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Revocable Trust Agreement

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Revocable Trust Agreement with Husband and Wife as Trustors and Income to Trustors for their lives with Remainder to Descendants

This Revocable Living Trust Agreement, hereinafter called the Trust, is being made on this the day of , 20 , by and between of County, State of , hereinafter referred to as the Trustors, and , a banking corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States with its principal office located at . This Trust shall be governed and administered in accordance with the following terms and provisions:

1. Transfer into Trust

Trustors have transferred and delivered to Trustee all of the property described in the attached Schedule A, which is made part of this Trust Agreement. The receipt of that property is acknowledged by Trustee. The property, together with any other property that may later become subject to this Trust, shall constitute the Trust Estate, and shall be held, administered, and distributed by Trustee as provided below.

2. Additions to Trust

Any person may, from time to time, with the consent of Trustee, by conveyance, assignment, transfer, or will, add property of any kind to the Trust Estate, or any part of it, which shall then be subject to all the terms and provisions of this Trust.

3. Revocation and Amendment

While living and competent, Trustors, acting jointly, may at any time or times, by written notice filed with Trustee:

1. Change any beneficiary;

2. Amend any provision of this Agreement to such extent as may be acceptable to Trust;

3. Revoke this Trust in whole or in part; or

4. Withdraw all or any part of the Trust Estate.

4. Power to Direct Trustee

While living and competent, Trustors, acting jointly, may at any time or times direct Trustee in writing to invest the Trust Estate in specific securities, properties, or investments; to retain as part of the Trust Estate any securities, properties, or investments at any time held under the Trust, for such length of time as the directions may provide; or to sell, encumber, lease, manage, control, or dispose of any property of the Trust Estate. Trustee shall not be liable for any loss sustained or incurred by reason of its compliance with any such written directions of Trustors.

5. Payment of Expenses

Trustee shall pay or reserve sufficient funds to pay all expenses of management and administration of the Trust Estate, including the compensation of Trustee, all or any part of which may, in the discretion of Trustee, be charged either to income or principal of the Trust Estate.

6. Net Income

The income of the Trust remaining after the payment by Trustee of expenses authorized in Section 5 and charged to income, shall be and is referred to as net income.

7. Income to Trustors

The net income shall be distributed to or for the use and benefits of Trustors, , while both are alive, in installments.

8. Funeral Expenses

On the death of either Trustor, Trustee shall pay the expenses of deceased Trustor's illness and funeral, from either income or principal of the Trust property at the discretion of the Trustee, unless other adequate provisions have been made for those expenses.

9. Income to Survivor

On the death of either Trustor, the net income shall be distributed to or for the use and benefit of the surviving Trustor, in convenient installments, not less frequently than , during his or her lifetime.

10. Termination and Distribution of Trust Estate

This Trust shall cease and terminate on the death of the surviving Trustor. On such termination the entire Trust Estate, including principal and any accrued or undistributed net income on the principal, shall be distributed to the children of Trustors, , share and share alike. If a child predeceases the surviving Trustor, then the children of such deceased child shall take such deceased child's share, per stirpes. If any such child predeceases the surviving Trustor leaving no living lawful descendants, the Trust, to the extent not appointed as provided below, shall go to the surviving children.

11. Powers of Trustee

In addition to all other powers and discretions granted to or vested in Trustee by law or by this instrument, Trustee shall have the following powers and discretions:

A. To do all such acts, take all such proceedings, and exercise all such rights and privileges in the management of the Trust Estate as if Trustee were the absolute owner of the Trust Estate, including but not limited to the following:

B. To hold, manage, operate, control, repair, preserve, improve, partition, divide, subdivide, sell (at public or private sale and for cash or on credit), convey, exchange, convert, grant options on, or otherwise deal with Trust property;

C. To lease for terms either within or beyond the duration of this Trust including oil, gas, and other mineral leases, on such terms as Trustee may deem proper; and to enter into pooling, utilization, community, and other types of Agreements relating to the development, operation, and conservation of mineral properties;

