Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/289794
4 LIVE IT UP! SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2014 SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL W ills are not the only option for end-of-life planning. Many people choose a living trust because it can pass assets without going through probate. Probate is a long, expensive, public process in court where the property of a deceased person is transferred. A living trust designates a person who is called the trustee to hold legal title of the property in the trust for the beneficiaries.Typically the person who created the living trust will act as trustee. A successor trustee is nominated to take over when the original trustee passes away or loses capacity.This successor trustee is usually a child, friend, or professional fiduciary. For example, Grandma and Grandpa create "The Gram and Gramps LivingTrust." Can they be confident that the trust will be administered as they envision? Some less expen- sive trust options leave trust funding entirely to the person who created the trust with little or no instruction. Funding a trust means to change the title of the trust property from the name of the person to the name of the trust. If Grandma and Grandpa do not fund their trust, it might have to be probated despite their effort to avoid making their children go to court. You should consult your attorney if your trust or a trust you are nominated to administer is not properly funded because there are safeguards that can protect assets from being probated under the right circum- stances. A trust can be an extremely beneficial and ultimately less costly planning tool for your children and other beneficiaries. However, if signed and forgotten, the trust will not carry out your legacy in the way that you hope. A trust needs to be prop- erly funded. Also, you should consult your attorney once a year, if possible, or during any significant life event in order to ensure its continuing validity because laws applicable to trusts change and life events such as divorce or death can alter how a trust will be implemented. Getting Your Ducks in a Row: Have you followed through with your living trust? Shelli Strahle, Esq. SBN 288839 Strahle Legacy Planning Law Offices "Our friends thought we'd be happy to have contractors out from under our feet, but the opposite is true . . . we miss them now that they're gone!" -B.W The bathroom in this century-old Capitola home was not designed with limited mobility in mind, so with an eye to the future, the homeowners called Team Tal- madge for an Aging In Place inspired makeover that turned out better than they imagined. In their own words: "We're really pleased with the design and planning; there was a lot of good communication. Danielle [Gre- nier, architect] fi gured out how to expand the room enough so we got a big walk-in shower. It's sloped so effi ciently! There's no way for water to get out and damage the hall fl ooring." "They made all the space functional with new built- in cabinets next to the toilet. They work perfectly for bathroom storage. The room is well-lit now with new recessed lighting. We're also happy to have updated plumbing and electricity." Adapting a Bath for the Future Call us to discover the beautiful ways your home can be adapted to meet your future needs and budget. 831.689.9133 www.talmadgeconstruction.com