Avoid These Mistakes When Setting Up a Living Trust

Avoid These Mistakes When Setting Up a Living Trust

It’s hard to think about the end of your life while you’re still in your prime. But the facts don’t lie. Statistically speaking, the younger you are, the more unprepared for unexpected death or incapacitation you’re likely to be. While 81 percent of adults 72 and over have a living trust or will, that number drops to 60 percent of 71 to 53-year-olds and continues dropping to only 36 percent for those between the ages of 52 to 37. While it can be hard to confront your mortality when it feels far away, creating a living trust now can help reduce headaches later. And if you’re interested in streamlining the process for your beneficiaries, handling your assets' distribution through a living trust can often be a cost- and time-effective option.

If you’re setting up a living trust, avoid the following mistakes to help you and your trustees benefit from the full advantages a trust has to offer.

1. Choosing the Wrong Successor Trustee(s)

While your adult children may be the obvious choice, they may not always be the best choice to serve as your successor trustee. The person or people you put in charge of your trust must be responsible, (preferably) younger than you, and committed and able to execute your wishes. Sure, your children may check all the boxes, but if they’re located across the country or preoccupied with raising families of their own, they may not be in the best position to handle your estate. Make sure that whoever you choose to entrust with the distribution of your assets is comfortable with this decision. Trusting this person completely means you’ll feel confident leaving them with your assets either after death or if you become incapacitated during your life.

2. Neglecting to Disclose All Assets

Living trusts are documents designed to expedite and simplify the distribution of your assets after death. If you’re not outlining all assets and items under ownership in your trust, your trustees will likely hit some roadblocks. This can quickly lead to expensive tax implications, probate costs, or a delay in the execution of your wishes. One way to help combat the risk of neglecting certain assets is to seek professional assistance in drafting your living trust. Alternatively, you can use online tools and resources to prepare it yourself, but it’s important to keep in mind the comprehensive nature of this document. You want to be sure you have power over your legacy, and your living trust works how you had originally intended it to.

3. Leaving Out a Residual Clause

Think of a residual clause as a sort of “safety net.” While it’s not airtight, incorporating a residual clause into your living trust can help you catch any important assets you may have left out or acquired after your trust was created. By having this type of protection within your trust, you can better avoid putting any of your estate through probate, adding time and expense. Additionally, a residual clause can help protect your excluded assets from landing in the laps of people other than one of your trusted beneficiaries.

4. Funding Your Trust

To put your living trust into effect, you must make it the “owner” of your assets. Transferring your assets to the trust is called “funding.” Without this crucial step, your assets won’t be protected. In turn, this would negate the trust’s main appeal of being quick, simple, and inexpensive to carry out. Any assets not funded to the trust could be subject to going through probate, which many try to avoid in the first place.

5. Letting Your Trust Go Stale

Completing a living trust can feel like a big accomplishment, but don’t be tempted to check it off your list for good. As changes in your family occur, whether it’s a death, birth, marriage, or divorce, you’ll want to be sure your trust is kept up to date with the right beneficiaries and asset distribution plan. Additionally, reviewing and updating it regularly can help you stay on top of the latest tax laws while ensuring your newly acquired assets are included. If checking yearly sounds like too much, pick a time interval that works best for you. The most important thing to remember is that you want your living trust to be an accurate reflection of your current state of affairs.

Preparing for the unexpected is easier said than done but setting up a living trust can help protect your important assets later down the line. Just remember to keep these most common mistakes in mind as you prepare this important document. When done right, a living trust can be a great help and source of relief to loved ones after you’re gone.

About Eric

Erickson Braund is the Founder and Chief Financial Officer at Black Walnut Wealth Management. He is a Certified Financial Planner®️ professional and a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor®️. Eric brings over 20 years of experience working with high net-worth individuals and families, helping them achieve their goals of protecting and growing their wealth for retirement and for generations to come. Because Eric is a CFP®️ professional, he adheres to high ethical standards and engages in at least 30 hours of approved continuing education in the financial industry each year.

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