D. To loan, re-loan, invest, and reinvest the Trust Estate or any part of it;

E. To vote stock, give proxies, pay calls for assessments, sell or exercise stock subscriptions or conversion rights, participate in foreclosures, reorganizations, consolidations, mergers, liquidations, pooling agreements, and voting trusts, assent to corporate sales and other acts and, in connection with the same, to deposit securities with and transfer title to any protective or other committee under such terms as Trustee may deem advisable;

F. To hold securities or other property in Trustee's own name or in the name of its nominee, without disclosing any fiduciary relation;

G. To procure and carry at the expense of the Trust Estate insurance of any kind and in such form and amount as Trustee deems advisable to protect Trustee and the Trust Estate against any hazard;

H. To borrow money for any Trust purpose, hypothecate the Trust Estate or any part of it and replace, renew, and extend any encumbrance on it, on such terms, conditions, and security as may be determined by Trustee and to pay loans or other obligations of the Trust Estate, as Trustee in its discretion deems advisable.

I. Trustee in its discretion is authorized to hold and retain any securities, properties, or other investments for such length of time as Trustee deems advisable including shares of the Trustee or any affiliated or related corporation.

J. In investing and reinvesting money and property of this Trust and in acquiring, retaining, selling, exchanging, and managing investments, Trustee shall exercise care and judgment under the circumstances then prevailing, which persons of ordinary prudence and reasonable discretion exercise in the management of their own affairs, considering the probable income as well as the probable safety of their capital. Within the limitations of the foregoing standard, Trustee is authorized to acquire every kind of property, real, personal, or mixed, and every kind of investment, specifically including, but not by way of limitation,: participation in any common trust funds administered by Trustee, corporate obligations of every kind and stocks, preferred or common, and interests in investment trusts and mutual funds, which persons of prudence, discretion, and intelligence acquire for their own account.

K. The Trustee shall have full power and authority to invest and reinvest the principal of the trust in such manner and upon such terms and conditions as the Trustee may see fit; to sell, exchange, pledge, mortgage or otherwise dispose of any property, real or personal, originally or subsequently acquired; to retain and hold in unchanged form any property, real or personal, coming into its hands; to rent or lease any of the properties embraced within the Trust, upon such terms and conditions as the Trustee deems advisable; to make all determinations respecting division, allotments and distributions of income and principal to the beneficiaries; to pay taxes of every kind existing against the trust property; and to do all other acts which, in the judgment of the Trustee, may be necessary or appropriate for the proper and advantageous management, investment and distribution of the Trust Estate to the same extent as though it were the sole owner of the Trust property. In addition, the Trustee shall have all of the powers granted by the Uniform Trustees' Powers Law, of the State of as now enacted or hereafter amended, reference to which statute is hereby made for all purposes.

L. Neither the principal nor the income of the Trust fund, nor any part of same, shall be liable for the debts of any beneficiary hereunder, nor shall the same be subject to seizure by any creditor of any beneficiary hereunder, and no beneficiary hereunder shall have any power to sell, assign, transfer, or in any manner to anticipate or dispose of his or her interest in the Trust fund, or any part of same, or the income produced from said fund or any part of same.

M. The Trust hereinbefore created is a private trust, and the Trustee shall not be required to obtain the order or approval of any court for the exercise of any power or discretion herein given. The Trustee is hereby authorized to receive and retain for its services in administering the trust reasonable fees and compensation in accordance with that which is customarily and generally charged for performing trust services of the nature involved in said Trust.

12. Determination of Principal and Income

Unless otherwise specifically provided in this instrument, Trustee in its discretion may determine what is principal or income and what shall be charged or credited to either, and its judgment shall bind everyone beneficially interested under this Agreement.

13. Invasion of Principal

If Trustee deems the net income payable under this Agreement not sufficient to provide for the reasonable care, support, maintenance, education, and recreation of Trustors, taking into consideration any other income and financial resources of Trustors as far as is known to Trustee, Trustee may as often as it deems necessary, pay to or apply for the use and benefit of Trustors such additional part, up to and including the whole, of the principal of the Trust Estate or, if the Trust Estate has been apportioned into shares, of the principal of the respective Trust of the beneficiary, all as Trustee in its sole and absolute discretion believes will be in the best interests and will tend to promote the welfare of Trustors, including but not limited to the specific power to disburse funds to or for the use and benefit of Trustors for the purpose of acquiring a home or an equity in a home.

