Trusts can serve many purposes: shielding property from probate, protecting loved ones, or providing for a child long after you’re gone. At Berg Bryant Elder Law Group, we help design trusts that reflect their goals and values. Whether you want to create a revocable trust, set aside resources for someone with special needs, or manage complex assets, our attorneys deliver legal strategies that keep your wishes at the forefront.
A well-designed trust can help you avoid probate, reduce taxes, protect assets from creditors, and ensure your loved ones are cared for according to your wishes. At Berg Bryant Elder Law Group, our Florida trusts lawyers create customized trust solutions that address your specific needs and goals.
We believe everyone deserves a clear path to protect what they’ve worked for and the people they care about.
A trust is a legal arrangement where you (the “settlor” or “grantor”) place assets under the control of someone you trust (the “trustee”) to manage for the benefit of your chosen beneficiaries. Unlike a will, a trust can take effect during your lifetime and continue after your death.
Florida trust law offers several advantages compared to simple wills:
When you create a trust, you’re essentially creating a separate legal entity that holds and manages assets according to your instructions. The trustee has a legal duty to follow these instructions and act in the best interests of your beneficiaries.
Florida law allows for many different types of trusts, each serving different purposes. Our attorneys help you select and design the right trust for your situation:
The most common type of trust, a revocable living trust, allows you to:
Once established, an irrevocable trust generally cannot be changed. While this means giving up some control, these trusts offer significant benefits:
For families with loved ones who have disabilities, a special needs trust allows you to provide financial support without affecting eligibility for government benefits like Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
These specialized trusts shield assets from potential future creditors, lawsuits, and other claims. They’re particularly valuable for business owners, doctors, and others in high-risk professions.
Charitable trusts allow you to support causes you care about while potentially receiving tax benefits. Options include:
Our attorneys take the time to understand your specific situation and goals before recommending the best trust structure for you.
One of the biggest benefits of a trust is avoiding Florida’s probate process. Probate is the court-supervised process of distributing assets after someone dies. It can be:
When you place assets in a trust, they’re no longer considered part of your probate estate. Instead, they pass directly to your beneficiaries according to the terms of your trust, without court involvement.
Creating an effective trust involves more than just signing documents. It requires careful planning and attention to detail:
Many trusts fail because people don’t properly “fund” them by transferring assets into the trust. Our attorneys help you:
Choosing who will manage your trust is a critical decision. Your trustee should be:
We help you consider all options, including family members, friends, professional trustees, or a combination approach.
Different trust structures have different legal and tax consequences. Our attorneys explain these clearly so you can make informed decisions about:
We handle the details so you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing your plan will actually work when your family needs it most.
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Many people make costly mistakes when setting up trusts. We help you avoid problems like:
Online or store-bought trust documents often fail to address Florida-specific laws and your unique situation. These one-size-fits-all solutions can create more problems than they solve.
Creating a trust document is only the first step. If you don’t transfer assets into the trust, they’ll still go through probate, defeating a primary purpose of having a trust.
Different trusts serve different purposes. Using the wrong type can result in unnecessary taxes,a lack of asset protection, or unintended consequences for beneficiaries.
Life changes—marriages, divorces, births, deaths, moving to a new state—all these events may require updates to your trust to ensure it still accomplishes your goals.
A thoughtful, professionally designed trust can save your family significant time, money, and stress while ensuring your wishes are carried out exactly as you intend.
At Berg Bryant Elder Law Group, we believe trust planning should give you peace of mind and confidence about the future. Our Florida trust attorneys serve clients throughout Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Orange Park, St. Augustine, and surrounding areas.
We take the time to listen to your concerns, explain your options, and create a trust plan that accomplishes your goals while protecting what matters most to you.
Don’t leave your legacy to chance. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help you create a trust plan that works for you and your family.
The cost of creating a trust depends on its complexity and your specific needs. Basic revocable living trusts typically range from $1,500 to $3,500, while more complex trust arrangements may cost more. However, this investment often saves far more in probate costs, taxes, and other expenses over time.
Yes, with a revocable living trust, you can (and usually should) serve as your own trustee during your lifetime. This allows you to maintain complete control over your assets. You’ll name successor trustees to take over if you become incapacitated or when you pass away.
For most clients, we can complete a trust within 2-4 weeks. This includes the initial consultation, drafting documents, review, and signing. More complex situations may take longer, especially if they involve business interests or unusual assets.
Certain types of trusts can help reduce estate taxes for larger estates. For most people with estates under the federal estate tax exemption, the tax benefits are more limited but can still be valuable in specific situations.
With a revocable living trust, yes—you can change or even revoke it completely during your lifetime. Irrevocable trusts are more difficult to change, though some modifications may be possible under certain circumstances allowed by Florida law.
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.
