Estate Planning
Revocable & Irrevocable Trusts
Understand what a trust can and cannot do, and whether one belongs in your plan.
Is a Trust Right for You?
A trust is an arrangement where one person, the trustee, holds and manages property for the benefit of others, the beneficiaries, according to written instructions. That simple idea can be used in very different ways, which is why trusts can seem confusing.
A revocable living trust is a flexible tool you control during your lifetime. You usually serve as your own trustee, keep using your property as you always have, and can change the trust whenever you like. If you become unable to manage your affairs, a successor trustee you chose steps in without court involvement. At your death, property held in the trust can generally pass to your beneficiaries without probate and with more privacy than a will.
An irrevocable trust is more permanent. Once it is signed and funded, the terms are hard to change. In exchange for giving up control, it may help with goals such as long-term care planning or protecting a beneficiary. A trust is not right for everyone, and it does not guarantee any particular result. We will help you weigh the benefits against the cost and effort involved, and we will be honest if a simpler plan would serve you just as well.
What We Handle
- Revocable Living TrustsFlexible trusts for probate avoidance, privacy, and incapacity planning.
- Irrevocable TrustsPermanent trusts designed around specific protection or planning goals.
- Certificates of TrustA short, signed summary that lets banks and title companies confirm your trust exists and who the trustee is.
- Deeds to Fund Your TrustPreparing and recording deeds that move real estate into the trust so it is actually covered.
- Pour-Over WillsA backup will that directs any property left outside the trust into it.
- Trust Reviews & AmendmentsUpdating older trusts to reflect changes in your family, property, or the law.
Revocable vs. Irrevocable: A Quick Comparison
| Feature | Revocable Living Trust | Irrevocable Trust |
|---|---|---|
| Who controls it | You, as trustee, during your lifetime | An independent trustee, under terms that are hard to change |
| Can it be changed? | Yes, any time you have capacity | Generally no, or only in limited ways |
| Common goals | Probate avoidance, privacy, incapacity planning | Asset protection, benefits planning, specific family goals |
| Counts as your property? | Yes, for most purposes | Often not, depending on how it is drafted |
When a Trust and a Deed Work Together
For many Kentucky families, the home is the most valuable thing they own. Signing a trust is only half of the job; the house must also be retitled into the trust with a new deed. When the trust and the deed are coordinated, the trustee can manage or transfer the home without opening a probate case. When they are not, the house may be left out of the plan entirely.
How It Works
- 1
Design the Trust
We talk about your goals, your family, and your property, and decide together whether a trust fits and which kind.
- 2
Draft & Sign
We prepare the trust, pour-over will, and certificate of trust, review them with you, and supervise the signing.
- 3
Fund the Trust
We prepare deeds and give you clear instructions for retitling accounts, because a trust only controls what is placed in it.
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Property that is properly titled in the name of a revocable living trust can generally pass to beneficiaries without probate. Property left outside the trust may still need to go through probate, which is why funding the trust is so important.
Generally, no. Because you keep control of a revocable trust, its assets are usually still counted as yours. Certain irrevocable trusts can play a role in long-term care planning, but the rules are complex and case-specific. See our Medicaid planning page for more.
It is a short document that confirms the trust exists, identifies the trustee, and describes the trustee’s powers, without revealing who inherits or how much. Banks and title companies often accept it instead of a full copy of the trust.
A trust only controls property titled in its name. To move your home into the trust, a new deed is typically prepared and recorded with the county clerk. We handle that step for you.
With a revocable living trust, yes — most people serve as their own trustee and name a successor to take over if they become incapacitated or pass away.
Not always. A trust takes more work to set up and maintain. For some families, a well-drafted will and powers of attorney are the better fit. We will explain the trade-offs honestly.
Find Out if a Trust Fits Your Plan
We will explain your options without pressure and help you choose the approach that makes sense for your family.