14. Minor and Incompetent Beneficiaries

If at any time or from time to time any beneficiary entitled to receive income or principal under this Agreement shall be a minor, or in the absolute judgment of Trustee, mentally or physically incompetent (regardless of whether legally so adjudicated), Trustee may make any such payments, in its discretion, in one or more of the following ways:

A. Directly to the beneficiary,

B. To the natural guardian, or the legally appointed guardian or other fiduciary of the person or estate of the beneficiary,

C. To any person or organization furnishing care, support, maintenance, or education to the beneficiary, or

D. By making expenditures directly for the care, support, maintenance, education, or recreation of the beneficiary. Trustee shall not be required to see to the application of any funds so paid or applied and the receipt of the payee shall be a full discharge of Trustee. The decision of Trustee as to direct payments or application of funds shall be conclusive and binding on all parties in interest.

15. Compromise of Claims

Trustee may, at its option, at any time, in connection with its management of the Trust Estate or the collection of any moneys due or payable to it as Trustee, compromise or abandon any claims existing in favor of or against the Trust Estate.

16. Division or Distribution in Cash or in Kind

On any distribution, Trustee may apportion and allocate the assets of the Trust Estate in cash or in kind, or partly in cash and partly in kind, or in undivided interests, in such manner as Trustee in its discretion deems advisable. Trustee may sell such property as it deems necessary to make any such division or distribution.

17. Payment of Taxes

Taxes shall be paid and charged by Trustee as follows:

A. Death Taxes. On the death of Trustors, any estate, inheritance, succession, or other death taxes, duties, charges, or assessments, together with interest, penalties, costs, Trustee's compensation, and attorney fees, which shall become due by reason of the Trust Estate or any interest in the Estate being includible for such tax purposes, may be paid by Trustee from the Trust Estate, unless other adequate provision has been made.

B. Gift Taxes. If at any time any gift tax becomes due from either Trustor by reason of the Trust Estate or any interest in the Trust Estate being includible for such tax purposes, the gift tax, together with interest, penalties, costs, Trustees' compensation, and attorney fees, may be paid by Trustee from the Trust Estate, unless other adequate provision has been made.

C. Other Taxes. Trustee shall have full power and authority to pay from the Trust Estate any other taxes, charges, or assessments for which Trustee, the Trust Estate, or any interest in the Trust Estate becomes liable.

D. Method of Payment. Trustee may make any such payments directly or to a personal representative or other fiduciary. Trustee may rely on a written statement of the fiduciary as to the amount and propriety of the taxes, interest, penalties, and other costs, and shall be under no duty to see to the application of any funds so paid.

18. Termination in Trustee’s Discretion

If the value of the assets held in any Trust under this Agreement at any time becomes less than $ , the Trust shall terminate. If the Trust, in the absolute discretion of Trustee, becomes so sufficiently small in value that the administration of it is no longer economically desirable, the cost of it is disproportionate to the value of the assets, or its continuation is no longer in the best interest of the beneficiary or beneficiaries, Trustee may terminate the Trust. On termination, Trustee shall distribute the property of the Trust to the person or persons, and in the proportion, then entitled to receive the Trust income, as specified in the Trust, otherwise in equal shares.

19. Death of Beneficiary; Accrued and Undistributed Income

On the death of any beneficiary for whom a Trust is then held, any accrued or undistributed net income shall be held and accounted for, or distributed, in the same manner as if it had been accrued or received after the death of the beneficiary.

20. Notice of Events

Unless Trustee receives from some person interested in this Trust written notice of any death, birth, marriage, or other event on which the right to receive income or principal of the Trust Estate may depend, Trustee shall incur no liability for any disbursements or distributions made or omitted in good faith.

