I Want to Set Up a Trust for My Chi… AI recommendations | Parse
I want to set up a trust for my children. How do I get started with that process?
Data as of Sep 26, 2026 · Based on 339 AI responses from ChatGPT Search and Google AI Mode · See how Parse measures this
If a child has disabilities, choose a Special Needs Trust to preserve government benefits. If you have multiple children and want a trustee to allocate funds by need, use a Common Pot Trust. If you want to keep control and avoid probate while you can still change the plan, use a Revocable Living Trust (note: it offers less protection from creditors).
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Question: I want to set up a trust for my children. How do I get started with that process?
ChatGPT Search· Sep 25, 2026
Setting up a trust for your children usually starts with deciding what you want the trust to accomplish, then having an estate-planning attorney draft the documents and help you fund it. Trusts are governed primarily by state law, so the details depend on where you live.
1. Decide what you want the trust to do
Common goals include:
Avoid giving children a large lump sum at 18 or 21. The trust can keep assets under a trustee's management and distribute them at ages or milestones you choose.
Provide for education, housing, health care, or other expenses.
Protect inherited assets from certain creditors or relationship-related risks, depending on how the trust is drafted.
Manage money if you die while your children are minors.
Keep assets available for a child who isn't ready to manage substantial money independently.
A trust essentially separates ownership and management: the trustee holds and manages property for the beneficiaries according to the trust's terms.
2. Decide who the key people are
You'll generally need to choose:
Your children: the beneficiaries.
Trustee: the person or institution responsible for managing the assets.
Successor trustee(s): who takes over if your original trustee can't serve.
Potentially a trust protector or similar role, depending on the structure.
Think carefully about the trustee. Someone can be a wonderful relative but not necessarily the right person to manage investments, taxes, recordkeeping, and distributions for many years.
3. Decide when and how your children receive money
This is one of the most important decisions.
For example, instead of saying:
"Everything goes to my child when they turn 18."
you might instruct the trustee to use assets for the child's health, education, maintenance, and support, with the remaining assets distributed in stages—perhaps at 25, 30, and 35.
You can also give the trustee discretion rather than requiring automatic distributions. The appropriate structure depends heavily on your goals and family circumstances.
4. Decide what goes into the trust
Potential trust assets include:
Cash and investment accounts
Real estate
Business interests
Life-insurance proceeds
Other valuable property
Creating the document isn't necessarily enough—you generally need to properly transfer or designate assets to the trust. A trust without the intended assets may not accomplish what you expect.
5. Meet with an estate-planning attorney
I'd look for an attorney who specifically practices estate planning, trusts, and probate in your state.
Bring:
Names and ages of your children
Approximate net worth
Real estate information
Retirement accounts
Life-insurance policies
Business interests
Existing wills/trusts
Your preferred trustees and backups
Your wishes concerning distributions
Ask the attorney specifically about the difference between a revocable living trust, a trust created under your will, and an irrevocable trust. The tax, control, and asset-protection consequences can be substantially different. The IRS notes that trusts can be created during life or at death and that their tax treatment varies according to their terms.
6. Don't overlook the tax and administrative side
Trusts can have their own tax-reporting requirements. For example, certain trusts file Form 1041, and distributions can have tax consequences for beneficiaries.
Also, if you're simply trying to set aside money for a child, a trust isn't necessarily the only option. UTMA/UGMA custodial accounts, 529 plans, beneficiary designations, and other arrangements can sometimes accomplish particular goals more simply. The Uniform Law Commission's 2026 Transfers to Minors Act, for example, provides a custodial mechanism for property held for a minor.
A practical first step
Before paying anyone to draft documents, I'd write down these five answers:
How many children do you have and how old are they?
What assets do you want them ultimately to receive?
At what ages—or under what circumstances—should they be able to access the money?
Who would you trust to manage it if you died tomorrow?
Do you want the trust primarily for inheritance management, asset protection, tax planning, or simply making sure minor children are provided for?
If you tell me what state you live in, your children's ages, roughly what assets you're considering putting into the trust, and whether you're married, I can walk you through the trust structures that would typically be worth discussing with an attorney and the decisions you'd want to make before your first meeting.
Also, if you're simply trying to set aside money for a child, a trust isn't necessarily the only option. UTMA/UGMA custodial accounts, 529 plans, beneficiary designations, and other arrangements can sometimes accomplish particular goals more simply. The Uniform Law Commission's 2026 Transfers to Minors Act, for example, provides a custodial mechanism for property held for a minor.
