Probate can be quite costly and protracted. Because the probate process is a matter of public record, it can also bring unwanted attention to a family’s finances. On the other hand, because a fully funded living trust is not subject to probate, it can transfer your assets privately and seamlessly to your beneficiaries.
I am Richard A. Sarner of Zeldes, Needle & Cooper, P.C., and I can tailor a living trust to meet your family’s unique needs. Contact me today to schedule an appointment at my offices in Stamford, Connecticut, or New York City.
Living trusts have both financial and practical advantages. A comprehensive estate plan using a will and coordinated documents can minimize the costs of probate but will not prevent it altogether.
These are revocable trusts that transfer your assets out of your individual name before your death, so they are no longer subject to probate. As a result, living trusts can be a valuable way to distribute the funds privately to your beneficiaries while managing title to your assets and avoid probates in multiple states where you may own property. Living trusts can also provide for the seamless control of assets through a disability by providing a succession of trustees who have the authority to manage trust assets.
I can work with you to develop an effective living trust that can substantially reduce or eliminate the cost and hassle of probate for your beneficiaries. Should the need arise to contest a living trust, its succession, or its administration, I am also experienced in probate litigation.
I have more than 25 years of legal experience, am AV Peer Review Rated* through Martindale-Hubbell, and am listed in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.™ I lecture widely on estate planning and am the co-author of two books on estate planning topics:
I also have access to resources of a much larger firm through my association with WealthCounsel, and the Wealth Strategies Collaborative®. My affiliations with these organizations help me provide results-oriented service in a variety of estate planning areas. To discuss a living trust with an experienced estate planning lawyer, contact me and make an appointment.