Revocable Living Trust Planning in Charleston, SC
A revocable living trust lets Charleston homeowners and investors transfer assets to heirs without going through South Carolina probate court, saving time, money, and privacy.
- Avoids SC probate court
- Protects your privacy
- Fully revocable anytime
What Is Revocable Living Trust Planning?
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement where you transfer ownership of assets to a trust you control during your lifetime, with instructions for distribution at death without probate.
Why Choose Cornerstone Law Group for Revocable Living Trust Planning
Why Choose Us
Our Charleston attorneys have helped clients with Lowcountry real estate, brokerage accounts, and family businesses structure trusts that work seamlessly with South Carolina property and tax law. We handle trust funding - the step many firms skip - so your trust actually works when your family needs it.
Common Revocable Living Trust Planning Scenarios
Lowcountry Vacation Property Owner
Owners of beach homes on Folly Beach or Isle of Palms use trusts to transfer property without multiple probate filings.
Charleston Small Business Owner
Business owners place LLC interests into a trust to ensure smooth leadership transition and avoid court delays at death.
Multi-State Asset Holder
Clients with property in South Carolina and other states avoid ancillary probate proceedings in each state through trust ownership.
Our Revocable Living Trust Planning Process
Asset Inventory Review
We catalog your real estate, financial accounts, business interests, and personal property to identify which assets benefit most from trust ownership in South Carolina.
Trust Document Drafting
We draft a customized revocable trust agreement naming you as trustee and grantor, with successor trustees and detailed distribution instructions for your beneficiaries.
Trust Funding Assistance
We prepare deeds to transfer Charleston County real estate into the trust and provide written instructions for retitling financial accounts and investment portfolios.
Pour-Over Will & Coordination
We draft a companion pour-over will ensuring any assets accidentally left outside the trust still pass to it through a streamlined probate process.
Revocable Living Trust Planning - Frequently Asked Questions
South Carolina does not impose a state estate tax, and a basic revocable trust does not reduce federal estate taxes on its own. However, married couples can use trust structures to maximize the federal exemption and protect assets for future generations.
Yes. As the trustee of your own revocable trust, you continue buying, selling, and managing all assets exactly as before. The trust structure becomes relevant to your heirs only after you pass away or become incapacitated.
High-value Lowcountry real estate held in your individual name must go through Charleston County Probate Court at death. Trust ownership eliminates that requirement, passing the property directly to your named beneficiaries without court involvement or public disclosure.
The trustee manages trust assets according to the trust's terms - typically you during your lifetime. Beneficiaries receive distributions from the trust. After your death, a successor trustee you name distributes assets to your chosen beneficiaries without court supervision.
SERVICE AREAS
Revocable Living Trust Planning Near You
Cornerstone Law Group provides revocable living trust planning throughout Charleston and surrounding communities.
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