A practical first step
Before paying anyone to draft documents, I'd write down these five answers:
Creating the document isn't necessarily enough—you generally need to properly transfer or designate assets to the trust. A trust without the intended assets may not accomplish what you expect.
5. Meet with an estate-planning attorney
I'd look for an attorney who specifically practices estate planning, trusts, and probate in your state.
Bring:
Names and ages of your children
Approximate net worth
Real estate information
Retirement accounts
Life-insurance policies
Business interests
Existing wills/trusts
Your preferred trustees and backups
Your wishes concerning distributions
Ask the attorney specifically about the difference between a revocable living trust, a trust created under your will, and an irrevocable trust. The tax, control, and asset-protection consequences can be substantially different. The IRS notes that trusts can be created during life or at death and that their tax treatment varies according to their terms.
Question: I want to set up a trust for my children. How do I get started with that process?
Google AI Mode· Sep 25, 2026
Setting up a trust for your children is a meaningful step to protect their financial future and ensure your assets are managed according to your wishes.
Here is a clear, step-by-step roadmap to get you started:
Clarify your goals and wishes
Determine what you want to achieve (e.g., providing for minor children, protecting assets from creditors, or funding college educations).
Decide when your children should receive the money (e.g., outright at age 18/21, or distributed in stages like 1/3 at age 25, 1/3 at age 30, and the rest at 35).
Choose the type of trust
Revocable Living Trust: Gives you the flexibility to change or dissolve the trust during your lifetime while managing your assets.
Irrevocable Trust: Cannot be easily changed once created, but offers stronger tax benefits and asset protection.
Question: I want to set up a trust for my children. How do I get started with that process?
Setting up a trust for your children is a powerful way to protect your assets , manage how and when they receive their inheritance, and avoid the messy probate court process.
Here is a straightforward, step-by-step roadmap to get you started:
Question: I want to set up a trust for my children. How do I get started with that process?
If you're in Florida, the usual starting point is an estate-planning attorney who regularly drafts trusts for families with minor children. Florida's trust law has specific requirements for creating a trust, and the trust needs to be coordinated with your will, beneficiary designations, and ownership of your assets.
A practical way to get started
Question: I want to set up a trust for my children. How do I get started with that process?
ChatGPT Search· Sep 17, 2026
If you’re in New York, the first step is usually not to open a bank account or file something with the court. You generally start by deciding what you want the trust to accomplish, then have an estate-planning attorney draft the trust and coordinate the assets that will fund it. New York law recognizes trusts created during life as well as testamentary trusts created through a will.
A practical way to get started
Define the goal.
For example: “If I die while my children are minors, I want their inheritance managed for them rather than given to them outright.”
Decide what happens to the money.
You can specify things such as:
Question: I want to set up a trust for my children. How do I get started with that process?
Google AI Mode· Sep 17, 2026
Setting up a trust for your children is a meaningful way to secure their financial future and dictate how and when they receive their inheritance.
Here are the key steps to get started with the process:
Determine the type of trust you need. Decide whether you want a revocable living trust (which you can change or cancel during your lifetime) or an irrevocable trust (which cannot be easily changed, but offers stronger tax and asset protection benefits). You can also set up a testamentary trust , which is created through your will and takes effect after you pass away.
Choose a trustee who will manage and distribute the assets according to your wishes. This can be a trusted family member, a friend, or a professional fiduciary/corporate trustee (like a bank or trust company). You can also name a successor trustee in case your first choice is unable to serve.
Define the beneficiaries and terms for your children. Specify conditions for distributions—such as reaching certain ages (e.g., one-third at age 25, half at 30, and the rest at 35), or for specific milestones like education, buying a first home, or healthcare needs.
Inventory your assets to decide what will go into the trust. This can include real estate, bank accounts, investments, and valuable personal property.
Question: I want to set up a trust for my children. How do I get started with that process?
Setting up a trust for your children is a great way to protect their future and ensure your assets are managed according to your wishes. Here is a clear, step-by-step roadmap to get you started:
Question: I want to set up a trust for my children. How do I get started with that process?
ChatGPT Search· Sep 13, 2026
Absolutely. A trust can be a very useful way to leave money or property to children without simply handing them a large inheritance at 18 or 21. The exact setup depends heavily on your state and your goals. Since you appear to be in Texas, I'll frame this around Texas law, but an estate-planning attorney should tailor the documents to your situation.
