
A Practical Guide to Revocable Living Trusts
A revocable living trust can be a central element of an effective estate plan for individuals and families in Johnsonville and Humphreys County. This page explains how a living trust works, what it can accomplish for your property and loved ones, and how the process typically unfolds. The goal here is to provide clear, approachable information so you can decide whether creating or updating a trust suits your needs. Alongside the basics, we will highlight common considerations for Tennessee residents and describe how local counsel can assist with document preparation, funding, and ongoing administration.
Many people consider a revocable living trust because it can simplify the transfer of assets, support incapacity planning, and reduce the burden of probate for family members. This overview focuses on practical steps such as inventorying assets, naming trustees and beneficiaries, and keeping the trust up to date as life changes occur. It also outlines the relationship between a trust and other estate planning tools like wills and powers of attorney. If you live in Johnsonville or nearby areas of Tennessee, understanding these fundamentals will help you take the next step toward a thoughtful, orderly plan for your estate.
Why Revocable Living Trusts Matter for Local Families
A revocable living trust matters because it creates a flexible framework for managing assets during life and for transitioning them afterward. For many Johnsonville residents, a trust provides a private mechanism to designate how property is handled without public probate proceedings, and it supports continuity of asset management if someone becomes incapacitated. The trust can be tailored to match personal priorities, including staggered distributions for beneficiaries, protections for family members, or ongoing management instructions. Thoughtful planning with a trust can reduce stress for survivors and provide a clear roadmap that reflects your intentions and family needs.
About Jay Johnson Law Firm and Our Approach to Trusts
Jay Johnson Law Firm provides estate planning services to clients in Johnsonville, Hendersonville, and across Tennessee, helping families with trusts, wills, and related documents. Our approach focuses on practical solutions that match each client’s circumstances and priorities. We guide clients through gathering information, choosing the right form of trust, and ensuring assets are properly titled to accomplish their goals. The firm emphasizes clear communication, timely updates, and careful document drafting to reduce the likelihood of future disputes and to make transitions easier for loved ones.
Understanding Revocable Living Trusts and How They Work
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement that holds title to selected assets with instructions for management and distribution. During the trustmaker’s lifetime, they typically retain control and can amend or revoke the trust. The trust document names a trustee to manage the trust assets, and successor trustees to act if the creator becomes unable to manage affairs or passes away. Assets placed in the trust avoid probate in many cases, which can save time and preserve privacy. For Tennessee residents, careful funding of the trust and coordination with other estate planning documents are essential steps to make the trust effective.
Understanding how a trust interacts with other legal tools is important for achieving complete estate planning goals. A pour-over will commonly works alongside a trust to capture any assets not transferred during life and to direct them into the trust at death. Powers of attorney and health care directives address management in the event of incapacity, and beneficiary designations on retirement accounts should be reviewed to ensure they align with trust planning. Regular reviews ensure that changes in property, family circumstances, or Tennessee law do not unintentionally disrupt the intended plan.
Definition and Core Features of a Revocable Living Trust
A revocable living trust is a legal document that establishes a fiduciary relationship for holding and managing assets according to the creator’s instructions. The creator, often called the grantor, transfers ownership of selected property into the trust and retains the power to change terms while alive. The trust identifies trustees and successor trustees who will take over management if necessary. The document typically outlines how assets should be managed during incapacity and distributed after death. Because the trust can be changed or revoked, it provides flexibility while also allowing more private and sometimes faster administration than a probate proceeding.
Key Elements and Typical Steps in Trust Planning
Key elements of trust planning include identifying assets to fund the trust, drafting clear trust provisions, naming trustees and beneficiaries, and completing transfers of title or beneficiary designations. The process usually begins with an inventory of property followed by drafting and execution of the trust document under Tennessee formalities. Funding the trust by retitling accounts, transferring real estate, and updating beneficiary forms is necessary to make the trust operational. Periodic reviews help maintain alignment with changing circumstances and ensure that successor trustees can carry out management and distribution in accordance with the grantor’s wishes.
