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Revocable Living Trust

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REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST AGREEMENT

THIS REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST AGREEMENT, (hereinafter "Trust"), is being made on this the day of , 20 , by and between of County, State of North Dakota, hereinafter referred to as the Trustor and the Trustee designated below and shall be governed and administered in accordance with the following terms and provisions:

ARTICLE I
NAME OF TRUST

1. NAME OF TRUST: This trust may be referred to as THE REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST and is created in accordance with 59-09-01 et. seq. of the North Dakota Century Code.

ARTICLE II
IDENTIFICATION

2. TRUSTOR AND BENEFICIARIES: The Trustor or Settlor of this trust is , an Individual residing at , , North Dakota . The Beneficiary of the Trust during the lifetime of the Trustor is the Trustor. Except as otherwise provided herein, upon the death of the Trustor, the Beneficiaries is/are . The Trustor has no children.

ARTICLE III
TRUSTEE APPOINTMENT

3. TRUSTEE APPOINTMENTS: The Trustor, hereby appoints , the Trustor, as Trustee of this Trust. If the Trustor is unable to serve as Trustee for any reason, then the Trustor hereby appoints as Successor Trustee.

ARTICLE IV
ASSETS OF TRUST

4. ASSETS OF TRUST: All rights, title, and interest in and to all real and personal property, tangible or intangible, listed on the attached Schedule “A”, is hereby assigned, conveyed and delivered to the Trustee for inclusion in this Trust.

5. ADDITIONS TO TRUST PROPERTY: Additional property may be conveyed to the Trust by the Trustor, or any other third party at any time.

6. RIGHTS TO TRUST ASSETS: Except as specifically provided herein, the Beneficiaries of this trust shall have no rights to any assets of the trust.

7. HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION: Grantor(s) reserves the right to use, occupy and reside upon any real property placed in this Trust as their permanent residence during their lives.

ARTICLE V
TRUSTEE POWERS AND OTHER PROVISIONS

8. POWERS: The Trustor does hereby grant to the Trustee all powers necessary to deal with any and all property of the Trust as freely as the Trustor could do individually.

ARTICLE VI
TRUST ADMINISTRATION DURING LIFE OF TRUSTOR

10. MANAGEMENT OF TRUST PROPERTY: All property of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustee at the direction of the Trustor.

11. INCAPACITY OF TRUSTOR: During any period of incapacitation of the Trustor, the Successor Trustee may apply or expend all or a part of the income and principal of this Trust.

12. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS: Except during periods of incapacitation, the Trustor does hereby reserve during his or her lifetime the following rights:

(A) To revoke this Trust Agreement in its entirety and to recover any and all remaining property of the Trust after payment of all Trust administration expenses.

(B) To alter or amend this instrument in any and every particular at any time and from time to time.

(C) To change, at any time and from time to time, the identity or number, or both, of the Trustee and/or Successor Trustee.

(D) To withdraw from the operation of this Trust, at any time and from time to time, any or all of the Trust property.

ARTICLE VII
DISTRIBUTIONS DURING LIFETIME OF TRUSTORS

13. GENERAL DISTRIBUTIONS: The following options are available to the Trustee regarding the distribution of principal or income to or for a beneficiary:

(A) Payments may be made directly to the beneficiary as an allowance.

(B) Payments may be made to the Guardian of the beneficiary.

(C) Payments may be made to a relative of the beneficiary upon agreement.

(D) The Trustee may expend such income or principal directly for the beneficiary.

(E) Trustee shall be mindful of health, education, support, maintenance, comfort and general welfare needs.

14. RESIDENCE: A residence may be purchased or otherwise obtained by the Trustee for the benefit of an income beneficiary of any Trust for use by the beneficiary and his or her family.

15. OTHER PAYMENTS: At the request of any Trustor in writing, the Trustee shall make lump sum or periodic payments to any third party designated by such Trustor.

ARTICLE VIII
TRUST ADMINISTRATION AFTER TRUSTOR’S DEATH

16. TRUSTEE: Upon the death of the Trustor, the Successor Trustee shall continue to administer the assets of this Trust.

17. BENEFITS PAYABLE TO TRUST: Upon the death of the Trustor, the Trustee is hereby authorized to take any and every action necessary to collect any and all benefits payable to the Trust.

18. LIABILITIES OF TRUSTOR’S ESTATE: Prior to the distribution of any assets of this Trust, the Trustee may pay to the Trustor’s estate any or all of the Trustor’s just debts, funeral expenses, and administration expenses.