1. Start with the goal
Before choosing a trust, decide what you want it to accomplish. For example:
If you die while your children are minors, you want their inheritance managed for them.
You want money available for education, housing, health care, and general support.
You don't want your children receiving everything at age 18.
You want distributions at milestones such as 25, 30, or 35.
You want the trustee to have discretion to withhold money if a child is financially irresponsible.
You want assets protected from certain creditors, lawsuits, or a child's divorce.
You want a particular person or institution managing the money rather than the child's guardian.
A trust is a legal arrangement involving a , , and , with the trustee holding and managing property for the beneficiaries under the trust's terms.
Question: I want to set up a trust for my children. How do I get started with that process?
Google AI Mode· Sep 9, 2026
Setting up a trust for your children is a meaningful way to protect their financial future, control how and when they receive their inheritance, and bypass the lengthy probate process.
The step-by-scale process to get started involves several key milestones:
Determine your goals and type of trust
Decide whether you need a revocable living trust (which you can change or revoke during your lifetime) or an irrevocable trust (which cannot be easily changed, often used for tax benefits or asset protection).
Consider how you want to structure distributions. For minor children or young adults, many parents set milestone ages (e.g., distributing portions of the inheritance at ages 25, 30, and 35) rather than giving them a lump sum at 18. You can also explore a "pot trust" to pool funds for general upbringing before splitting them into individual shares.
Question: I want to set up a trust for my children. How do I get started with that process?
Testamentary Trust: A trust outlined inside your will that only comes into effect after you pass away.
Select a trustee
Choose a trustee (a trusted family member, friend, professional fiduciary, or bank/trust company) who will manage and distribute the funds responsibly.
Name a successor trustee in case your primary choice is unable or unwilling to serve.
Draft the trust document
Work with an experienced estate planning attorney to draft a legally binding trust document tailored to your state's laws. (Avoid generic DIY templates, as minor errors can invalidate the trust or cause major tax issues).
Fund the trust
Transfer ownership of your assets (real estate, bank accounts, investments) into the name of the trust. This crucial step is called funding the trust —a trust doesn't control any assets that aren't officially titled in its name.
To help tailor this to your situation, could you share:
How old your children are?
What kind of assets (real estate, cash, investments) you plan to put into the trust?
I can provide more specific details on the types of distributions or tax considerations that might apply.
Determine the type of trust you need
Revocable Living Trust: Gives you the flexibility to change or dissolve the trust during your lifetime, and it transitions into an irrevocable trust for your kids after you pass away.
Irrevocable Trust: Cannot be easily changed once set up, but it offers powerful tax benefits and asset protection.
You can also specify whether it is a testamentary trust (created inside your will and activated upon your death) or a standalone living trust.
Choose your trustee
This is the person or corporate fiduciary responsible for managing the trust assets and distributing money according to your rules.
Pick someone trustworthy, financially responsible, and capable of handling potential family dynamics. You can also name a successor trustee just in case.
Define the distribution rules and milestones
Decide when and for what reasons your children can access the money. Instead of handing over a massive lump sum the day they turn 18, many parents structure distributions out in stages (e.g., 1/3 at age 25, 1/3 at 30, and the remainder at 35).
You can also outline approved uses while they are younger, such as health, education, maintenance, and support (often called HEMS).
Draft the trust document
Work with a qualified estate planning attorney to draft a legally binding trust document that complies with your state's specific laws. Avoid generic DIY forms, as small errors can invalidate the trust or mismanage tax liabilities. You can find licensed professionals through resources like the American Bar Association.
Fund the trust
A trust is just an empty box until you put things in it. Work with your financial institutions, insurance companies, and attorney to retitle assets.
Transfer real estate via a new deed, update bank and investment accounts to list the trust as the owner, and change life insurance or retirement account beneficiaries to point to the trust.
To help me point you toward the most relevant next steps, could you share:
Are your children minors or adults?
Roughly what types of assets (real estate, savings, investments) are you looking to place in the trust?
Decide what you want the trust to accomplish.
For children, common goals include:
Keeping assets under professional or family management until your children reach specified ages.
Avoiding having a large inheritance become available to a child all at once.
Providing money for education, housing, medical needs, or other expenses.