Key Terms to Know in Trust Planning
A concise glossary of trust-related terms helps demystify planning. Terms such as grantor, trustee, beneficiary, funding, pour-over will, and successor trustee describe roles and mechanisms that appear in trust documents. Understanding these concepts makes it easier to communicate intentions and to evaluate different planning options. This section explains common phrases and their practical implications for Johnsonville residents who are gathering information before creating or updating a trust. Having clear definitions supports better decision making when reviewing draft documents or when discussing preferences with family members.
Grantor or Settlor
The grantor, sometimes called the settlor, is the individual who creates the trust and places property into it. This person retains the authority to outline instructions for asset management, to name trustees and beneficiaries, and often to amend or revoke the trust during life. The grantor’s intentions shape the trust’s terms, including distribution timing, conditions, and the appointment of a successor trustee. When preparing a trust, clearly documenting the grantor’s goals and preferences is essential to make sure the trust reflects those wishes for both incapacity planning and eventual distribution to beneficiaries.
Trustee and Trustee Duties
The trustee is the person or entity responsible for managing trust assets for the benefit of the named beneficiaries according to the trust terms. Trustee duties typically include managing investments prudently, keeping accurate records, filing required tax returns, communicating with beneficiaries, and carrying out distributions as directed. Successor trustees step in if the initial trustee cannot serve. Selecting trustees who are willing and able to perform these ongoing responsibilities is an important decision, and clear instructions in the trust can help trustees act in ways that fulfill the grantor’s intentions.
Beneficiary
A beneficiary is an individual or organization designated to receive benefits from the trust either during the grantor’s life or after death. Beneficiaries may receive outright distributions, staggered payments, or distributions conditioned on certain events described in the trust document. The grantor can name primary and contingent beneficiaries and specify precise terms for distributions to address needs, protect assets, or preserve resources for future generations. Regularly reviewing beneficiary designations helps ensure that distributions occur according to current family and financial circumstances.
Pour-Over Will
A pour-over will is a type of will that directs any assets not previously transferred to the trust to be moved into the trust at the grantor’s death. It serves as a safety net to capture property that may have been overlooked when funding the trust during life. While a pour-over will still goes through probate to transfer those assets, it simplifies distribution by ensuring all assets ultimately follow the trust’s terms. Maintaining careful funding practices can reduce reliance on a pour-over will and help minimize the assets that require probate administration.
Comparing Trusts, Wills, and Other Estate Planning Choices
Choosing among a revocable living trust, a will, and other planning tools depends on priorities such as privacy, probate avoidance, asset management during incapacity, and administrative simplicity. Wills are straightforward for naming guardians and directing distributions but generally require probate. Trusts can offer more privacy and may avoid probate for funded assets, but they require additional steps to fund and maintain. Powers of attorney, health care directives, and beneficiary designations each play specific roles. Evaluating how these instruments work together helps families select an approach suited to their situation and goals.
When a Limited Estate Plan May Be Enough:
Appropriate Situations for a Simple Plan
A limited estate plan may be sufficient for individuals with modest assets, straightforward family arrangements, and clear beneficiary designations on retirement and life insurance accounts. When property ownership is uncomplicated and beneficiaries are in agreement, a basic will combined with powers of attorney and health care directives can provide essential protections without the extra steps of creating and funding a trust. For some households, this approach meets goals while keeping costs and administrative responsibilities lower, especially when the focus is on naming guardians for minor children or ensuring medical decisions are documented.
When Short-Term Planning Is Appropriate
Short-term or interim planning may call for straightforward documents when major life plans are likely to change soon, such as pending moves, significant shifts in finances, or anticipated inheritance that will alter the estate. In those cases, preparing a will and powers of attorney provides immediate protection while deferring more comprehensive arrangements. This strategy allows for focused attention on high-priority issues and gives time to develop a more detailed trust plan when circumstances stabilize and long-term decisions can be made with confidence.
When a Comprehensive Trust Plan Is Recommended:
Complex Families and Asset Structures
A comprehensive trust plan is often recommended when families have blended households, multiple real estate holdings, business ownership, or beneficiaries with special financial needs. Those situations can benefit from tailored provisions that clarify distribution timing, preserve assets for future generations, and create management mechanisms that continue after incapacity or death. A thoughtful plan helps reduce ambiguity among heirs, address potential conflicts, and provide continuity for managers who will oversee trusts and related accounts over time.