19. TAXES: Upon the death of the Trustor, all estate and inheritance taxes that become due and payable shall be paid by the Trustee.

20. ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTIONS: The Trustee is hereby authorized to pay to the Probate Estate of the deceased Trustor as much of the income and principal of this Trust as the Trustee deems necessary.

21. GIFTS: The Trustee shall, upon the death of the Trustor, make such gifts of the tangible personal property of the Trustor held or acquired by this Trust as may be directed by the Trustor’s Will or Schedule B.

ARTICLE IX
TRUSTOR’S DEATH

22. DISTRIBUTIONS: Upon the death of the Trustor, the following distributions shall be made from the property of this Trust after payment of the Trustor’s just debts, funeral expenses, and other distributions:

(a) DISTRIBUTION UPON DEATH OF TRUSTOR: All trust property, including principal or income shall be distributed to

(b) SPRINKLING TRUST:

i) For any named beneficiaries who are minors on the date of my death the trustee shall hold his or her trust estate in a separate trust.

ii) Upon the beneficiary reaching years of age, the trustee shall distribute outright all remaining income and principal.

iii) If any beneficiary dies before age 21, and leave no living issue, his or her share will be distributed equally to the other beneficiaries named herein.

23. DEATH OF BENEFICIARY: Should a named beneficiary die before a complete distribution of this Trust is made, and that Beneficiary leave no living issue, then that beneficiary’s share shall go to the surviving Beneficiaries.

ARTICLE X
TRUSTEE PROVISIONS

24. THIRD PARTIES: Any person dealing in good faith with the Trustee shall deal only with the Trustee and shall presume the Trustee has full power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust.

25. COMPENSATION: Any beneficiary of this Trust serving as Trustee shall do so without compensation for his or her services.

26. BOND AND QUALIFICATIONS: Bond shall not be required of the Trustee or any Successor Trustee.

27. SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE(S): No Successor Trustee shall be responsible for acts of any prior Trustee.

28. REMOVAL OF SUCCESSOR TRUSTEES: A Successor Trustee may be removed by the last individual to serve as Trustee, or by a majority vote in interest in Trust income.

29. DELEGATION OF POWERS: Any management function of any Trust may be delegated by any Trustee to any Successor Trustee.

30. LIMITED AMENDMENT POWER: The Trustee shall enjoy a limited power to amend management functions of this Trust only as may be required.

31. RESIGNATION OF TRUSTEE: Any Trustee may resign by writing filed among the trust papers effective upon the trustees’ discharge.

32. NONLIABILITY FOR ACTION OR INACTION BASED ON LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF EVENTS. A trustee who has exercised reasonable care to ascertain the happening of the event is not liable.

33. TRUSTEE AS BENEFICIARY. A trustee who is also a beneficiary of the trust may exercise powers to make discretionary distributions.

34. WAIVER OF ACCOUNTING. Except as otherwise provided herein, neither this trust, nor any Trustee, shall be required to provide an accounting to any Beneficiary.

ARTICLE XI
TRUST ADMINISTRATION

35. ALLOCATION TO PRINCIPAL AND INCOME – SEPARATE TRUSTS: All expenses and all receipts of money or property paid or delivered to the Trustee may be allocated to principal or income in the sole discretion of the Trustee.

36. ALIENATION: Excepting the Trustor, no income or principal beneficiary shall have any right or power to anticipate, pledge, assign, sell, transfer, alienate or encumber his or her interest in the Trust.

37. TERMINATION OF TRUST: Should the aggregate principal of any Trust at any time be valued at Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000) or less, the Trustee may terminate such Trust and distribute the assets.

38. ELECTIONS: The Trustee and the Personal Representative of the Trustor's estate may exercise discretionary powers without incurring liability to any beneficiary.

39. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION: Upon written designation by the Trustor of a beneficiary for a qualified plan or IRA benefits made payable to this Trust, the Trustee shall distribute the right to receive such benefits to the designated beneficiary.

40. CERTIFICATE OF TRUST: The Trustee is hereby authorized and granted all powers necessary to execute a Certificate of Trust.

41. REGISTRATION OF TRUST ASSETS: Assets of this Trust during the Trustor’s lifetime shall be registered as follows: , Trustee, or his or her successors in trust, under THE REVOCABLE TRUST, dated the day of , 20 , and any amendments thereto.

42. TAX IDENTIFICATION: This Trust shall be identified during the Trustor’s lifetime by the Trustor's Social Security Number .

43. SPENDTHRIFT CLAUSE: The interest of any Beneficiary of this Trust in the income and principal shall not be subject to claims of his or her creditors.