Providing instructions for what happens if one of your children dies before receiving the entire inheritance.
Having someone manage the money if your children are still minors when you die.
Decide who should manage the money.
This person is the trustee. You can generally choose a trusted relative, friend, professional fiduciary, bank, or trust company. The trustee has fiduciary responsibilities, so this is an important decision.
Decide how and when your children receive the money.
You could, for example, have the trustee use the funds for a child's health, education, maintenance, and support while they're young, followed by staged distributions later. The exact structure should be tailored by the attorney rather than copied from a generic template.
Make an inventory of your assets.
Gather:
Bank and brokerage accounts
Real estate
Retirement accounts
Life insurance
Business interests
Valuable personal property
Existing wills or trusts
Existing beneficiary designations
This matters because simply signing a trust document isn't enough. Assets generally need to be properly coordinated with or transferred to the trust when appropriate; some assets, particularly retirement accounts and insurance policies, have their own beneficiary-designation rules. The Florida Bar
5. Have the attorney coordinate the entire estate plan.
Typically, that can include a trust, a will (often including a "pour-over" provision), powers of attorney, health-care documents, and beneficiary designations. Florida's Trust Code currently governs trusts in the state. Florida Senate
6. Think carefully about guardianship.
If your children are minors, your estate plan should also address who would care for them if you and their other parent were both unavailable. That's related to the trust but isn't the same decision as choosing the trustee.
One important distinction
A trust for your children doesn't necessarily mean you need an irrevocable trust. A revocable living trust can be useful as part of an overall estate plan, while irrevocable trusts have different purposes and consequences. The Florida Bar specifically cautions that the appropriate structure depends on your family, assets, and estate-planning goals.
If you tell me (1) how many children you have and their ages, (2) whether you're married, (3) roughly what assets you'd want the trust to hold, and (4) whether you're in Florida, I can walk you through the decisions you'll want to make before meeting the attorney and give you a checklist of questions to bring.
What the trustee can pay for—education, housing, health care, living expenses, etc.
Whether distributions are discretionary or follow specific rules.
Whether children receive money at a particular age or in stages.
What happens if a child dies before receiving the full trust.
Choose a trustee.
This can be a trusted relative or friend, or potentially a professional/corporate trustee. The trustee will have the responsibility of managing the assets and following the trust's terms.
Coordinate the trust with your will and other accounts.
This is particularly important. A trust can be undermined if assets aren't properly directed into it. New York law, for example, recognizes transfers through beneficiary designations as one way a trust can be created.
Have an estate-planning attorney draft the documents.
Tell the attorney you want an estate plan centered around trusts for your children. Bring your children's ages, approximate assets, existing wills/trusts, life-insurance information, retirement accounts, and your preferences for trustees and guardians.
Fund and maintain the trust.
Depending on the type of trust, this may involve retitling investments or other property, changing beneficiary designations, or creating the trust so it receives assets after your death. The attorney can coordinate this with your financial institution.
One important distinction
A trustee and a guardian aren't necessarily the same person. A guardian is responsible for the child; a trustee manages property for the child. New York courts specifically distinguish guardianship involving a child's care from guardianship involving the child's property.
Also, if you're thinking about simply putting money aside for a child, a custodial account under New York's Uniform Transfers to Minors Act is another possibility, but it works differently from a traditional children's trust.
If you tell me (1) your children's ages, (2) roughly how much you expect the trust to hold, (3) whether the money is primarily investments, a house, life insurance, etc., and (4) what you want the children to be able to use it for, I can walk you through what the trust structure would typically look like and the questions to take to an estate-planning lawyer.
Draft the trust document with the help of a qualified estate planning attorney. While DIY forms exist, a lawyer ensures the legal language complies with your state's laws and accurately reflects your intentions.
Fund the trust by officially transferring ownership of your assets into the trust's name. This critical step (called "funding") involves re-titling deeds for real estate, updating beneficiary designations, or moving financial accounts into the trust. Without this step, a trust is just an empty legal shell.
To help tailor this to your situation, could you share:
How old your children are?
What type of assets you are primarily looking to place in the trust?
I can provide more specific guidance on trust structures or distribution milestones.
Determine your goals and objectives
Purpose : Decide what you want the trust to achieve (e.g., funding college education, providing for living expenses, or protecting assets from potential creditors or mismanagement).
