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Estate Planning and Probate

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The Matter

Plan for Continuity

A revocable living trust may be one part of a personalized estate plan. Dale Law Group helps families consider wills and revocable living trusts in light of their circumstances. Start with your wishes for property management, loved ones, and future transitions.

01 / Getting oriented

Your priorities

Discuss what you want your estate plan to accomplish during life and after death.

02 / Getting oriented

Your property

Create an overview of accounts, real estate, and other property to review.

03 / Getting oriented

Your support people

Identify the people you would trust to take on management responsibilities.

Revocable Living Trusts in Tennessee

Revocable Living Trusts With a Tennessee Trust Attorney

A revocable living trust lets you hold property in a trust you control during your lifetime. You can usually serve as your own trustee, change the terms, or revoke the trust entirely.

If you die or can no longer manage your affairs, the successor trustee you chose steps in under the instructions you wrote, often without court involvement.

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Why Families Choose a Living Trust

A living trust is often the center of a plan for families who want continuity and privacy.

  • Assets held in the trust generally pass without probate
  • A successor trustee can manage trust assets if you become incapacitated
  • Distribution instructions can stay private instead of becoming part of a court file
  • Property in more than one state can be coordinated in one plan
  • Inheritances for children or young adults can be paid out over time

Funding the Trust

A trust works only for the property it holds. Funding means recording a new deed for real estate, changing account ownership, and updating beneficiary designations where appropriate.

An unfunded trust is one of the most common estate planning problems. Your trust lawyer can give you a clear checklist and confirm what has been transferred.

What a Revocable Trust Does Not Do

Because you keep control, a revocable trust generally does not shield assets from your own creditors and does not by itself help you qualify for TennCare long-term care benefits. For tax purposes, the assets are usually still treated as yours.

Tennessee trusts are governed by the Tennessee Uniform Trust Code. Your attorney will explain how its rules on trustee duties and beneficiary notice apply to your plan.

Talk With a Murfreesboro Revocable Living Trusts Attorney

Carolyn D. Dale is the founding attorney of Dale Law Group, PLLC in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, serving Smyrna, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Nashville, and communities throughout Middle Tennessee. Call +1 866-576-5317 or send a brief, non-confidential message to start a conversation about your goals.

This page provides general information, not legal advice. Representation begins only after a written engagement agreement.

What Your Lawyer Checks

A conversation about revocable living trusts starts with your circumstances. These topics can help you prepare questions and organize the information you already have.

Management wishes

Consider how you want property handled if someone else needs to assist.

Trustee choices

Discuss who is willing and able to act, including possible successors.

Coordinating documents

Bring existing wills, powers of attorney, and beneficiary information.

Changing needs

Ask how to keep a plan aligned with changes in family or property.

General information only. The right approach depends on your circumstances, documents, and applicable law. Discuss your specific questions with the attorney before acting.

Terms You May Hear

Terms Your Lawyer Uses

A few terms you may encounter when discussing this service. Their application depends on the documents and circumstances involved.

Trustee

The person or institution responsible for administering a trust.

Map a LivingTrust

A revocable living trust conversation is about who manages property now, who steps in later, and which assets you actually want in the trust.

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  1. Choose the trustees

    Decide who serves while you are able, and who takes over if you cannot.

  2. List what to fund

    Bring deeds, account statements, and business interests you may want retitled into the trust.

  3. Set the instructions

    Talk through ages, stages, or conditions for later distributions, then confirm scope in a written fee agreement.

More Ways Your Lawyer Can Help

Explore estate planning, probate, and business services that may connect with your priorities.

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Revocable Living TrustsFAQs

Common questions about revocable living trusts. Your documents and circumstances decide the right next step.

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How do I choose between a will and a trust?

Begin with your family circumstances, property, and priorities. Dale Law Group can discuss the planning approaches in the context of those facts rather than assuming one document fits everyone.

What information helps start a living trust discussion?

Prepare a broad inventory of real estate, accounts, business interests, and personal property. Include how each asset is owned, any named beneficiaries, and the people you want the plan to support.

How can I prepare to choose a successor trustee?

Think about availability, organization, judgment, and willingness to serve. Bring the names of possible trustees and backups, along with concerns about family relationships or management responsibilities.

Can a living trust discussion include my other planning documents?

Yes. Bring your will, powers of attorney, healthcare documents, and any existing trust amendments. Reviewing them together helps identify questions about how the plan fits your current wishes.

Can I change a revocable living trust later?

Yes. While you have capacity, you can change or revoke it. That is the point of "revocable." Bring the signed trust and any amendments you already made.

Does a living trust avoid probate?

It avoids probate for property that is actually titled in the trust. A house or account still in your personal name is not covered until you retitle it or name the trust as beneficiary.

Do I still need a will if I have a living trust?

Yes. A short will catches anything left out of the trust and is where parents name a guardian for minor children. The two documents work together.

What does funding a trust mean?

Funding means changing the owner of the house, accounts, or other property to the trust, or naming the trust as beneficiary. A signed trust that owns nothing does not do the job you created it for.

Who controls my property while I am alive?

With a typical revocable living trust, you do. You can serve as your own trustee, use the property, and change the plan. A successor trustee steps in if you cannot, or after you die.

Is a living trust only for people with a large estate?

No. Families use one to keep a house out of probate, to manage things if they are ill, or to give instructions for children. The right choice depends on what you own and who needs help, not on a dollar cutoff.

Related Reading

Guides From the Dale Law Blog

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