21. Effect of Trustee’s Acts

Any instrument executed by Trustee shall be binding on all parties and on all beneficiaries under this Agreement. No person paying money to Trustee need see to the application of the money so paid.

22. Definitions

The words child, children, descendants, and lawful descendants, as used in this instrument, shall include children legally adopted by Trustors or by any of their descendants and the lawful descendants of the legally adopted children.

The words incompetent or incompetence, as used in this instrument, shall be deemed to include not only persons who have been so declared by a court of competent jurisdiction, but also persons for whom a guardian or other fiduciary of the person or Estate or both shall have been appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

23. Spendthrift Provision

Except as otherwise expressly provided in this instrument, all income or principal to be paid to any of the beneficiaries shall be paid by Trustee directly and only to the beneficiaries or to the personal representative of any beneficiary, or, where authorized by any beneficiary, applied for his or her benefit. Trustee shall not recognize any transfer, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, order, or assignment of any beneficiary by way of anticipation of income or principal. The income and principal of any Trust under this Agreement shall be exempt from the claims of creditors or other claimants, and from orders, decrees, levies, attachments, garnishments, executions, and other legal or equitable process or proceedings to the fullest extent permissible by law. If any creditor or other claimant attempts by any means to subject to the satisfaction of the claim of the creditor or claimant the interest of any beneficiary entitled by the provisions of this Agreement to receive income or periodic payments from principal or income, or both, then notwithstanding any other provisions, the beneficiary, during such time as the Trustee, in its absolute discretion, shall deem the same advisable, shall not be entitled to receive payments from the Trust; provided, however, that during the time payments are so suspended, Trustee, in its absolute discretion, may pay to or expend for the benefit of the beneficiary as much of the Trust net income, not to exceed the income to which the beneficiary would otherwise be entitled, as Trustee deems necessary for the support and education of the beneficiary in accordance with the latter's station in life.

Trustee may, however, deposit in any bank designated in writing by a beneficiary to his or her credit income or principal payable to the beneficiary.

24. Resignation of Trustee

Trustee, or any successor, may resign at any time on giving written notice days before the resignation shall take effect to Trustors then living. After the death of both Trustors the notice is to be given to all adult beneficiaries and to the guardians or other fiduciaries of the Estates of any minor or incompetent beneficiaries who may then be receiving or entitled to receive income under this Agreement.

25. Successor Trustees

On the resignation, removal, incompetency, or death of the Trustee, shall become the successor Trustee on its written acceptance of the duties of Trustee under this Agreement. On the resignation of the corporate Trustee, those to whom notice of resignation is to be given shall designate a successor Trustee by written notice to the resigning Trustee within days after receipt of the notice of resignation. In the event a successor Trustee shall not be so designated, the resigning Trustee shall have the right to appoint a successor Trustee or the resigning Trustee or any beneficiary of this Trust may secure the appointment of a successor Trustee by a court of competent jurisdiction, at the expense of the Trust Estate. The resigning Trustee shall transfer and deliver to the successor Trustee the then entire Trust Estate and shall then be discharged as Trustee of this Trust and shall have no further powers, discretions, rights, obligations, or duties with reference to the Trust Estate. All such powers, discretions, rights, obligations, and duties of the resigning Trustee shall inure to and be binding on the successor Trustee.

26. Expenses and Compensation of Trustee

Trustee shall pay from the income or principal of the Trust Estate or partly from each, in its discretion, all expenses incurred in the administration of this Trust and the protection of this Trust against legal attack, including counsel fees and reasonable compensation for Trustee's own services as Trustee, which compensation and expenses constitute a first lien on the Trust Estate.

27. Acceptance, Governing Law and Severability

This Trust has been accepted by Trustee and will be administered in . Its validity, construction, and all rights under it shall be governed by the laws of that state. If any provision of this Trust Agreement should be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining portions of it shall continue to be fully effective.

