A San Diego California Revocable Living Trust for Real Estate is a legal document that allows individuals to transfer the ownership of their real estate properties to a trust during their lifetime. This trust is called "revocable" because it can be modified or revoked by the individual creating it, also known as the "granter" or "trust or." The primary purpose of a revocable living trust is to avoid probate, a lengthy and expensive legal process that determines the distribution of assets upon an individual's death. By placing real estate assets in a trust, the property can pass directly to the designated beneficiaries without going through probate, providing greater privacy, and potentially reducing estate taxes. A San Diego California Revocable Living Trust for Real Estate can be customized to suit the specific needs of the granter. Here are some different types of revocable living trusts commonly used in San Diego: 1. Single Granter Trust: This type of trust involves a single individual who transfers their real estate properties into the trust's ownership. They can act as both the granter and the primary beneficiary until their death, at which point the trust's assets pass to the designated secondary beneficiaries. 2. Joint Granter Trust: A joint revocable living trust is created by a married couple, with both spouses acting as granters. They can transfer their real estate properties jointly into the trust, and typically, they are beneficiaries of the trust during their lifetimes. After the death of either spouse, the surviving spouse continues to manage and control the trust's assets, and upon their death, the assets pass to the designated beneficiaries. 3. Qualified Personnel Residence Trust (PRT): A PRT is a specific type of revocable living trust designed for the transfer of a primary residence or vacation home. The granter retains the right to live in the property for a specified term while transferring the ownership to the trust. This arrangement allows the granter to potentially reduce gift taxes and protect the property from estate taxes upon their death. 4. Irrevocable Living Trust: Though not revocable, an irrevocable living trust is worth mentioning as it serves a different purpose. It involves the transfer of real estate assets into a trust, removing them from the granter's estate and relinquishing control over them. This type of trust may offer estate tax benefits and protection from creditors, but the granter cannot modify or dissolve the trust. Regardless of the type of San Diego California Revocable Living Trust for Real Estate, creating one requires careful consideration of individual circumstances and should be done with the help of an experienced estate planning attorney. Each trust type comes with its own advantages, disadvantages, and legal implications.