44. PERPETUITIES CLAUSE: All Trusts created by this instrument and interests therein shall vest in their then beneficiary twenty-one years after the death of the last of the issue of the Trustor.

ARTICLE XII
TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

The terms below, as used throughout this Trust Agreement, shall have the following meaning

45. INCAPACITATED: A Trustee or beneficiary shall be deemed incapacitated if unable to properly manage his or her affairs.

46. REHABILITATION: A Trustee or beneficiary shall be deemed rehabilitated when he or she is able to properly manage his or her own affairs.

47. GUARDIANSHIP: During any period of incapacity or incompetence, the Trustor does hereby nominate as Guardian of the Trustor’s property the same person(s) in name and order of succession who serve as Trustee as provided herein.

48. SURVIVORSHIP: This Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

49. APPLICABLE LAW: This Agreement shall in all respects be construed and regulated according to the laws of the State of North Dakota.

50. TRUSTEE AND TRUST: The term “Trustee" refers to the single, multiple and Successor Trustee.

51. GENDER - SINGULAR AND PLURAL: Where appropriate, words of the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter; words of the feminine gender include the masculine and neuter.

52. IRC: The term "IRC" refers to the Internal Revenue Code and its valid regulations.

53. SERVE OR CONTINUE TO SERVE: A person cannot "serve or continue to serve" in a particular capacity if they are incapacitated, deceased, have resigned, or are removed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

54. ISSUE: The term "issue", unless otherwise designated herein, shall include adopted "issue" of descendants and lineal descendants, both natural and legally adopted indefinitely.

55. NOTICE: No person shall have notice of any event or document until receipt of written notice.

56. MERGER: The doctrine of merger shall not apply to any interests under any Trust.

57. REPRESENTATION: In any Trust matter a beneficiary whose interest is subject to a condition shall represent the interests in the Trust of those who would take in default of said condition.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, on this the day of , 20 , Trustor, and Trustee have signed this Instrument.

TRUSTOR

TRUSTOR

TRUSTEE

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

COUNTY OF

On this day of , in the year , before me personally appeared , known to me (or proved to me on the oath of ) to be the person who is described in and who executed the within and foregoing instrument, and acknowledged to me that executed the same.

(Seal)

Notary Public

Printed Name:

Commission Expires:

THE REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST

Schedule A

The sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) in cash.

TOGETHER WITH:

Enter text✕

What a Revocable Living Trust Is and how it functions

Revocable Living Trust is a revocable inter vivos trust used to hold assets during the settlor's lifetime and to distribute property at incapacity or death. It lets the settlor retain control, amend or revoke the trust, and name a successor trustee to manage assets without immediate probate. For U.S. estate planning, it complements a pour-over will and can simplify asset management, successor planning, and incapacity protection when funded correctly and combined with proper beneficiary designations and deeds. Legal formalities vary by state and may require notarization or witnesses for related documents.

Key benefits a Revocable Living Trust provides

A Revocable Living Trust reduces probate exposure, centralizes management during incapacity, and provides flexible distribution terms while preserving control for the settlor. It does not necessarily reduce estate tax liability; consult counsel for tax planning and funding strategies tailored to your state law.

Key benefits a Revocable Living Trust provides

Who typically uses a Revocable Living Trust

Individuals with significant assets, property owners, and those seeking incapacity planning often use a Revocable Living Trust to streamline administration.

  • Older adults and retirees who want continuity of management for bank accounts and real property.
  • Families with minor or dependent beneficiaries needing controlled distributions and successor trustee designations.
  • Owners of rental or business interests aiming to avoid probate-related delays for tenants and partners.

Discuss options with estate counsel to confirm funding steps and state-specific witness or notarization rules.

Core elements to include in a professional Revocable Living Trust

A professional Revocable Living Trust includes clear trustee powers, beneficiary designations, funding instructions, amendment clauses, incapacity provisions, and signature formalities.

Trustee Powers

Specify express powers for investment, asset management, distributions, tax elections, and authority to engage professionals; include successor appointment procedures and limits on self-dealing in clear, enforceable language.

Funding Instructions

List mechanics for transferring bank accounts, brokerage accounts, deeds, and personal property into the trust, and specify who must execute deeds or beneficiary change forms.

Incapacity Provisions

Include durable grant of trustee authority, definition of incapacity, procedures for medical certification, and temporary powers for emergency asset management without court involvement and funding directives.

Amendment & Revocation

State how the settlor may amend or revoke the trust, required witness or notary formalities, and any limits on modifications during incapacity and procedures for notice to beneficiaries.

