A Minnesota Revocable Trust for Married Couple, also known as a joint revocable trust or a joint living trust, is a legal arrangement created by a married couple in Minnesota to manage and distribute their assets during their lifetime and after their death. A revocable trust allows the couple to maintain control over their assets while they are alive and mentally competent. The couple acts as the trustees of the trust and has the ability to make changes or revoke the trust at any time. They can also add or remove assets from the trust as they see fit. The purpose of a Revocable Trust for Married Couple is to avoid probate, which is the court process of settling an estate after an individual's death. By placing assets into the trust, the couple ensures that those assets will be distributed according to their wishes without the need for probate. This allows for a smoother and more private transfer of assets to their beneficiaries. In Minnesota, there are several variations of a Revocable Trust for Married Couple. Some common types include: 1. Basic Revocable Trust: This is the most straightforward type of joint trust, where both spouses act as trustees, and the assets are managed and distributed according to their wishes. 2. Married A/B Trust: Also known as a credit shelter trust or bypass trust, this type of trust is designed to maximize estate tax savings for married couples. Upon the death of the first spouse, their assets are divided into two separate trusts: the "A" trust (also known as the survivor's trust) and the "B" trust (also known as the bypass trust). The assets in the "A" trust are available for the surviving spouse's use, while the assets in the "B" trust are exempt from estate taxes upon the surviving spouse's death. 3. Disclaimer Trust: This type of trust provides the surviving spouse with the flexibility to disclaim or reject a portion of the deceased spouse's assets. By doing so, the disclaimed assets can pass directly into the trust, bypassing probate and potentially reducing estate taxes. 4. TIP Trust: Short for "Qualified Terminable Interest Property" trust, this trust allows a spouse to leave assets to the surviving spouse while ensuring that the assets will pass to the beneficiaries chosen by the first spouse upon the surviving spouse's death. This type of trust is often used in blended families to provide for the surviving spouse while preserving assets for children from previous relationships. Overall, a Minnesota Revocable Trust for Married Couple is a valuable estate planning tool that allows married couples to maintain control over their assets, avoid probate, and ensure seamless asset management and distribution according to their wishes.