Revocable living trusts

A revocable living trust is one of the most over-recommended estate planning tools in the country. For some families it’s exactly the right answer; for many others, a will and a community property agreement do the same job at a fraction of the cost and complexity. We’ll tell you honestly which camp you’re in.

What we’ll cover in detail

• What a revocable living trust actually is and how it works
• The probate-avoidance argument and how it plays out under Washington law
• Why “funding” the trust is the step that decides whether it works
• How a trust interacts with community property, beneficiary designations, and powers of attorney
• Situations where a trust really is the right call (out-of-state real estate, blended families, privacy concerns, special needs planning)
• Costs to set up and maintain

If someone has told you that you “need a trust,” let us give you a second opinion before you write a check. If a trust is right for you we are happy to help you to set up and then fund the trust.