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A revocable living trust is a fairly simple way to protect your assets and your heirs. Avoiding probate and assuring privacy are two of the main advantages of a living trust. A living trust can cost more than a will, but it can be well worth it.

Trusts and Bank Accounts You might have a checking account, savings account and a certificate of deposit. You can put any or all of these into a living trust. However, this isn't necessary to avoid probate. Instead, you can name a payable-on-death beneficiary for bank accounts.

The living trust does not pay income tax on income that is distributed to the trust beneficiaries during the tax year. The beneficiaries pay income tax on the income they receive from the trust. If the living trust does not distribute all of its income, it must pay income tax on the undistributed income.

The name of a trustee is private as trusts are private documents that are not recorded. If you are a beneficiary you will have access to the name of the trustee. If not, unless you have a court order, you cannot get this information.

For a revocable living trust to take effect, it should be funded by transferring certain assets into the trust. Often people fund a living trust with real estate, financial accounts, life insurance, annuity certificates, personal property, business interests and other assets.

Revocable living trusts and wills both allow you to name beneficiaries for your property.For example, most people use living trusts to avoid probate. But living trusts are more complicated to make, and you can't use a living trust to name an executor or guardians for your children. You need a will to do those things.

Using a revocable living trust instead of a will means assets owned by your trust will bypass probate and flow to your heirs as you've outlined in the trust documents. A trust lets investors have control over their assets long after they pass away.