Trusts and the family home
Keep the house moving to the people you name
A living trust holds what you put in it, and says who receives it and when. For many families, that means no court has to be asked first.
The trust only works for what it actually holds, so the deed matters as much as the document. We draft the trust, sign the deed that moves your home into it, and walk through your accounts so each one points the right way. You stay in charge of everything while you’re able, and the person you name steps in if you’re not.
In the trust package
A living trust, written in your words
A pour-over will for anything left out
The deed that moves your home into the trust
Powers of attorney and a health care directive
A checklist of account and beneficiary changes
Who it suits
A trust helps most when…
The flat fee covers the package above. Recording fees, charged by the state when the deed is filed, are separate, and we give you the amount before you sign. A trust for a relative who receives public benefits is quoted on its own.
You own a home or land
The trust lets one set of papers cover it, however many names it has passed through.
The children are young
Money can wait with a trustee you chose until each child is ready for it.
The family is blended
You can say what goes to a spouse for life and what goes to the children afterward.
Someone in the family gets benefits
A separate trust can leave them money without putting their benefits at risk.
Trust questions we hear most
Do I lose control of my house?
No. You live in it, sell it or refinance it as you do now. The trust only matters for what happens when you can’t, or when you’re gone.
What if I buy a new home later?
We give you a short step-by-step for adding it to the trust, and you can book a flat-fee visit if you’d rather we do it.
Is a trust more expensive to keep up?
There’s no yearly filing for most family trusts while you’re alive. The work is in keeping titles and beneficiary forms current, and we flag what to check.
See whether a trust fits your house
Bring a deed or a recent statement if you have one. If you don’t, we’ll find it together.