Practice areasTrusts
A structure to manage and transfer your estate according to your instructions.
We design trusts tailored to your family, your assets, and your goals.
Contact usWhat it is
A trust lets you decide how, when, and for whom.
A trust is a legal arrangement in which a person transfers assets to a trustee to manage them for the benefit of the beneficiaries, following the instructions you establish.
It can be useful for those who want their assets to pass without going through a court process, for parents who want to define how their children will receive the estate, and for families with a member who requires special care.
Not everyone needs a trust. Part of our work is to tell you whether one makes sense in your case.
Types of trusts
Each trust serves a different purpose.
These are the ones we most often prepare for our clients.
- 01Revocable living trustYou keep control of your assets and can amend or revoke it at any time. At your death, the assets pass according to your instructions.
- 02Irrevocable trustOnce created, it cannot be freely changed. It is used for specific estate and tax planning purposes.
- 03Testamentary trustIt is established in the will and takes effect at death, for example to manage the inheritance of minor children.
- 04Trust for minor children or young adultsDefines at what age and under what conditions your children will receive the estate, and who will manage it in the meantime.
- 05Special needs trustAllows resources to be set aside for a family member with a disability while seeking not to affect the public benefits they receive.
- 06Trust administrationWe guide trustees on their duties and on the proper administration and distribution of the assets.
The step often overlooked
A trust only protects the assets transferred to it.
Signing the trust is the first step. For it to work, the assets must be formally titled in the name of the trust: real estate, accounts, ownership interests in companies.
A trust with no assets, or with assets left out, may still require the family to go to court. That is why we assist you at this stage as well.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions.
What is the difference between a will and a trust?
A will takes effect at death and normally goes through a court process. A trust can manage assets starting now and transfer them according to your instructions. They are often used together.
If I have a trust, do I still need a will?
Generally yes. A complementary will covers assets left outside the trust and allows you to name a guardian for minor children.
Do I lose control of my assets by placing them in a trust?
In a revocable trust you can continue to manage them and amend it whenever you wish. In an irrevocable trust control is limited; that is why it is used only for specific purposes.
Who can serve as trustee?
You yourself in a revocable trust, a family member, a person you trust, or an institution. What matters is also naming who will succeed them.
Does a trust reduce taxes?
It depends on the type of trust and on your situation. Some are designed for tax purposes and others have no such effect. We analyze it case by case.
Contact
Determine whether a trust is the right structure for your estate.
Our firm is at your service to analyze your situation and explain the alternatives available.
Contact usThe information on this page is general in nature and is not legal advice. Every situation is different; consult an attorney about your particular case.