Lifetime trusts are not uncommon and can be an extremely useful tool in
estate planning. There are many benefits to creating a lifetime trust and,
yes, one of these could be avoiding the need for your executors to obtain a
Grant of Probate when you die.
A Grant of Probate is a document issued by the Probate Registry and acts
as confirmation that the people named in the Grant are the executors
appointed in a valid Will and that they have the power to administer the
estate of the deceased person. It is common for institutions (like banks,
building societies and investment companies) who hold funds in a
deceased person’s name to ask to see this document before they release
any money to the executors.
If the deceased person owned a house or any other property (or a share of
it) in their sole name, it will be necessary for the executors to obtain a Grant
of Probate before they will be able to sell the house or transfer it into the
name of the beneficiaries.
If a person dies without a valid Will they die ‘intestate’ and it will be down to
their administrators (not executors) to obtain a Grant of Administration
instead. A Grant of Administration is very similar to a Grant of Probate,
although the application process differs slightly as there is no Will to
provide specific instructions about who can make an application. The term
‘Grant of Representation’ is often used as a generic term to encompass
both a Grant of Probate and a Grant of Administration.
The process of obtaining a Grant of Representation can take time. It is a
set process and involves the executor/administrator having to compile
various information in order to complete the application paperwork and
complete an Inheritance Tax form (which will be required even if
Inheritance Tax is not payable). The process also adds an additional
expense to the administration process since court fees will be payable and
your executors may need to instruct a professional in order to help them
manage the process.
It is understandable that some people would want to look at ways to reduce
the burden on their loved ones after their death and removing the need to
obtain a Grant of Probate could really help.
If you create a trust in your lifetime any assets which you transfer into that
trust will no longer form part of your estate when you die. The assets will be
put into the name of your trustees who will hold these assets for the benefit
of the people who are named as beneficiaries in the trust deed.
The settlor (the person who creates the trust) can also name themselves as
one of these beneficiaries, if they still want to benefit from the trust assets
during their lifetime.
As the assets held in trust will no longer belong outright to the settlor (and
they will not form part of their estate when they die) it will not be necessary
for the settlor’s executors to administer these assets after their death.
Instead, the trustees will be able to continue to deal with the assets in trust.
This means they will be able to release money or transfer assets held in
trust to beneficiaries straight away, without having to wait for a Grant of
Probate to be issued.
Often people will decide to put their property (or share of property) into
trust. A house is often a person’s most valuable asset, and it is
understandable that people want to safeguard this for future generations.
Like any other assets put into trust, the property will be put into the names
of the trustees and a Grant of Probate will not be required to sell or transfer
the property on the settlor’s death. The property could also remain safely in
trust after the settlor’s death if the trustees decide that this would be the
best thing for the beneficiaries, perhaps deciding to rent the property and
generate an income for the beneficiaries instead.
Creating a lifetime trust will not avoid the need to make a Will and it is still
important to do so. Executors will still need to be appointed to deal with the
deceased’s other assets, outside of the trust, and to deal with other aspects
of the estate administration. But reducing the need to obtain a Grant of
Probate can make their job a lot easier.
There are many other benefits that can come with creating a lifetime trust,
in addition to reducing probate costs, but it is important that you are also
aware of the administrative requirements and responsibilities that creating
a trust produces. There can sometimes be some tax consequences,
especially if you create a trust in which you are also a beneficiary. Before
creating any trust, it is important that you obtain the correct advice and that
you are comfortable that the trust is the right solution for you.
Contact us today to arrange a free visit in the comfort of your own home to find out more.
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