Avoiding Probate and Planning for Incapacity
A comprehensive approach can reduce the administrative burden of probate and create clear procedures for managing assets if the grantor becomes unable to do so. Funding a trust, naming successor trustees, and documenting management instructions help maintain financial stability and ensure bills and care arrangements are handled without court intervention. This continuity helps family members carry out responsibilities without delay and can preserve more of the estate’s value for intended beneficiaries by streamlining transfers and limiting public court oversight.
Benefits of a Comprehensive Revocable Living Trust
A comprehensive revocable living trust offers several practical benefits including increased privacy, potential avoidance of probate for funded assets, and detailed instructions for managing property during incapacity. Because trust administration typically occurs outside of probate court, families may preserve confidentiality about asset values and distribution plans. The trust also allows the grantor to provide structured distributions and management arrangements that match family dynamics and long-term goals, supporting smoother transitions when management responsibilities shift to successors or heirs.
Another benefit of a comprehensive plan is the ability to coordinate multiple documents so they work together harmoniously. Integrating beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, health care directives, and trust provisions reduces the risk of conflicting instructions and makes it easier to manage affairs if circumstances change. Regular reviews and updates ensure that life events such as marriage, divorce, births, or changes in property holdings are reflected in the plan so it continues to meet family objectives over time.
Privacy and Smooth Administration
Privacy is a significant advantage of a trust-centered plan because trust administration generally proceeds outside public probate records. This confidentiality can be important for families who prefer discretion about asset distributions and personal matters. Additionally, a well-structured trust can provide a clearer path for the successor trustee to follow, with detailed instructions that simplify the management and distribution of assets. These features can reduce delays, minimize confusion among heirs, and help preserve family relationships by limiting contentious public proceedings.
Flexibility and Ongoing Control
A revocable living trust provides flexibility because the grantor retains the ability to modify the document while alive. This allows for adjustments as family circumstances or financial conditions change. The trust also supports continuity by naming successor trustees who can step in without court oversight, facilitating timely management of assets and payment of expenses. Periodic reviews and amendments keep the plan current, ensuring it continues to reflect the grantor’s priorities and adapts to new circumstances or changes in Tennessee law.

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Estate Planning and Probate Services
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Practical Tips for Setting Up a Revocable Living Trust
Begin with a clear inventory of assets
Start by compiling a comprehensive inventory of assets that you intend to include in the trust. This inventory should list real estate, bank and investment accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, business interests, and tangible personal property. For each item include account numbers, titling information, and approximate values when available. A thorough inventory reduces the risk that important property will be omitted during funding and helps the drafting process proceed more efficiently. It also makes it easier to coordinate beneficiary designations and to prioritize property transfers according to your overall plan.
Choose trustees and successors carefully
Review and update the trust periodically
Regular reviews ensure that the trust continues to reflect current family circumstances, financial arrangements, and legal developments. Life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or changes in asset ownership may require updates to beneficiaries, trustees, or distribution terms. Periodic check-ins also allow you to confirm that assets intended for the trust remain properly titled and that beneficiary designations on accounts remain aligned. Making updates proactively helps keep the plan effective and reduces the likelihood of unintended outcomes for beneficiaries.
Reasons to Consider a Revocable Living Trust
Consider a revocable living trust if you value privacy, want to simplify the transfer of assets, or need a plan for managing property during incapacity. A trust can create more seamless transitions than relying solely on a will, and it can provide clear instructions for family members and successor trustees. It is also a useful tool where multiple properties or accounts are involved, when beneficiaries may need structured distributions, or when there is a desire to minimize public court involvement after death. Each situation is different, and a tailored assessment helps determine whether a trust fits your circumstances.
Another reason to use a trust arises when planning for long-term care or when there are concerns about the management of assets if capacity diminishes. Trust provisions can include directives for how assets should be used to support daily needs, pay medical expenses, or provide for dependents. For people with businesses, rental properties, or blended family dynamics, a trust can clarify succession and protect continuity. Proactive planning can spare loved ones from difficult decisions and create a clearer process for handling finances and property when it matters most.
Common Situations That Lead Families to Create a Trust
Families often choose a revocable living trust when they own significant real estate, have complex family relationships, operate a family business, or want to plan for incapacity. Other common circumstances include wanting to avoid probate delays for heirs, protecting privacy regarding asset distribution, and creating structured distributions for beneficiaries who may not be ready for outright inheritance. Trusts are also used when coordinating assets across states or when beneficiaries include minor children or individuals with special needs. Each of these situations benefits from thoughtful document drafting and careful coordination of asset titling.