Beneficiary Directions

Describe specific distribution triggers, age or milestone conditions, spendthrift protections, tax allocation provisions, and contingency plans for predeceased or disclaimed interests.

Signature Formalities

Identify required signatories, specify date format, include notary acknowledgement or witness blocks per governing state law, and attach self-proving affidavits when available to simplify probate.

Step-by-step: complete and fund a Revocable Living Trust

Follow these steps to complete and fund a Revocable Living Trust so it operates as intended during life and at death.

  • 01
    Prepare Draft: Work with counsel or template to draft trust terms.
  • 02
    Identify Assets: List and confirm ownership for each asset to be transferred.
  • 03
    Transfer Title: Re-title accounts, execute deeds, and update beneficiary designations.
  • 04
    Execute & Notarize: Sign with required witnesses or notary and retain originals.

Typical document flow for signing and activating the trust

Typical document flow for creating, signing, and activating a Revocable Living Trust in a digital workflow.

  • Upload: Add trust document PDF or DOCX to the eSignature platform.
  • Place Fields: Insert signature, date, and text fields for each party.
  • Authenticate: Choose signer authentication: email, SMS code, or KBA.
  • Archive: Store signed PDF with audit trail and certificate.

Recommended digital workflow configuration for trust execution

Configure a digital workflow for trust signing, authentication, and distribution to trustees and beneficiaries using secure storage.

Field Configuration
Signature Type Click-to-sign, mobile, or PKI optional
Authentication Email link, SMS code, or KBA
Notifications Email notice and reminders to signers
Document Retention Store signed copy with audit trail
Access Controls Role-based permissions and SSO via SAML

Platform and security requirements for e-signing a trust

For digital signing of a Revocable Living Trust, verify platform security, authentication, and PDF handling before e-submission.

  • File Types: PDF and DOCX support with native fields
  • Integrations: Integrates with Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
  • Security: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest

Pricing and capability comparison for eSignature vendors

Below is a concise vendor pricing and capability comparison relevant to electronic signing for Revocable Living Trusts.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8 per user per month when billed annually $15 per user per month billed annually $14 per user per month billed annually $19 per user per month billed annually $15 per user per month billed annually
Free Trial Seven-day free trial available with no credit card required Trial availability varies by plan and region Trial availability varies by plan and region Trial availability varies by plan and region Trial availability varies by plan and region
Bulk Send Available; Business Premium tier includes bulk send Available in higher-tier commercial plans Available in higher-tier commercial plans Available in paid plans, enterprise features Not available on basic plans
Audit Trail Yes; full audit trail and certificate of completion Yes; audit trail and certificate provided Yes; audit trail and certificate provided Yes; audit trail and certificate provided Yes; audit trail and certificate provided
HIPAA Compliant Yes; HIPAA-compliant with BAA option available Yes; HIPAA-compliant with BAA option available Yes; HIPAA-compliant with BAA option available No; HIPAA BAA not standard No; HIPAA BAA not standard
Envelope Cap No envelope cap for paid plans Limits to 100 envelopes per user per year Varies by plan and enterprise agreement Varies by plan and enterprise agreement Varies by plan and enterprise agreement

Security and compliance considerations for electronically signed trusts

Encryption in Transit: TLS 1.2 and 1.3 in transit
Encryption at Rest: AES-256 encryption for stored data
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, PCI DSS
HIPAA: BAA available for HIPAA compliance
ESIGN/UETA: Compliant with ESIGN and UETA
Audit Trail: Detailed timestamps, IP, and activity logs

Key risks and consequences of errors in trust preparation

Unfunded Trust: Assets still probated
Improper Titling: Transfers fail without deed changes
Invalid Signatures: Missing notarization or witness
Tax Exposure: Incorrect beneficiary designations
Trustee Liability: Overbroad powers raise disputes
Ineffective Amendments: Procedural defects void changes

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing a Revocable Living Trust

  • Failing to transfer titled property into the trust is the most common mistake; real estate remains subject to probate if deeds are not re-recorded in the trust's name.
  • Using inconsistent names across bank accounts, deeds, and beneficiary forms causes custodian or title disputes and can trigger creditor or probate challenges.
  • Not updating beneficiary designations on IRAs, 401(k)s, and life insurance can override trust distribution wishes and create tax complications.
  • Skipping local notarization, witness requirements, or RON rules may make signatures inadmissible in probate or slow estate settlement.

Frequently asked questions about Revocable Living Trusts

Answers to frequently asked questions about creating, signing, funding, and challenging a Revocable Living Trust.


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