred to as living trusts. A revocable trust is amendable and can be abolished at any time. These trusts are sometimes subject to California estate taxes. You’re able to retain control over a revocable trust during your lifetime and can name someone as a trustee if you become unable to make legal decisions.

A knowledgeable California estate planning attorney can discuss revocable trusts further if you have other questions.

Q: What Is an Irrevocable Trust?

A: An irrevocable trust is created to benefit someone other than you, like a child or grandchild. An irrevocable trust can’t be amended and is controlled by a third party. Most of these trusts are set up to retain assets until the death of the creator. Irrevocable trusts aren’t subject to California probate or estate tax. An experienced estate planning attorney can further discuss irrevocable trusts if you have additional questions.

Q: What Type of Attorney Do I Need to Set Up a Trust in Glendale, CA?

A: To set up a trust in Glendale, you should retain an estate planning attorney who is familiar with local California estate laws. These attorneys handle many types of estate planning matters, which include trusts, wills, tax issues, and guardianship cases.

An estate planning attorney can help you determine the most beneficial options for your estate. You may find an estate planning attorney invaluable to make sure your trust is set up properly and to avoid any legal complications.

Q: What Does a Glendale, CA Trusts Attorney Cost?

A: In Glendale, attorneys use a variety of retention fee structures for payment, which usually depend on the type of service, the trust complexity, and the level of experience of the attorney. Estate planning attorneys try to keep families and assets out of probate court.

If you are considering an attorney to assist with matters pertaining to your trust, it’s crucial to ask about their compensation contract during your initial consultation.

Contact an Experienced Glendale Law Firm to Discuss California Trusts

To maximize the value of your estate plan, it’s important to speak with a legal professional who can explain your asset protection, including creating a trust for your beneficiaries. Our legal team can help families going through disputes and legal issues.

Robert G. Petrovich, Attorney at Law, can help provide comprehensive estate planning guidance and create a plan tailored to meet your unique needs. We take the time to get to know you and carefully listen to your individual estate needs and goals. Contact our Glendale office right away to set up a private initial consultation.