Free Alaska Revocable Living Trust

Alaska Revocable Living Trust Form: The Ultimate Guide

If you are like most people, you have worked hard to accumulate your assets. You have also probably thought about what would happen to them if you were to die unexpectedly. Would your loved ones be able to access them easily? Or would they have to go through a long and expensive probate process?

If you live in Alaska, setting up a revocable living trust can be a great way to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes. Here are the basics of setting up a revocable living trust in Alaska.

What is a Revocable Living Trust?

A revocable living trust is a legal document allowing you to control your assets during your lifetime and have them distributed according to your wishes after passing away. This can be a great way to avoid the expense and hassle of probate court.

With a revocable living trust, you (the "grantor") create the trust and transfer ownership of your assets into it. You retain the ability to use and control these assets during your lifetime. After you die, the assets listed are distributed to your designated beneficiaries.

Why Set Up a Revocable Living Trust?

One thing to note is that you don't require a living trust in Alaska. The state has fully adopted the Uniform Probate Code, making the probate process easier. Also, with the simplified probate procedure, small estate owners can skip the probate process if the estate doesn't have real estate and when the overall value is estimated at $50,000 or less.

Contrary to popular belief, a living trust will not reduce your estate tax in Alaska. That is because the federal estate tax is levied on estates of more than $11.4 million (For Individuals) and joint estates of more than $22.8 million (For Married Couples), so most people don’t have to worry about the taxes.

Yet, you should set up a revocable living trust in Alaska for several reasons. Here are some of the most common:

    • To avoid probate court. Probate is a court process by which a deceased person's assets are distributed according to their will (if they have one). This can be a long and expensive process, especially if there is disagreement among the heirs. You can avoid probate court altogether by setting up a revocable living trust.

    • To keep your affairs private. Probate court is a matter of public record, meaning anyone can access it. With a revocable living trust, only the trustee and the beneficiaries will know about the trust and its contents.

    • To manage your assets if you become incapacitated. This can be important if you want to ensure that your bills are paid and your loved ones are taken care of. If you become incapacitated, a revocable living trust can be used to manage your assets on your behalf.

    • To provide for minor children or grandchildren. Nothing is more important than the welfare of your children or grandchildren. With a revocable living trust, you can ensure that they are taken care of financially if something happens to you.

How to Set Up a Revocable Living Trust in Alaska

Setting up a revocable living trust in Alaska is relatively easy, but there are some specific steps that you need to follow. Here is an overview of the process:

    1. Choose a trustee. A trustee is a person who will manage the trust on your behalf. This can be you, a family member, or a professional fiduciary. Be sure to choose someone you trust implicitly, as they will have great control over your assets.

    2. Draft the trust agreement. The trust agreement is the legal document that sets out the terms of the trust. This includes who the beneficiaries are, what property is being transferred into the trust, and what the trustee’s powers are.

    3. Transfer ownership of your assets into the trust. Once the trust agreement is signed, you will need to transfer ownership of your assets into the trust. This can be done by changing the title of your property or by retitling your investment accounts.

    4. Fund the trust. Once the assets are transferred into the trust, you will need to "fund" the trust by transferring money or other assets into it. This can be done on an ongoing basis or all at once.

    5. Manage the trust. Once the trust is funded, you (or the trustee) will need to manage it according to the terms of the trust agreement. This includes paying taxes, investing the assets, and making distributions to the beneficiaries.

    6. Terminate the trust. You can terminate the trust anytime, as long as you are not incapacitated. This can be done by transferring the assets out of the trust or by drafting a new trust agreement.

If you want to set up a revocable living trust in Alaska, Forms.legal can help. Correctly fill above given form and required details to download a readymade Alaska revocable living trust for your quick use.