Living Trusts
Whether you're creating a new living trust or updating one you already have, our estate planning experts simplify the process. Clearly protect what matters, spare your loved ones from probate, and smoothly transfer assets exactly as you intend with our personalized Trust-Based Estate Plans.
What is a Revocable Living Trust?
A living trust is a helpful legal tool that lets a trustee take care of your assets for you or your loved ones. This ensures a smooth and private transfer of your assets, both during your lifetime and after you're gone.
How does a trust work?
A living trust offers a holistic approach to financial planning, extending beyond asset distribution at death. This dynamic tool allows you to appoint a trustee for seamless control in incapacity or as life nears its end. Its flexibility enables instruction modifications, ensuring ongoing control and adaptable financial strategies throughout your lifetime.
Why create a living trust?
While many individuals initiate their estate planning journey by crafting a Will, it’s crucial to explore more comprehensive alternatives. Trusts provide a wide range of advantages beyond what a Will can provide and avoids the hassle of having to go through probate court, allowing you to retain control of your estate before and after your death.
Arizona’s Oldest and Largest Estate Planning Company
Decades of Experience in Living Trusts
With over 30 years of experience and more than 45,000 clients served, RJP Estate Planning has helped Arizona families protect their assets and build a secure future.
I recently arranged a meeting with RJP for a review since it had been a few years since my living trust was set up. Upon arriving at their offices I was greeted by a lovely young lady ( Lauren ) who offered me a bottle of water and a comfortable place to wait until my scheduled appointment time. During my brief wait, Lauren engaged me in pleasant conversation, she was quite delightful. I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Brett Wood who performed a comprehensive review as well as answering several of my questions. Mr. Wood is quite personable as well as professional. This recent experience reaffirmed that my decision to engage RJP several years ago was the correct choice.
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Sas Baermann
11 days ago
I had all of my estate planning done with RJP a little 5 years ago, a very easy process. Since then I have reached out with questions and advice in a variety of areas, Chris Cohan and Caroline have gone over and above to help with anything I have needed. I can not recommend them more highly!
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Andrea
18 days ago
I am so grateful that my father chose RJP Estates to handle all of his estate planning. I really didn't know too much about this process and what it entails, unfortunately, until recently. The people here are extraordinary ✨️!!! Brett, Susan, Melanie, Jon, I really can't thank you enough ❤️!!! These people will make sure that you and your family are very well taken care of. They will assist you through every step of the process, they really handle it all. If you don't have an estate plan, do yourself and your family a favor, and talk to the caring team at RJP!!! Thank you so very much🙏💯!!!
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Erika J
1 month ago
What’s the difference between a will and a trust?
A will is a legal document that becomes effective after you pass away, helping the court distribute your assets according to your wishes. This process goes through probate, which is a public and court-supervised procedure that can sometimes be slow and costly.
In contrast, a trust is a legal entity designed to hold and manage your assets. It takes effect right away and helps you avoid probate altogether. With a living trust, you can maintain control over your assets while you’re alive, and when the time comes, it smoothly transfers control to your chosen successor trustee—without any court involvement, delays, or unnecessary drama.
What’s the difference between a revocable and an irrevocable trust?
A revocable trust offers great flexibility! You can modify or cancel it anytime while you're still alive. You hold the reins—rearrange assets, revise the terms, or even designate new beneficiaries; it’s all up to you.
Conversely, an irrevocable trust is more rigid once established. Typically, you cannot alter it without court permission or consent from all beneficiaries. Nevertheless, this type of trust offers enhanced asset protection and potential tax benefits—ideal for safeguarding your wealth against creditors, lawsuits, or estate taxes!
The Primary Advantages of a Living Trust
With a revocable living trust, you stay in control of your estate both during your life and after your passing, and you have the flexibility to adjust your instructions whenever you need to.
Probate Avoidance
A key benefit of a living trust is avoiding the lengthy, expensive, and public probate process, enabling assets to pass directly to beneficiaries.
Privacy
A living trust is more secure than a will for privacy, as it remains confidential. Unlike probate, which is public, a living trust keeps details about assets and beneficiaries private.
Flexibility & Control
Living trusts offer flexibility and revocation, allowing the grantor to modify beneficiaries, trustees, and terms as needed (unless the trust is irrevocable).
Free Living Trust Seminars Near You
Join our free seminar in Phoenix, Tucson, or nearby and discover how a living trust can safeguard your home, spare your family from probate, and secure your peace of mind. We'll show you how simple estate planning can be. Seats fill fast, so reserve yours today.
What is Probate?
Probate is the court and process that looks after people who cannot make their own personal, healthcare, and financial decisions. These people fall into three general categories: minor children (under age 18 in most states), incapacitated adults, and people who have died without legal arrangements to avoid probate. Probate proceedings can be expensive and time-consuming. Additionally, the court proceeding and associated documents are all a matter of public record. Many people choose to avoid probate in order to save money, spare their heirs a legal hassle, and keep their personal affairs private.
What is a Revocable Living Trust?
This is an agreement with three parties: the trust-makers, the trustees (or trust managers), and the trust beneficiaries. For example, a husband and wife may name themselves all three parties to create their trust, manage all the assets transferred to the trust, and have full use and enjoyment of all the trust assets as beneficiaries. Further “backup” managers can step in under the terms of the trust to manage the assets should the couple become incapacitated or die. Special provisions in the trust also control the management and distribution of assets to heirs in the event of the trust-maker’s death.
Who Should Have a Revocable Living Trust?
Whether you are young or old, rich or poor, married or single, if you owned titled assets such as a house and want your loved ones to avoid court interference at your death or incapacity, consider a revocable living trust. A trust allows you to bring all of your assets together under one plan.