Trust Attorney in Raleigh
Protect Your Assets & Your Family’s Future
One of the most important purposes an estate plan fulfills is the transfer of property from one generation to the next. A will can accomplish this, but a trust may be a better legal instrument for those who wish to avoid probate, protect their privacy, and protect their assets during their lifetime. If you wish to form a trust, an experienced attorney can help you work toward achieving your goals.
At Oak City Estate Planning, we can provide all of the services you need to protect your wealth and secure your family’s future. With more than 30 years of experience, we have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide each client with a personalized experience. This means that we approach each client’s situation from an individualized perspective, customizing our legal services to help them achieve their goals.
Discover how our Raleigh Trust Attorney can assist you—reach out to Oak City Estate Planning today!
Benefits of Establishing a Trust in Raleigh
A trust is a legal agreement that permits a trustee to manage the assets during your life and after you pass away. There are many reasons why people form a trust because there are many different kinds of trusts available.
The following are the main reasons why people choose to form a trust:
- Trusts avoid the probate process, which can cost your loved ones a lot in time and court fees to settle your estate.
- Trusts offer flexibility, as with a revocable living trust. Once created, these trusts’ terms can be changed at any time. That means beneficiaries can be changed, property can be added or removed from the trust, and more.
- Trusts provide precise control, giving grantors a specific level of control over what happens to their property during their lives and how it’s distributed after they’ve passed away. Some trusts can even survive the grantor, providing limited disbursements over time to a beneficiary who might need help managing a large sum of money.
- Trusts safeguard your interests during incapacity, stepping in to manage your finances when you are too injured or ill to do so yourself. Your trustee can handle distributions to pay bills and even file tax returns on your behalf.
- Trusts can reduce federal estate tax impact, especially if your estate isn’t exempt from these taxes. Holding assets in an irrevocable trust can shield them from excessive taxation upon death, maximizing the wealth passed on to your beneficiaries.
Local Trust Services Tailored for Raleigh Residents
Living in Raleigh, you understand the unique challenges and opportunities that come with protecting your assets and planning for the future. At Oak City Estate Planning, we are deeply familiar with the local landscape and the specific needs of our community. Whether you're navigating the complexities of estate planning or looking to establish a living trust, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Raleigh is home to a vibrant community and a growing economy, but with that growth comes the need for careful financial planning. The Wake County Register of Deeds and the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State are key local entities that play a role in the legal processes surrounding trusts and estates. While we don't partner directly with these entities, we understand their procedures and can help you navigate them efficiently.
One common concern among Raleigh residents is the potential for lengthy and costly probate processes. By establishing a living trust, you can avoid probate altogether, ensuring a smoother transition of your assets to your beneficiaries. Additionally, with the fluctuating real estate market in areas like North Hills and Brier Creek, having a trust can provide the flexibility to manage and protect your property investments effectively.
We also recognize that many in our community are concerned about maintaining control over their assets during periods of incapacity. A living trust allows you to designate a trustee to manage your finances, ensuring that your bills are paid and your financial obligations are met, even if you are unable to handle them yourself.
At Oak City Estate Planning, we are committed to providing personalized legal services that reflect our deep understanding of Raleigh and its residents. Contact us today to learn how we can help you secure your family's future and protect your wealth.
Why Should I Want to Avoid Probate?
All revocable and irrevocable trusts avoid probate, which is often the most important reason why people choose to establish a trust at all. As previously mentioned, avoiding probate means keeping your estate out of probate court, which can take a long time to settle and chip away at your estate’s value.
Another important reason why people want to avoid probate is to preserve privacy. Probate records are public information, which means anyone can access information about your estate’s value, debts, distributions, and other details that one might wish to keep private.
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It's crucial for everyone, especially those with dependents, to have a will. Planning isn't just for the likely events, but for the unexpected ones.
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Lars is great - he walked us through the process and made sure that we understood each step. He helped create new categories in the planning process that will ensure we provide our family a detailed outline of our wishes. Highly recommend him to anyone looking to start or continue their estate planning journey.- W.S
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My wife and I found working with Lars Kissling to be a productive and enlightening experience. His knowledge of estate planning is extensive. He patiently answered our questions and showed both concern and compassion about our own situation. We recommend Oak City Estate Planning. It is truly an investment in your family's future. I think Lars' services are needed by all, especially for families with small children or those with special needs. The end result is piece of mind going forward.- B.B
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- B.K.
My husband and I were very satisfied with the professional advice from Lars. He recently assisted us in updating our estate plan. He led us through a process that provided clarity on our goals for our plan. We would highly recommend Lars Kissling to others.
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“He was a great help to me and was very patient to explain all my options, many of which I did not know I had. He also helped me find financial planners which I desperately needed.”- Mary M.
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“The process was easy and we now have a robust estate plan that covers any and all eventualities, protecting both ourselves and our beneficiaries. We highly recommend Lars at Oak City Estate Planning, having done so with friends and colleagues.”- Phil B.
Our Simple 4-Step Process
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1IntroductionAfter signing up for a vision meeting, you will watch a video that provides an overview of estate planning.
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2VisionDuring this meeting, you will meet with Mr. Kissling and discuss your case and specific planning needs.
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3DesignThe second meeting with the attorney involves sitting with Mr. Kissling and actually putting your plan together.
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4SigningIn the third and final meeting, you will review the plan, tie up any loose ends, and sign your finalized plan.
Should I Form a Revocable or Irrevocable Trust?
The two main types of trusts in common use are revocable and irrevocable trusts. Each of these types can be customized to fulfill a specific purpose, but ultimately a trust will fall into either category.
A revocable trust provides a lot of flexibility because its terms are revocable. Once created, the grantor can change specific aspects of this trust, such as its beneficiaries, funding, and more. Many people choose to hold their estate in a revocable living trust because this type of trust allows them to accomplish important estate planning goals without feeling locked into any specific decisions.