How to Create a Living Trust in Georgia

Planning an estate is a complicated process, and there are a number of ways to go about it. Whichever way you choose though, you’ll want to make sure your assets and your family are cared for and protected. A living trust is one popular way to do that. Let’s break down the process for creating a living trust in Georgia and why you may or may not want to do it.

A financial advisor can help you create an estate plan for your family’s needs and goals.

What Is a Living Trust?

Living trusts are legal frameworks in which property and assets can be stored. They are established by a document. Each trust has a trustee who manages and distributes the property in the trust. When creating a trust, you can either name yourself as the trustee or pick someone else for the job. The living trust takes effect while you’re still alive and it continues after your death, unless you include a provision to terminate the trust on a specific date. Living trusts can be irrevocable or revocable.

Irrevocable living trusts

This is a permanent arrangement, and property can only be removed from this type of trust with the permission of everyone named in the trust. The property inside an irrevocable living trust is owned by the trust, and thus taxes are paid via the trust. There are several types of irrevocable trusts.

• Irrevocable life insurance trust – this is a trust designated as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy.
• Irrevocable marital trust – also known as a bypass trust, it transfers assets from one spouse to another at the time of the first spouse’s death.
• Irrevocable charitable trust –

Revocable living trusts

Revocable living trusts are more flexible. The trust creator, also known as the grantor, can remove property at will, and modify the trust without first getting permission from the beneficiaries. The grantor maintains ownership of the property in the trust and pays taxes on it as normal. The assets in a revocable trust are still yours and you will pay taxes accordingly. That includes any income taxes, inheritance taxes or estate taxes. In fact, your revocable trust will have the same Social Security number as you. The effect is that any income from assets in the trust will go on your own income return.

How to Create a Living Trust in Georgia

Follow these six basic steps to make a living trust in the Peach State:

1. Choose the type of trust you’re going to form: For single people, a single trust is likely the right choice. If you’re married, a joint trust might make more sense. A joint trust can hold jointly owned property like cars and homes, plus anything either spouse independently owns.
2. Take stock of your property and assets: Most things you own, including stocks, bonds, and family heirlooms like jewelry, can go inside the trust. Now is also the time to gather relevant paperwork for your property, such as car titles or home deeds.
3. Pick a trustee to distribute the contents of your trust when you die: You can either give this title to someone else right away or name yourself as trustee and pick a successor trustee to take over the job when you die. Most people choose a child or another relative to be their trustee.
4. Draw up the trust document: You can do this online with a program or get the help of a lawyer.
5. Get the document notarized: Sign the document before a notary public.
6. Put your property into the trust: This does take some paperwork, so while you can do it by yourself a lawyer may be useful.

How Much Does It Cost to Create a Living Trust in Georgia?

The amount you’ll spend to set up a living trust in Georgia depends on the method you use to create the trust. If you use an online program to write the trust document yourself, you’ll probably spend less than a few hundred dollars. If you hire an attorney to help you create the trust, you’ll probably spend more than $1,000.

It is obviously cheaper to create your trust yourself, but there are many pitfalls inherent to DIY estate planning. You’ll have to be extremely vigilant and take a lot of time to do all of the necessary research. For this reason, hiring an attorney may be more prudent. The exact cost of this option will depend on the fees each attorney charges, so check early in the process to avoid any surprises. Also make sure any attorney you work with is a trust expert, not merely an estate planner.

Why Get a Living Trust in Georgia?

The most common reason for getting a living trust in Georgia is to make life easier for your family when you die by allowing them to avoid probate court. Probate court is a lengthy process that most estates have to go through, and it can at times be costly, time-consuming and an invasion of privacy. Georgia has not adopted the Uniform Probate Code. This code, used in some states, can make the probate process simpler. Since it’s not place in Georgia, a living trust can be especially useful in the Peach State.

There are other upsides to getting a living trust, too. If you have minor children to whom you want to leave property, a living trust makes it possible for a trustee to keep the property until the child reaches legal age. If you become incapacitated, having a living trust can mean you avoid conservatorship because you’ll have already selected a trustee.

Who Should Get a Living Trust in Georgia?

Some people believe that living trusts are only for those with a lot of money, but this isn’t true. In Georgia, the lack of the Uniform Probate Code means that many estates, even smaller ones, can benefit from a living trust. This is especially true because there is no simplified probate process in Georgia unless an estate has no will, the estate has no debts and the beneficiaries have already agreed on how to divvy up property.

Of course, there are reasons not to get a living trust. For one, they can be more costly and time-consuming to set up than a will. Also, living trusts have the potential to be more difficult for your heirs, as they offer a longer window for legal challenges after you’ve died. If you do decide against getting a living trust, remember that you’ll still need an estate plan.

Living Trusts vs. Wills

Even if you create a living trust, you’ll still need a will to address any property that’s not stored in the trust. Plus, a will can do the following items that a living trust cannot:

• Establish guardianship for children who are minors
• Select managers for children’s property
• Name an executor
• Provide instructions on how to pay taxes and debts

Here is a fuller comparison of the abilities of living trusts vs. wills:

Living Trusts vs. Wills

Living Trusts and Taxes in Georgia

A living trust probably won’t impact your taxes, but you should still know about the Georgia estate tax and the Georgia inheritance tax as you go about estate planning.

There is no estate tax or inheritance tax in Georgia. However, the federal estate tax will apply to estates worth more than $12.06 million ($24.12 million for couples).

Bottom Line

It isn’t hard to make a living trust in Georgia, but it does take some time and requires a lot of attention to detail. You can set up a trust yourself, but it probably makes sense to get the help of a lawyer. The state of Georgia has not adopted the Uniform Probate Code, so even smaller estates may benefit from a living trust.

Estate Planning Tips

• A financial advisor can make estate planning easier, but finding the right advisor can be daunting. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
• One type of asset that can’t be placed in a living trust is a 401(k) plan. Don’t worry though, there is a solution: You can name your trust as a beneficiary. Then, your plan’s benefits will pay into your trust when you die.
• Don’t forget to name a guardian for your children when planning your estate. It isn’t fun to think about, but you’ll be happy that you have a plan in case the worst happens.

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