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Terminating the Revocable Living Trust... Avoiding Probate after Death

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By: Phil Craig

Most of our attention is spent focused on the creation and maintenance of our revocable living trust.

But what happens after we die? How does the trust carry out its terms and end?

Basically, the process of terminating a revocable living trust upon a death is the reverse of the creation of the revocable living trust.

First, the trustee will collect and value the assets held in the trust (or put into the trust after the death occurs, such as life insurance).

This is called the “inventory and appraisement.” This is done to determine if an estate tax is due. It is also done to make sure all assets have been located and all bills (creditor’s claims) have been paid.

While this is happening, the trustee will also send notice of the death to the beneficiaries and to potential creditors (medical providers, funeral homes, etc.). This starts a statutory time period that creditors can make claim against the trust for payment.

After the inventory and appraisement is complete, the trustee will determine if an estate tax is due and payable. If so, the necessary forms will be prepared, filed, and the tax paid.

Once the creditors claim period has expired and the estate tax return has been accepted, then the trustee is ready to make distribution according to the directions contained in the revocable living trust.

The whole process of winding up and terminating a revocable living trust is very similar to the probate process. The main difference is that the trust administration is handled privately by the trustee, while the probate administration is done under the supervision of the probate court.

Good luck and until next time,

Phil Craig

P.S. Feel free to forward this on to any friends.

Phil Craig is a licensed attorney and entreprenuer. He started practicing law at age 25 in 1979. He does not take on any more clients, but is advisor to some of the biggest names in the internet world. He shares his knowledge gained over the last 25 years at his Living Trust Secrets newsletter site: click here>http://www.LivingTrustSecrets.com

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