Practice areas
Trusts & Trust Administration in Vero Beach, Florida
A well-designed trust can keep your family out of probate court, provide for a loved one who needs ongoing care, and keep your affairs private. The key is setting it up correctly and funding it properly once it's signed.
Whether you're creating a trust or you've been named trustee and aren't sure what the role requires, I'll walk you through it in plain English. I've helped Treasure Coast families create and administer trusts for more than twenty years.
Charles H. Sanford, Esq.
What we handle
Revocable living trusts
Flexible trusts you control during your lifetime, designed to pass property without probate.
Irrevocable trusts
For the situations that call for them: asset protection and planning goals a revocable trust can't reach.
Special needs trusts
Providing for a loved one with a disability without jeopardizing their government benefits.
Trust administration
Guiding trustees through their duties under Florida law: notices, accountings, distributions, and final settlement.
Common questions
Does a living trust really avoid probate?
Property properly titled in the trust passes without probate; that's the point of it. The catch is the word 'properly.' A trust only governs what's actually in it, so funding the trust correctly matters as much as signing it. We handle both.
I was named trustee. What am I supposed to do?
Florida law gives trustees real duties: notifying beneficiaries, keeping records, managing property prudently, and accounting for what you do. With guidance it's very manageable, and I'll walk you through each requirement step by step.
Can I change my trust later?
A revocable trust, yes. You can amend or undo it during your lifetime while you have capacity. An irrevocable trust is far harder to change, which is exactly why I make sure you understand what you're signing before you sign it.
Do I still need a will if I have a trust?
Yes. A 'pour-over' will catches anything that never made it into the trust and names a personal representative. The two documents work as a pair.
Related practice areas
Schedule a consultation
Tell us what's going on, and we'll give you an honest assessment of your situation and what it would cost. There's no obligation, and nothing to prepare.