Timeline : Figure out when you want your children to receive the assets—whether at a specific age (like 25 or 30), in staged distributions (e.g., one-third at 25, half at 30, the rest at 35), or based on life milestones.
Choose the type of trust
Revocable Living Trust : Gives you the flexibility to change or dissolve the trust during your lifetime, and it helps your estate avoid probate.
Irrevocable Trust : Cannot be easily changed or canceled once created, but it offers powerful tax benefits and asset protection.
Testamentary Trust : Set up inside your last will and testament, meaning it only goes into effect after you pass away.
Select a trustee
Individual Trustee : A trusted relative, close friend, or adult child who will manage and distribute the funds responsibly.
Corporate Trustee : A professional fiduciary, bank, or trust company that remains neutral and brings financial expertise (though they charge fees).
Successor Trustee : A backup person or institution named to take over if your primary trustee is unable or unwilling to serve.
Inventory your assets
List the property, bank accounts, investments, real estate, or valuable personal items you plan to transfer into the trust.
Draft the legal document
Work with an experienced estate planning attorney to draft the formal trust agreement. It must comply with your state’s specific legal requirements.
Note: Avoid generic online templates for complex family situations, as minor drafting errors can invalidate the trust or fail to achieve your goals. You can find local certified professionals through the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys or the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils.
Fund the trust
Creating the document isn't enough; you must legally transfer ownership of your assets into the trust (e.g., retitling real estate deeds or updating bank and investment account beneficiaries). This crucial step is known as "funding" the trust.
To help me give you more specific guidance, could you share:
How old your children are right now?
What kinds of assets (real estate, cash savings, investments) you are looking to put into the trust?
grantor
trustee
beneficiary
2. Decide what kind of trust you need
For many parents, the starting point is an estate-planning trust created as part of a will or revocable living trust, rather than creating a standalone trust immediately for the children.
For example, your estate plan might say:
If I die, my assets go into trusts for my children. The trustee can use the money for each child's health, education, maintenance and support. The child receives increasing control over the assets at specified ages.
A revocable living trust can also be used to manage and distribute property and may help avoid probate when it is properly funded. The State Bar of Texas notes that a fully funded revocable trust can potentially avoid probate for assets held in the trust.
3. Choose the trustee carefully
This is one of the most important decisions.
You could appoint:
A trusted family member or friend.
A professional fiduciary.
A bank or trust company.
One person initially and a professional successor trustee.
Co-trustees, depending on the circumstances.
Don't automatically choose the person you love most. Choose someone who is financially responsible, organized, impartial between siblings, and likely to follow the trust instructions.
4. Decide when and how your children receive money
This is where a trust can be much more useful than simply naming your children as beneficiaries.
You might, for example, authorize the trustee to use funds throughout childhood and then distribute portions of the remaining assets at:
25
30
35
Or you might give the trustee continuing discretion rather than requiring outright distributions at specific ages.
You can also specify that money may be used for things such as:
College or vocational education
Medical expenses
Housing
Childcare
Starting a business
Other reasonable support
Texas law itself uses concepts such as health, education, maintenance, and support in certain types of trusts.
5. Coordinate the trust with everything else
This is where people often make mistakes.
Your attorney should review your:
Will
Life insurance
Retirement accounts
Brokerage accounts
Bank accounts
Real estate
Business interests
Existing trusts
Beneficiary designations
Simply creating a trust doesn't necessarily put your assets into it. The trust needs to be properly funded and coordinated with beneficiary designations and other estate documents.
Retirement accounts deserve particular attention because naming a trust as beneficiary can have complicated tax and distribution consequences.
6. Think about taxes and administration
Trusts aren't automatically tax-free. Depending on the type of trust and how it is structured, income can be taxable to the grantor, the trust, or the beneficiaries. Some trusts may also have Form 1041 filing obligations.
That doesn't mean you need a complicated tax structure—just that the trust should be designed alongside your overall tax and estate plan.
7. Meet with the right attorney
I'd look for a Texas estate-planning attorney who regularly prepares trusts for families with minor children, rather than trying to create an important trust entirely from an online template.
Before the meeting, prepare:
Your children's ages
Your approximate net worth
Major assets and debts
Life-insurance amounts
Retirement-account balances
Who you would want raising your children
Who you would trust to manage their money
Your preferred distribution ages
Any special circumstances involving a child
Whether you're married
Then tell the attorney something like:
"I want an estate plan that protects my children's inheritance if I die while they're young. I want a trustee to manage the assets for their benefit and I don't want them receiving everything outright at 18. I'd like to discuss whether a revocable living trust with continuing trusts for each child is appropriate."