Owning Real Estate or Multiple Properties
Owners of real estate often place property into a trust to simplify transfer at death and to provide for professional or family management if needed. Including deeds in the funding process helps ensure that title passes according to the trust terms without separate probate for each property. For individuals with properties in multiple locations, a trust can centralize management instructions and reduce administrative complexities. Attention to local recording requirements and careful drafting are necessary to make sure the intended result is achieved.
Blended Families and Complex Beneficiary Needs
Blended families commonly use trusts to provide for a surviving spouse while protecting inheritances for children from a prior relationship. Trusts allow tailored distribution schedules and safeguards that reflect family dynamics and long-term goals. By specifying how assets are managed and distributed, the trust can reduce potential friction between heirs and help ensure that the grantor’s wishes are carried out in a way that balances competing interests and provides financial stability for multiple households.
Planning for Incapacity or Long-Term Care
Planning for incapacity is a primary reason people create trusts, because the trust can specify how assets should be managed if the grantor can no longer act. By naming successor trustees and outlining decision-making authority, the trust helps avoid court-appointed guardianship and supports timely payment of bills, healthcare costs, and care arrangements. Combining the trust with powers of attorney and medical directives creates a comprehensive framework for addressing both financial and health-related needs when the grantor is not able to manage their affairs.
Local Trust and Estate Planning Services in Johnsonville
Jay Johnson Law Firm serves Johnsonville and surrounding areas with practical estate planning services focused on trusts, wills, and related documents. The firm helps clients prepare the documents, complete asset transfers into trusts, and create a plan for incapacity and distribution. With experience assisting families across Tennessee, the firm emphasizes clear communication, timely follow up, and comprehensive document coordination so clients can feel confident their plans reflect current circumstances. If adjustments are needed in the future, the firm can help update documents to match changed priorities or new life events.
Why Choose Jay Johnson Law Firm for Revocable Trust Planning
Clients choose Jay Johnson Law Firm because of a practical focus on tailored planning, clear explanations, and hands-on assistance with funding and implementation. The firm helps clients identify assets to be placed in a trust, prepares documents that reflect individual goals, and coordinates related estate planning instruments. Working locally in Johnsonville and surrounding Tennessee communities, the team seeks to make the process straightforward and manageable so clients can move forward with confidence and clarity about their plans.
The firm understands the administrative steps that make a trust effective, such as retitling real estate, updating account registrations, and reviewing beneficiary designations. That attention to detail helps avoid common pitfalls that can leave assets outside the trust. In addition to document preparation, the firm provides guidance on trustee selection, successor arrangements, and ongoing review schedules so the plan remains current as life changes occur.
If you have questions about the process, fees, or how a trust may fit within a broader estate plan, the firm offers straightforward consultations to discuss your options and next steps. You can reach the office in Johnsonville at 731-206-9700 to arrange a conversation about revocable living trusts, wills, or coordination of beneficiary designations and powers of attorney. Clear information up front helps clients make informed choices suited to their circumstances.
Schedule a Consultation to Discuss Your Revocable Living Trust
How We Handle Revocable Living Trust Matters
Our process for trust matters begins with a focused review of your assets, family situation, and goals, followed by drafting documents designed to reflect your preferences. We then assist with funding the trust and coordinating associated documents such as pour-over wills and powers of attorney. The firm emphasizes clear timelines and proactive communication so clients know what to expect at each stage. Periodic reviews and updates are encouraged to keep the plan aligned with life changes and any relevant legal developments in Tennessee.
Initial Review and Planning
The initial stage involves gathering information about assets, family relationships, and objectives so the trust can be tailored to address specific needs. During this review we discuss who should serve as trustee and successor trustees, which assets to fund, and how distributions should be structured. The conversation also covers coordination with other documents and tax considerations. This planning phase provides the foundation for drafting accurate documents that reflect your intentions and practical realities.
