Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California
Safety of revocable trust
My mother has her property and investments in a revocable trust with herself as the trustee. Is her property safe from lawsuits and other attachments since she is the trustee and the trust is revocable? Should she change it to an irrevocable trust or make someone else the trustee, or is it safe as it is?
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Safety of revocable trust
if protection from lawsuits and attachments is a real goal of your mother she should consult with an attorney to develop an appropriate asset protection plan.
Re: Safety of revocable trust
A revocable trust, no matter who the trustee is, is not protection from lawsuits. Nor is changing it to an irrevocable trust such a good idea, since there may be need to make changes while she is alive.
The best thing to do is meet with an attorney to look over her trust and address your concerns based on her estate and what can be done.
Re: Safety of revocable trust
Your mother's property is not safe from lawsuits if she is both the trustee and beneficiary of her own trust. A clever creditor could force her to pay out the assets in a lawsuit. If she is looking for creditor protection she should consider some other alternatives. Depending on the facts, there are a number of things that could be done.