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

(Printed Name of Trustor)

(Signature of Trustor)

(Printed Name of Trustor)

(Signature of Trustor)

(Name of Trustee)

By:

(Printed name & Office in Corporation)

(Signature of Officer)

Attach Exhibit A

(Acknowledgment form may vary by state)

STATE OF

COUNTY OF

Personally appeared before me, the undersigned authority in and for the said county and state, on this day of , 20 , within my jurisdiction, the within named , who acknowledged that he is of , a corporation, and that for and on behalf of the said corporation, and as its act and deed he executed the above and foregoing instrument, after first having been duly authorized by said corporation so to do.

________________________________

NOTARY PUBLIC

My Commission Expires:

State of

County of

Personally appeared before me, the undersigned authority in and for the said County and State, on this , within my jurisdiction, the within-named , who acknowledged that he executed the above and foregoing instrument.

___________________________

NOTARY PUBLIC

My Commission Expires:

State of

County of

Personally appeared before me, the undersigned authority in and for the said County and State, on this , within my jurisdiction, the within-named , who acknowledged that she executed the above and foregoing instrument.

________________________________

NOTARY PUBLIC

My Commission Expires:

Enter text✕

What a Revocable Trust Agreement Is and How It Works

A Revocable Trust Agreement is a legally binding document in which the settlor (also called the grantor) transfers ownership of assets to a trust while retaining the right to amend or revoke the trust during their lifetime. The trustee manages trust assets for named beneficiaries according to written instructions. Revocable trusts commonly provide privacy, flexibility, and a mechanism to avoid probate, but they require proper funding of assets and clear identification of trustees and beneficiaries to function as intended.

Why a Revocable Trust Agreement Matters for Estate Planning

A Revocable Trust keeps assets out of probate, lets the settlor change beneficiaries or trustees, preserves privacy, and can provide continuity if the settlor becomes incapacitated. It also clarifies management powers and distribution timing for heirs.

Why a Revocable Trust Agreement Matters for Estate Planning

Common parties involved with a Revocable Trust Agreement

The Revocable Trust is used by a range of individuals and professionals during estate planning and administration.

  • Individuals creating estate plans who want control and probate avoidance without losing access to assets.
  • Trusts and estates attorneys preparing tailored trust language and advising on tax or creditor implications.
  • Financial institutions and successor trustees responsible for managing investments and executing distributions.

Roles vary: the settlor drafts intent, trustees administer, and beneficiaries receive distributions under the trust terms.

Key signatories and their responsibilities

Settlor / Grantor

The person who creates the trust and transfers assets into it. The settlor retains revocation power and can change beneficiaries or trustees while competent; accuracy in names and dates is essential to prevent later disputes.

Trustee

The individual or institution that holds legal title to trust assets and follows instructions for management and distributions. Trustees have fiduciary duties and may need to accept appointment in writing and maintain proper records.

Essential information you must include

Settlor Full Name: Use exact legal name
Trustee Name: Individual or institution
Beneficiary Details: Full name and relation
Trust Property: Describe assets clearly
Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY format
Revocation Clause: State how to revoke

Step-by-step: Completing a Revocable Trust Agreement

Follow these core steps in order to create, sign, fund, and store a Revocable Trust Agreement correctly.

  • 01
    Draft: Prepare trust terms, powers, and distribution instructions.
  • 02
    Identify Parties: Enter settlor, trustee, and beneficiaries with full legal names.
  • 03
    Sign & Authenticate: Execute signatures, notarize if required, and obtain any witness attestations.
  • 04
    Fund Trust: Transfer titles, retitle accounts, and record deeds where applicable.

Typical online setup for creating and executing the agreement

Configure digital workflow fields and authentication before sending the trust document for signature and notarization.

Field Configuration
Signature Method eSignature with audit trail
Authentication Email and optional SMS or KBA
Notarization Support for RON or in-person notarization
Storage Encrypted cloud storage with access logs

Choosing a secure platform for e-execution and storage

Pick a platform that supports audit trails, strong authentication, and secure storage when e-signing trust documents.

  • File Formats: PDF and DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
  • Authentication: Email, SMS, KBA, or SSO

Ensure the platform you choose meets ESIGN/UETA standards and any industry-specific compliance (for example, HIPAA for health-related assets), and that records remain exportable and tamper-evident for legal review.