Gathering Personal and Asset Information
Collecting detailed information about bank accounts, retirement plans, real property, business interests, and personal property is a vital part of the process. Information about existing beneficiary designations, mortgages, and account ownership helps determine what transfers are needed to fund the trust. Having accurate records speeds the process and reduces the chance of overlooking assets that should be included. We provide guidance on the types of documentation that facilitate efficient drafting and title transfers.
Discussing Goals, Preferences, and Family Dynamics
A frank conversation about goals and family dynamics helps shape the trust provisions, including distribution timing and any conditions the grantor wishes to impose. Discussing preferences for management during incapacity clarifies the scope of trustee authority and the types of powers needed. We also consider how to balance immediate needs for a surviving spouse with long-term preservation for children or other beneficiaries. Clear discussion at this stage reduces ambiguity and makes the trust instructions more effective.
Drafting Trust Documents and Related Papers
Once planning is complete, we prepare draft documents for review, including the trust instrument, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and health care directives as appropriate. Drafting focuses on clarity, consistency, and ensuring that the language aligns with the client’s goals while meeting Tennessee legal formalities. We review drafts with clients, explain key provisions, and make revisions based on feedback. This collaborative drafting process helps ensure the final documents reflect the grantor’s intentions and are ready for execution.
Creating the Trust Document
Creating the trust document means translating planning decisions into legally effective provisions that name trustees, successors, beneficiaries, and distribution terms. The document also typically sets out management powers, instructions for incapacity, and procedures for trustee changes. Careful attention is paid to drafting clear language to minimize future disputes and to ensure the trustee can implement the plan efficiently. Clients receive a full explanation of each provision and the implications for asset management and distribution.
Coordinating Related Documents and Beneficiary Designations
Coordination among the trust, will, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations is essential to avoid conflicts and gaps. We review retirement account beneficiary forms, life insurance policies, and property deeds to determine what changes are needed to align them with the trust plan. Where appropriate, we prepare a pour-over will to capture any assets not transferred during life. This comprehensive coordination helps make sure the overall plan functions smoothly when it is needed.
Funding the Trust and Ongoing Maintenance
Funding the trust completes the planning process by transferring selected assets into the trust’s name, such as retitling real estate and updating account registrations. After funding, ongoing maintenance includes periodic reviews, updates to reflect life events, and assistance for successor trustees when administration is required. The firm can provide checklists and support for title transfers, record keeping, and preparing account statements so the trust remains effective and aligned with your objectives over time.
Transferring Assets into the Trust
Transferring assets into the trust often requires preparing deed instruments for real estate, submitting transfer forms for financial accounts, and updating ownership records with institutions. Careful attention to detail ensures that assets intended for the trust are properly documented to avoid unintended probate of assets retained in the grantor’s name. We guide clients through the necessary paperwork and steps to confirm successful transfers. Clear records of funding actions improve the trust’s reliability when successor trustees later carry out administration.
Periodic Reviews and Adjustments
Periodic reviews allow you to update trustees, beneficiaries, and distribution terms to reflect life changes such as births, deaths, marriages, divorces, or changes in asset composition. Regular checkups help confirm that all intended assets remain titled to the trust and that related documents remain consistent. We recommend scheduling reviews at key life milestones or every few years to maintain alignment between planning goals and current circumstances, helping to avoid surprises and preserve the intended legacy for beneficiaries.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revocable Living Trusts in Johnsonville
What is a revocable living trust and how does it differ from a will?
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement that holds assets during your lifetime and specifies how they should be managed and distributed. Unlike a will, which generally takes effect only at death and usually requires probate to transfer assets, a funded revocable trust can provide for management during incapacity and may allow for smoother transfer of assets outside the probate process.While both tools serve important roles, a trust emphasizes continuity of administration and privacy, whereas a will addresses matters that must go through court. Many people use a trust together with a pour-over will and powers of attorney to create a coordinated estate plan that addresses incapacity, asset management, and final distributions in a consistent way.
Do I need to transfer all my assets into the trust?
You do not necessarily need to transfer every single asset into a revocable trust, but funding the trust for the assets you want managed under trust provisions is important to achieve the intended benefits. Bank accounts, investment accounts, and real estate commonly move into the trust, while some accounts such as retirement plans may remain in your name but be coordinated through beneficiary designations.A thorough inventory will show which assets should be retitled to the trust and which require other steps. Proper funding reduces the chance of unintended probate and ensures the trust provisions apply as intended at the time of incapacity or death.
