An irrevocable trust is, by design, a more permanent vehicle than a revocable living trust. Once it is created and funded, the terms generally cannot be changed, and the assets are no longer considered part of your personal estate. That permanence is precisely what makes irrevocable trusts valuable for the right goals.

Common uses include long-term care and Medicaid planning, asset protection from future creditors, irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs) that keep policy proceeds out of your taxable estate, and gifts to children or grandchildren held in trust over time. Each of these goals deserves a careful conversation about trade-offs before any document is drafted.

Because the stakes are higher, we begin with a thorough planning conversation. We discuss what you are trying to protect, what flexibility you can give up, and how the trust interacts with your existing estate plan. Only then do we move to drafting.

An irrevocable trust is rarely the right tool on its own. It usually sits inside a larger plan that includes a will or revocable living trust, powers of attorney, and health care directives. Nicole coordinates the full picture so the moving pieces work together.

Who this is for

• Clients planning for potential long-term care or Medicaid eligibility
• Owners of significant life insurance who want proceeds outside their taxable estate
• Families making structured gifts to children or grandchildren
• Clients with asset protection goals against future creditors

What you gain

• Assets removed from your personal estate for specific planning purposes
• Protection from many categories of future creditor claims
• Potential estate, gift, and income tax planning advantages
• A defined structure for multi-generational gifting