Process flow from drafting to funded trust

A typical workflow moves from document preparation to signature, notarization, funding, and secure retention.

  • Prepare Document: Draft terms, powers, and beneficiary designations.
  • Place Fields: Add signature, date, and notarization fields.
  • Sign & Notarize: Parties sign and notary verifies identity.
  • Fund & Store: Transfer assets and store records securely.

Key components to include in a professional Revocable Trust Agreement

Include clear clauses that define authority, distribution, successor arrangements, and procedures for amendment or revocation to avoid future disputes.

Revocability Clause

State the settlor's right to amend or revoke the trust, including the process and required signatures to effect a revocation or amendment.

Trustee Powers

Specify express powers (invest, sell, lease) and any restrictions, including investment standards and compensation terms for trustees.

Distribution Plan

Define timing and conditions for distributions (outright, staged, or contingent) and procedures for minors or special needs beneficiaries.

Successor Trustee

Name one or more successor trustees with alternates and outline the acceptance and notification process when one assumes duties.

Spendthrift Provision

Include spendthrift language where appropriate to limit beneficiary creditors from attaching trust distributions.

Amendment Procedure

Describe how amendments are made, whether written and signed by the settlor or requiring notarization, and any limits on changes.

Real-world examples of Revocable Trust use

These short examples show how different households and professionals apply revocable trusts to meet estate goals.

Family with Young Children

A parent creates a revocable trust to name a guardian and specify distributions for education and care

  • The trust names a successor trustee and includes spendthrift protections
  • After funding the trust with brokerage accounts and a home deed, the trustee can manage assets for minor beneficiaries without court-appointed guardianship, improving continuity and oversight.

Real Estate Investor

An investor uses a revocable trust to hold rental property titles to simplify management and transfer at death

  • The trust provides for trustee succession and rental income distributions
  • The investor retitles property deeds to the trust and includes instructions for sale proceeds, enabling efficient postmortem asset transfer while retaining control during life.

Common preparation mistakes to avoid

  • Failing to fund the trust after execution, leaving assets in the settlor's name and exposing them to probate and administrative delay.
  • Using vague beneficiary or asset descriptions that lead to disputes or difficulty locating accounts or property at administration time.
  • Neglecting successor trustee details or leaving no alternate trustee, causing gaps in management if the primary trustee cannot serve.
  • Omitting required notarization or witness steps where state law or third-party institutions demand them, resulting in rejected transfers.

Risks and legal consequences of errors

Probate Exposure: Assets may face probate delays.
Tax Implications: Incorrect reporting can trigger audits.
Invalid Provisions: Ambiguity may lead to court interpretation.
Creditor Claims: Improper protections expose assets to creditors.
Title Rejection: Banks may refuse transfers.
Administration Delay: Missing documents slow distributions.

Key dates to track when creating and funding a trust

Timely completion of execution and funding steps ensures the trust operates as intended and avoids probate or title issues.

Execution Date:

Date parties sign the trust agreement

Notarization Date:

Date declared before a notary public, if required

Funding Date:

Date assets are transferred into the trust

Trustee Acceptance Date:

Date successor trustee signs acceptance of appointment

Deed Recording Date:

Date property deed is recorded to reflect trust ownership

Milestone timeline for establishing and activating a Revocable Trust

A sequential view helps coordinate drafting, signing, notarization, funding, and trustee handover.

01

Drafting

Create trust terms and list assets to be transferred.

02

Execution & Notarization

Signatures and notary acknowledgement where required.

03

Funding Assets

Retitle accounts, transfer deeds, and update beneficiary designations.

04

Trustee Handover

Document trustee acceptance and share records with successor trustees.

eSignature vendor pricing and feature comparison for executing trust documents

Comparison of starting prices and selected capabilities useful when choosing an eSignature provider for trust execution and notarization support.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial No No Yes, limited Yes, limited
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Vendor limits Vendor limits Vendor limits

Frequently asked questions about Revocable Trust Agreements

Answers to common questions about enforceability, notarization, e-signatures, funding, and revisions to a Revocable Trust Agreement.


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