How does a trust help if I become incapacitated?
A trust can include provisions naming successor trustees to manage trust assets if the grantor becomes incapacitated, allowing financial affairs to continue without court intervention. The successor trustee can use trust assets to pay bills, manage investments, and handle other financial responsibilities consistent with the trust’s instructions.Combining the trust with powers of attorney for broader financial authority and with health care directives for medical decisions provides a comprehensive approach to incapacity planning. Clear, written instructions in these documents ease the transition and reduce the need for formal conservatorship or guardianship proceedings.
Will a revocable living trust avoid probate in Tennessee?
A properly funded revocable living trust can avoid probate for the assets titled in the trust, because those assets are owned by the trust rather than by the deceased individual’s probate estate. Assets not transferred into the trust may still require probate administration under Tennessee law, so careful funding is key to maximizing the probate-avoidance benefits.It is also important to coordinate beneficiary designations and deeds so they align with the trust plan. While a trust can reduce the involvement of the probate court for trust assets, complementary documents like a pour-over will can address any remaining property that was not transferred during life.
Can I change or revoke my revocable living trust after I create it?
Yes, a revocable living trust can typically be changed, amended, or revoked by the grantor while the grantor remains alive and competent. This flexibility allows the trust to adapt to changes in family circumstances, finances, or personal preferences, making it a useful tool for ongoing estate planning.Because changes can have significant implications, careful review and proper execution of amendments are important to ensure the trust remains coherent and legally effective. Periodic reviews help confirm that the trust continues to reflect current wishes and that related documents and asset titles remain coordinated.
How are trustees chosen and what are their responsibilities?
Trustees are chosen based on trustworthiness, availability, and ability to perform administrative duties such as managing investments, keeping records, and communicating with beneficiaries. A successor trustee is named to step in if the initial trustee cannot serve, and alternates can provide additional continuity. Selecting trustees requires consideration of family dynamics and the complexity of the estate.Trustees must follow the trust’s instructions and act in the best interests of beneficiaries while maintaining accurate records and complying with legal responsibilities. Clear drafting and guidance within the trust document help trustees understand their authority and obligations when acting on behalf of the trust.
What is a pour-over will and do I need one with a trust?
A pour-over will works with a trust by directing any assets not already transferred into the trust during life to be moved into the trust upon death. It acts as a backup to ensure that overlooked assets ultimately fall under the trust’s terms, though those assets will generally still pass through probate before becoming part of the trust.While careful funding reduces reliance on a pour-over will, having one can provide added assurance that property unintentionally omitted will be managed according to the trust plan. Coordination between the will and trust is a common component of comprehensive estate planning.
How often should I review or update my trust?
It is generally advisable to review your trust and related estate planning documents periodically, especially after major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, or significant changes in asset holdings. A periodic review every few years can help ensure that trustee appointments, beneficiary designations, and funding remain appropriate and effective.Regular checkups also allow updates to adapt to changes in law or in financial circumstances. Scheduling reviews at key milestones helps maintain a reliable plan and prevents inadvertent conflicts or gaps that could complicate administration in the future.
Will a revocable living trust protect assets from creditors or long-term care costs?
A revocable living trust generally does not provide absolute protection from creditors or long-term care costs while the grantor is alive, because the grantor retains control and can revoke the trust. In contrast, certain irrevocable arrangements made well in advance of care needs may offer different levels of protection. The effectiveness of any asset protection strategy depends on timing, structure, and applicable law.For many individuals, the primary benefits of a revocable trust are management flexibility and probate avoidance rather than creditor protection. If protection from creditors or Medicaid planning is a priority, discussing alternative planning strategies is important to understand the potential benefits and limitations.
What steps should I take to get started with a revocable living trust in Johnsonville?
To get started, gather information about your assets, current beneficiary designations, and any existing estate planning documents. Consider who you want to name as trustees and beneficiaries, and think about how you want distributions handled if those needs are complex. Initial documentation and a clear inventory streamline the planning process.Contact the Jay Johnson Law Firm to schedule a consultation to discuss your goals and the steps involved in creating and funding a trust. The firm can explain the process, provide cost information, and help you create documents that align with your priorities and Tennessee legal requirements.