Living Trust Creation in Franklin, TN
Secure your family's future and avoid probate with a professionally drafted living trust. We make the process straightforward and stress-free for Franklin residents.
Why Franklin Homeowners Need Professional Living Trust Creation
Without a proper estate plan, your loved ones could face significant challenges. Are you concerned about:
Lengthy Probate
Your family's inheritance tied up in court for months or even years?
Lack of Privacy
Your financial affairs becoming public record?
Incapacity Issues
Who will manage your finances if you become unable to?
Estate Taxes & Fees
Unnecessary costs diminishing your legacy?
Family Disputes
Arguments over asset distribution after you're gone?
Professional Living Trust Creation Solutions in Franklin, TN
At August Law PLLC, we understand the unique needs of Franklin families when it comes to living trust creation. Sara Thomas is the owner of August Law, PLLC. She graduated from Notre Dame Law School in 2001. She believes she can impact her community the most through estate planning. She thrives on helping families proactively navigate the two things that no one can escape: death and taxes! Our dedicated team provides tailored solutions to navigate complex estate laws, offering peace of mind by protecting your legacy and simplifying the process for your beneficiaries.
Benefits of Professional Living Trust Creation
Avoid Probate
Bypass the often lengthy, public, and expensive probate process in Tennessee. A living trust allows your assets to be distributed privately and efficiently to your beneficiaries, saving them time and legal fees.
Maintain Privacy
Unlike Wills that become public records during probate, a living trust remains a confidential document. This ensures that the details of your assets and their distribution remain private within your family.
Plan for Incapacity
A well-structured living trust includes provisions for a successor trustee to manage your assets if you become incapacitated. This avoids the need for court intervention, like a conservatorship, and ensures seamless financial management.
Control Asset Distribution
With a living trust, you dictate exactly how and when your assets are distributed to your beneficiaries. This is ideal for supporting minor children, providing for beneficiaries with special needs, or establishing staggered distributions.
Reduce Estate Costs
Proper living trust creation can help minimize estate taxes, court fees, and administrative expenses, ensuring more of your wealth goes to your intended heirs. It's a smart financial decision for your future.
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Living Trust Creation Options We Offer
Revocable Living Trust
This is the most common type of living trust, allowing you to retain full control and make changes throughout your lifetime. It's ideal for most families seeking probate avoidance and incapacity planning without relinquishing immediate control.
Irrevocable Living Trust
An irrevocable trust offers advanced asset protection and significant estate tax benefits. Once established, assets transferred into it generally cannot be removed or altered without beneficiary consent, making it a powerful tool for specific planning goals.
Special Needs Trust
Designed to provide for a loved one with disabilities without jeopardizing their eligibility for government benefits. We can help you integrate this crucial component into your comprehensive estate plan.
Our Living Trust Creation Process
Initial Call and Homework
The process begins with a 15-minute call to understand why you're considering estate planning now and to determine if our services align with your needs. If you decide to move forward, we send you homework.
This homework asks you to detail all your assets (bank accounts, retirement, investments, life insurance, etc.) and their locations. It also asks about your potential beneficiaries and fiduciaries (executor for a will, trustee for a trust), and what's important to you in terms of planning and life. This helps us understand your priorities and ensures you're financially organized.
Credit Card Reservation and Scheduling
After the initial call, we send a credit card reservation form. We don't charge you unless you don't show up for the Life and Legacy Planning Session or don't complete the homework. You're allowed one reschedule for an emergency.
If you don't show up for the session or do your homework, a $250 fee will be charged. Once the credit card reservation form is submitted, you receive a confirmation email with access to our portal for submitting your homework.
Life and Legacy Planning Session
We then sit down for a two-hour Life and Legacy Planning Session. During this session, we talk through every asset you have and discuss the default plan the state of Tennessee has for you, including what assets might go through the probate court system.
We also discuss joint ownership, beneficiary designations, and the operation of long-term real estate. If you have an existing plan, we'll review it using a 50-point review system to help you understand what's still effective and what's not, allowing you to make an informed decision.
