A living trust is a legal arrangement that allows you to transfer ownership of your assets to a trustee while you are still alive. In regards to real estate in Florida, there are both pros and cons to using a living trust as a way to hold and manage your property.

Pros:

  1. Avoidance of probate: One of the main advantages of using a living trust for real estate in Florida is that it can help you avoid the probate process. This can be beneficial as probate can be time-consuming and costly. When assets are held in a living trust, they do not need to go through the probate process when you pass away. This can save time and money, and help your loved ones avoid the stress and uncertainty of probate.
  2. Privacy: Another advantage of using a living trust is that it can provide privacy as the assets in the trust are not made public during the probate process.
  3. Control: A living trust gives you the ability to control how your assets will be managed and distributed upon your death or incapacity.
  4. Flexibility: A living trust is a flexible estate planning tool, allowing you to change the terms of the trust or revoke it at any time.
  5. Asset protection: A living trust can also be used as a means of protecting your assets from creditors, lawsuits, and other potential claims. By transferring assets to the trust, you can remove them from your own name and make it more difficult for creditors to reach them.

Cons:

  1. Cost: Setting up a living trust can be more expensive than other estate planning options. Some of the costs you may encounter when setting up and maintaining a living trust include: Legal fees: The cost to create a living trust will vary depending on the complexity of the trust and the amount of hours your attorney will need to bill. Recording fees: Some states may require that the trust document be recorded with the county recorder’s office, which may incur additional fees. Trustee fees: If you hire a professional trustee to manage the trust, you may be charged a fee for their services. Annual fees: Some states require annual reports or fees to be paid to the state.
  2. Responsibility: The trustee of the trust is responsible for managing the assets, and will have to keep detailed records and account for all transactions.

*None of these statements are meant to be a replacement for legal advice. If you are considering placing your assets in a living trust consult an attorney to discuss you specific situation.

At Realworks LLC we can help you sell your property no matter how you hold title. Contact us at (352) 2 one 5 – 263 one or email sid@realworks1.com