Revocable Living Trust
Keep your estate out of court, protect your family's privacy, and stay in control for as long as you live.
A revocable living trust is the most flexible and private way to pass your estate to the people you love. Unlike a will, it works entirely outside of court - which means your family avoids the cost, delay, and public exposure of Missouri probate. You stay in full control during your lifetime, and your successor trustee steps in seamlessly if you become incapacitated or when you pass. Want to go deeper? Read our complete guide to revocable living trusts →
Why most families need more than a will
A will is a starting point - but it has real limitations. It only takes effect at death, it doesn't protect you during incapacity, and every asset it covers must pass through Missouri probate court before your family sees a dollar.
Probate is public. It takes time - often six months to a year. It costs money. And it happens at the worst possible moment for your family.
A revocable living trust solves all of that. Assets held in a properly funded trust pass directly to your beneficiaries - no court, no waiting, no public filing. If you become unable to manage your finances, your successor trustee steps in immediately, without a court-ordered conservatorship.
What a trust makes possible
- Avoid probate entirely
- Keep your estate private
- Protect yourself during incapacity
- Control how and when assets are distributed
- Hold assets for minor children or a beneficiary with special needs
- Coordinate assets across multiple states
How we help
Creating a trust that actually works requires more than signing a document. Here's what the process looks like when you work with us.
Understanding your situation
Heirloom starts by listening. Your family structure, your assets, your concerns - those details determine what kind of trust makes sense and how it should be structured. There's no template, no checklist to run through. The goal is a plan that fits your life.
Drafting the trust
We draft a trust that names your successor trustee, your beneficiaries, and the terms under which assets are distributed. If you have minor children, a blended family, or a beneficiary with special needs, those circumstances shape every decision in the document.
Funding the trust
A trust that is never funded is an empty shell. Funding means retitling your assets - real estate, bank accounts, investment accounts - into the name of the trust. We walk every client through this process as part of the engagement, because an unfunded trust will not avoid probate.
Ongoing support
Life changes. When it does - a new child, a divorce, a move, a significant change in assets - your trust may need to be updated. We are available to review and amend your plan as your circumstances evolve.
"A trust isn't just a document. It's a set of instructions that has to work when you're not there to explain yourself. Getting it right matters."Tom Wolff, Heirloom Estate Planning & Elder Law
Is a revocable trust right for you?
A trust is not the right answer for everyone - and we'll tell you honestly if it isn't. But for most families with real estate, meaningful assets, or a desire to keep their affairs private, a revocable living trust is the stronger plan.
It's especially worth considering if you own property in more than one state, have a blended family, want to protect a beneficiary with special needs, or simply want your family to avoid the hassle of probate court.
Most complete estate plans include both a trust and a will. The will acts as a safety net - catching any assets that weren't transferred into the trust during your lifetime and naming a guardian for minor children, which a trust cannot do on its own.
Clients who often benefit most
- Families with real estate in Missouri or multiple states
- Anyone who wants to avoid probate court
- Parents of minor children or children with special needs
- Blended families with complex beneficiary situations
- Anyone who values privacy over a public probate record
- People planning for potential incapacity
Common questions
A will takes effect at death and must go through probate court. A revocable trust takes effect immediately, avoids probate entirely, and also protects you during incapacity. Most complete estate plans include both - the trust handles the bulk of your assets, and a pour-over will catches anything that wasn't transferred into the trust.
Yes. A revocable trust can be amended or revoked at any time while you're alive and have capacity. You remain in full control. The trust only becomes irrevocable at your death.
Yes. A "pour-over will" works alongside your trust to catch any assets that weren't transferred into the trust during your lifetime. It also lets you name a guardian for minor children, which a trust cannot do on its own.
Our trust-based estate plans are flat-fee and clearly priced. See our pricing page for details, or schedule a free consultation to talk through what makes sense for your situation.
Most clients have a completed, signed trust within two to four weeks of our initial meeting. Funding the trust - retitling assets - takes additional time depending on the complexity of your estate, and we guide you through every step.
Ready to get started?
Schedule a free consultation with us. We'll talk through your situation, answer your questions, and help you understand whether a trust is the right fit - no pressure, no obligation.
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