Please note, we don't amend other attorneys' work; we'd start over if a new plan is needed. We also discuss what would happen with your children if something were to happen to you, ensuring their care.
Custom Plan Recommendation and Drafting
Based on all the information discussed during the Life and Legacy Planning Session, we'll help you determine whether a Will or a Trust makes more sense for your specific situation. We might make recommendations, especially if you have many assets that would otherwise go through probate. Once a decision is made, we proceed with drafting your personalized Will or Trust.
Comprehensive Review & Signing
Once we have the documents drafted, then it’s time to review the documents and sign.
Living Trust Creation Pricing Guide
At August Law PLLC, we believe in transparent and predictable legal fees. For your living trust creation and comprehensive estate planning, we offer flat rate pricing. This means you will know the exact cost upfront, without concerns about hourly billing or hidden fees.
Our fees reflect the value and expertise provided, ensuring a meticulously crafted plan tailored to your unique needs, whether you are single or married, or have a complex estate.
Our transparent flat rates encompass all drafting, funding assistance, and ancillary documents like pour-over Wills and Powers of Attorney, providing a clear financial picture from the start.
What Franklin Customers Say About Our Living Trust Services
"Sara Thomas at August Law was easy to work with, thorough and detailed to make the process of personalizing what you and your family comprehensive. I highly recommend meeting with Sara if you and your family don't have all your legal documents in order to help protect your children and ensure smooth transitions."
– Staci Albenesius
"It was such a comforting feeling for my husband and I. Wills can be a very scary, confusing part of being a grownup. Everything was explained and handled quickly and professionally. This office really cares about your future. Please give them a call."
– Lisa Downs
"My wife and I had a great experience estate planning with Sara and her team. She made us feel comfortable throughout the process to ensure are children are always protected. Her focus on family was exactly what we were looking for and her attention to the details is unparalleled."
– Derek Hagerty
Frequently Asked Questions About Living Trust Creation
What is the main difference between a Will and a Living Trust?
A Will takes effect only after your death and typically goes through probate. A living trust becomes effective immediately and allows your assets to avoid probate, offering more privacy and control during your lifetime and after death.
Do I lose control of my assets if I put them in a living trust?
No, with a revocable living trust, you remain the trustee and retain complete control over your assets. You can buy, sell, or manage them as you always have.
How do I "fund" my living trust?
Funding involves retitling your assets (like real estate, bank accounts, and investment accounts) into the name of your trust. We'll provide detailed guidance and assistance with this crucial step.
Is a living trust only for wealthy individuals?
Absolutely not. A living trust can benefit individuals and families of all financial levels by providing probate avoidance, privacy, and incapacity planning, regardless of the size of their estate.
Can I change my living trust after it's created?
Yes, if you create a revocable living trust, you can amend or revoke it at any time during your lifetime, as long as you are mentally competent.
Meet Our Living Trust Specialists
Our dedicated team at August Law PLLC brings years of focused experience in living trust creation and estate planning. Sara Thomas is the owner of August Law, PLLC. She graduated from Notre Dame Law School in 2001. She sees practicing law as more of a vocation than an occupation. She has practiced high-stakes litigation, non-profit law and Title IX, but she believes she can impact her community the most through estate planning. She thrives on helping families proactively navigate the two things that no one can escape: death and taxes! We are committed to providing compassionate, clear, and effective legal guidance to protect what matters most to you.
Some of the Middle Tennessee Area We Commonly Serve
Our office is located at 321 Billingsly Court, Suite 23, Franklin, TN 37064. We proudly serve clients across the broader Middle Tennessee region, including:
Ready for Professional Living Trust Creation Services?
Don't leave your family's future to chance. Investing in expert living trust creation provides invaluable peace of mind, protecting your assets and ensuring your legacy is handled exactly as you wish, without the burdens of probate. Take the first step towards securing your family's financial future today.
Contact Information
Have questions or ready to begin your will writing? Contact August Law PLLC!
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August Law PLLC
August Law offers a full spectrum of estate planning services tailored to your individual needs and goals.