Trust Lawyer in St. Augustine
Trust planning that secures your family's future
At Berg Bryant Elder Law Group, we know many Saint Augustine residents avoid trust planning because it feels complicated or unnecessary. The truth? Trusts prevent complications. They eliminate probate delays, protect privacy, provide for incapacity, and give you control over how and when beneficiaries receive assets.
A thoughtful trust plan provides protection that lasts for generations.
For St. Augustine families, trusts offer powerful legal tools that go far beyond basic wills. Trusts help avoid probate, protect assets from creditors, provide for loved ones with special needs, and create lasting legacies. At Berg Bryant Elder Law Group, our St. Augustine trust attorneys create customized trust plans that match your family’s unique goals and circumstances.
Schedule Your Consultation Now
A trust is a legal arrangement where one person (the trustee) holds and manages assets for someone else’s benefit (the beneficiary). The person creating the trust (the grantor or settlor) establishes the rules for how assets are managed and distributed.
Unlike wills, which take effect only after death, trusts can provide benefits during your lifetime while also controlling what happens to your assets after you’re gone.
Our St. Augustine trust attorneys at Berg Bryant Elder Law Group help families create various types of trusts based on their specific needs:
The most common trust type for St. Augustine families, revocable living trusts offer:
These trusts offer stronger asset protection but require giving up some control. Benefits include:
For St. Augustine families with disabled loved ones, special needs trusts provide a way to enhance quality of life without jeopardizing government benefits like Medicaid and SSI. These specialized trusts:
Many St. Augustine residents want to support local causes like the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Flagler College, or the St. Augustine Humane Society. Charitable trusts allow you to:
Depending on your needs, our St. Augustine trust attorneys might recommend:
For St. Augustine residents, trusts offer flexibility and protection that other estate planning tools can’t match.
Trusts offer numerous advantages for St. Johns County residents:
Probate in St. Johns County can take 6-12 months and cost thousands of dollars. Assets in a properly funded trust bypass this process entirely, allowing for efficient distribution to beneficiaries according to your wishes.
Certain trusts can shield assets from creditors, lawsuits, and even long-term care costs. For St. Augustine business owners, professionals, or those in high-risk occupations, this protection can be invaluable.
If you become unable to manage your affairs due to illness or injury, your successor trustee can seamlessly step in to manage trust assets. This avoids the need for guardianship proceedings at the St. Johns County Courthouse.
For larger estates, properly structured trusts can minimize estate and gift taxes, preserving more assets for your loved ones.
Unlike wills, which become public documents during probate, trusts remain private. The terms, assets, and beneficiaries stay confidential, away from public scrutiny.
Trusts allow you to establish conditions for inheritance and structure distributions over time. This can be especially valuable for younger beneficiaries or those who need financial guidance.
Duval County Clay County St. Johns County
Areas Served
Creating a trust with our St. Augustine attorneys involves several steps:
We meet to discuss your family situation, assets, and goals. This conversation helps us recommend the most appropriate trust structure for your needs.
Based on your goals, we design a customized trust that addresses your specific concerns and objectives.
Our attorneys prepare comprehensive trust documents tailored to your unique situation and compliant with Florida law.
This critical step involves transferring assets into your trust.
Many trusts fail because they’re never properly funded. Our St. Augustine trust attorneys ensure your trust contains all intended assets.
As your life changes, your trust may need updates. We provide continuing guidance to ensure your trust remains aligned with your goals and current law.
Many St. Augustine residents make these common mistakes:
Creating trust documents without transferring assets into the trust is like buying a safe but never putting anything inside it. Your assets must be properly titled in the trust’s name to gain its benefits.
Online or do-it-yourself trusts often fail to address Florida-specific requirements or your unique circumstances.
Trust planning should coordinate with beneficiary designations on life insurance, retirement accounts, and other assets. Contradictory beneficiary designations can undermine your overall plan.
Selecting a trustee requires careful consideration of their financial responsibility, impartiality, and availability. Sometimes, a professional trustee or trust company is more appropriate than family members.
Jacksonville Office (Main)
Orange Park Office
St. Augustine Office
St. Augustine, FL 32095
At Berg Bryant Elder Law Group, we believe trust planning goes beyond legal documents—it’s about creating security and peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
Our St. Augustine trust attorneys work closely with you to develop plans that protect your assets and express your wishes. We serve families throughout St. Johns County, including World Golf Village, Julington Creek, Nocatee, and Ponte Vedra.
Contact our St. Augustine trust attorneys today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward creating a lasting legal framework for your family’s future.
A will takes effect only after death and must go through probate court, while a trust can work during your lifetime and avoids probate completely. According to the Florida Bar, trusts offer more privacy, faster asset distribution, and better incapacity planning than wills alone. Both documents serve different purposes, and many Saint Augustine residents benefit from having both as part of a complete estate plan.
It depends on the type of trust. Revocable living trusts can be changed or revoked at any time during your lifetime. Irrevocable trusts are generally permanent, though certain modifications may be possible under limited circumstances defined in Florida Statutes §736.04113.
Trusts benefit people at various wealth levels. Even with modest assets, a trust can help avoid probate, provide incapacity planning, and ensure your wishes are followed.
Certain irrevocable trusts, when created and funded at least five years before applying for Medicaid, can protect assets from nursing home costs. According to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, assets properly transferred to these trusts are not counted for Medicaid eligibility purposes after the five-year lookback period.
Selecting a trustee involves considering their financial responsibility, willingness to serve, impartiality, and geographic proximity. The Florida Trust Code outlines trustee duties, which include loyalty, impartiality, and prudent administration.
Serving clients throughout Duval, St. Johns, Clay, and Nassau Counties including Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Orange Park, Fleming Island, St. Augustine, and surrounding areas.
