Establishing a Living Trust in Michigan

Protect your assets from probate with a living trust. Contact us today at the Bassett Murray Law Group, PLLC, in Ann Arbor at 734-930-9200.

One aspect of estate planning is protecting your assets and avoiding probate by establishing a trust. A living trust can help protect the assets you wish to leave behind to family members after your death.

At the Bassett Murray Law Group, PLLC, we help our Michigan clients understand the steps necessary to establish a living trust to prepare for life’s changes.

What Is a Revocable Living Trust?

Upon your death, your assets normally pass into probate, the process by which the court settles your estate. You can avoid probate by protecting your assets with a trust. In Michigan, we have two main types of trust:

  • Revocable (living) trust. This type of trust allows you to move trust assets in and out of the trust during your lifetime and change instructions for the agent of the trust to follow at your passing or incapacitation.
  • Irrevocable trust. This type of trust is a true asset protection trust, safeguarding assets from creditors during your lifetime. However, you will not be able to access the assets once you create and fund an irrevocable trust.

A revocable living trust will become irrevocable after your death, protecting the trust assets and avoiding probate so your family members can receive their rightful inheritance expediently.

How to Establish a Living Trust in Michigan

To establish a living trust, you must draft a legal document that names the trustee (usually yourself) and beneficiaries. You will name a successor trustee to manage the trust upon your death or incapacitation.

You will also need to fund the trust by adding trust assets so the trustee has control of those assets upon your death. Because of the complexity of trust documents and restrictions, you should ask a trust attorney with our office to help you create and fund your living trust.

Benefits of Creating a Living Trust

While it is not a true asset protection trust while you’re alive, there are many benefits to creating a revocable living trust. Some benefits include:

  • Ability to alter the trust during your lifetime
  • Conversion to an irrevocable trust after death or incapacity
  • Avoidance of probate for trust assets
  • Protection of family heirlooms, real estate, investments, furniture, jewelry, and more from creditors after your death
  • Ongoing management of trust assets for beneficiaries who need it
  • Privacy for assets contained in the trust
  • Affordability and expediency for your heirs compared to going through probate

Contact Us at the Bassett Murray Law Group, PLLC, To Create a Living Trust in Ann Arbor, MI

At the Bassett Murray Law Group, PLLC, we have helped Ann Arbor residents prepare for life’s changes for over 30 years. We manage estate planning, adoption, probate, elder law, disability, and LGBTQ legal planning in Michigan. Our legal team and staff work together to provide clients with compassion, dedication, and experience.

Contact us at the Bassett Murray Law Group, PLLC, to schedule an initial consultation to discuss setting up a living trust in Ann Arbor, MI. Call us today at 734-930-9200 or contact us online.

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Get to know us better by scheduling an initial consultation where we can discuss your needs.

Bassett Murray Law Group, PLLC
2045 Hogback Road
​Ann Arbor, MI ​48105
Phone: 734-930-9200
Fax: 734-930-9942

Petoskey Office
By Appointment only
3319 Lakeshore Dr. South
Petoskey, MI, 49770
Phone: 231-427-2292

    Bassett Murray Law Group, PLLC
    2045 Hogback Road
    ​Ann Arbor, MI ​48105
    Phone: 734-930-9200
    Fax: 734-930-9942