{"id":1026,"date":"2018-02-01T18:07:30","date_gmt":"2018-02-01T18:07:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/arizona-estate-planning\/?page_id=1026"},"modified":"2022-09-01T17:46:42","modified_gmt":"2022-09-01T17:46:42","slug":"setting-up-trust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/arizona-estate-planning\/blog\/setting-up-trust\/","title":{"rendered":"Setting Up a Trust in Arizona"},"content":{"rendered":"
It\u2019s a common misconception that trusts<\/a> are only intended for the wealthy. While a trust isn\u2019t the best solution for everyone, it can be an incredibly valuable estate planning tool to bypass probate, administer assets to minors<\/a>, and provide further control over your estate\u2019s assets when you pass away. In certain circumstances, trusts can also minimize someone\u2019s exposure to estate taxes<\/a>, and they can shelter assets from personal creditors, lawsuits, and liabilities.<\/p>\n A trust that is established during your lifetime is called a living trust. If you provide instructions in your will to create a trust after you pass away, that\u2019s called a testamentary trust.<\/p>\n As the name implies, a revocable<\/a> trust can be amended or dissolved by the trustor (the individual who transferred assets to the trust) during their lifetime. In contrast, an irrevocable trust is set in stone, and generally cannot be altered by the trustor. In some cases, the beneficiary may be able to amend or dissolve the trust, but that depends entirely on the terms of the trust.<\/p>\n While a trust is a little more complicated and costly to draft than a last will and testament, it\u2019s a fairly straightforward process. There are 5 steps to establish a trust:<\/p>\n The trustee<\/a> is the administrator who will manage the assets held by the trust. With living revocable trusts, the trustor is usually the trustee, and the trust agreement nominates a successor trustee to take over when the trustor dies. At that point, the trustee will either dissolve the trust and distribute the assets to the trustor\u2019s heirs, or they can continue to manage the principal and distribute income for as long as the trust agreement directs. For testamentary trusts and irrevocable trusts, the trustee will need to be a third party.<\/p>\n Note that while a trustee and an estate\u2019s personal representative<\/a> have a similar responsibility to manage an estate\u2019s assets, a trustee has an additional fiduciary<\/a> responsibility to prudently manage the trust\u2019s assets. Trustees will be held to a higher standard and should manage the assets just as well as they would handle their own assets. As such, it\u2019s normal for trustors to hire a professional trustee, such as a financial advisor or asset manager, or for the trustee to consult with investment professionals to ensure they are doing the best job possible.<\/p>\n The beneficiary<\/a> is entitled to receive distributions of income and\/or principal from the trust. The trustee will administer the funds to the beneficiary based on the instructions in the trust agreement. In many cases, the trust will dissolve and transfer all assets to the beneficiary when the trustor dies. However, it\u2019s not uncommon to see legacy trusts that are intended to last far beyond the trustor\u2019s death. In those cases, the trustee will continue to distribute income to the beneficiary as long as the assets in the trust last.<\/p>\n With a living trust, the trustor is usually listed as the primary beneficiary. Because the trustor is the trustee and beneficiary, it allows the trustor to retain complete control over the assets during their lifetime. The trustor would be free to manage the assets as they please, and access as much of the principal value as they need. When the trustor dies, the trust agreement will stipulate who is to become the successor beneficiary and receive the remaining assets.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re considering a trust where your spouse or significant-other is the beneficiary, it would be wise to add one or more contingent beneficiaries to the trust agreement. If you and your spouse pass away at the same time, the contingent beneficiaries would receive the trust assets. If you and your spouse pass away and the trust doesn\u2019t have a contingent beneficiary, the assets will need to pass through probate, which defeats one of the primary purposes of trusts.<\/p>\nLiving Trusts vs. Testamentary Trusts<\/h2>\n
Revocable Trusts vs. Irrevocable Trusts<\/h2>\n
How to Set Up a Trust in Arizona<\/h2>\n
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Select a Trustee<\/h2>\n
Name a Beneficiary<\/h2>\n
Set the Terms of the Trust<\/h2>\n