One important distinction: a trust for your children isn't necessarily the same thing as a trust you create now and immediately transfer substantial assets into. In many families, the children's trusts are provisions within the parents' broader estate plan and become funded upon death.
If you tell me (1) how many children you have and their ages, (2) whether you're married, (3) roughly how much you'd want the trust to hold, and (4) what state you live in, I can walk you through what a sensible structure could look like—including who should be trustee, when the kids could receive money, and what questions to take to the attorney.
Your children's ages
Your approximate net worth
Major assets and debts
Life-insurance amounts
Retirement-account balances
Who you would want raising your children
Who you would trust to manage their money
Your preferred distribution ages
Any special circumstances involving a child
Whether you're married
Then tell the attorney something like:
"I want an estate plan that protects my children's inheritance if I die while they're young. I want a trustee to manage the assets for their benefit and I don't want them receiving everything outright at 18. I'd like to discuss whether a revocable living trust with continuing trusts for each child is appropriate."
One important distinction: a trust for your children isn't necessarily the same thing as a trust you create now and immediately transfer substantial assets into. In many families, the children's trusts are provisions within the parents' broader estate plan and become funded upon death.
If you tell me (1) how many children you have and their ages, (2) whether you're married, (3) roughly how much you'd want the trust to hold, and (4) what state you live in, I can walk you through what a sensible structure could look like—including who should be trustee, when the kids could receive money, and what questions to take to the attorney.
Select a trusted individual (like a relative or close friend) or a corporate trustee (like a bank or trust company) to manage the trust assets if you pass away or become incapacitated.
Draft the trust document
While DIY templates exist for simple situations, working with a qualified estate planning attorney is heavily recommended to ensure the language complies with your state’s specific laws and accurately reflects your wishes.
Sign and notarize the document
Formalize the trust by signing it in front of a notary public and any required witnesses according to your state's legal mandates.
Fund the trust
A trust doesn't control any assets until you officially transfer ownership into it. You will need to re-title assets—such as real estate, bank accounts, or non-retirement investment accounts—into the name of the trust.
If you'd like to narrow this down, tell me:
Are your children minors or adults?
What types of assets (real estate, cash, investments) are you looking to place in the trust?
I can provide a more tailored checklist or help you understand what to look for in an estate planning professional.
If you're in California, a good starting point is usually an estate-planning attorney, especially if your goal is to leave assets to children while controlling when and how they receive them. California Courts notes that living trusts can help assets pass to beneficiaries without probate, but trusts are complicated enough that legal help is usually advisable.
A practical way to get started
Decide what you want the trust to accomplish.
Provide for your children if you die while they're minors.
Keep inherited assets managed for them until a particular age.
Give the trustee discretion to use money for education, health, housing, etc.
Protect an inheritance from being spent all at once.
Treat children equally or provide for them differently.
Choose the people who will be involved.
You'll generally need to think about:
Trustee: the person or institution managing the trust.
Successor trustee: who takes over if the first trustee can't serve.
Beneficiaries: your children.
Guardian: who you want caring for minor children if you're no longer able to. This is related to, but legally distinct from, managing their money.
Make an inventory of your assets.
Write down your home and other real estate, bank and investment accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance, business interests, and significant personal property. The way each asset is titled or has beneficiaries can affect whether it actually passes through the trust.
Decide when the children should receive the money.
You don't necessarily have to say, for example, "everything at 18." A trust can instead provide for education and other needs while allowing the remaining assets to be distributed at ages you choose. The attorney can explain the tax and legal consequences of different structures.
5. Meet with an estate-planning attorney.
In California, you can specifically look for an attorney who is a State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law. The State Bar says these specialists have demonstrated additional experience and education in this area.
calbar.ca.gov
6. Have the trust coordinated with the rest of your estate plan.
Depending on your circumstances, that may include a will, powers of attorney, health-care documents, and provisions concerning guardianship of minor children. California Courts specifically recommends considering these documents as part of an overall estate plan. Self-Help Center
7. Fund the trust.
Creating the document isn't necessarily the end. Assets that are supposed to be owned by the trust generally need to be properly transferred/titled to it. This is an important step to discuss with the attorney.
One important distinction
If by "trust for my children" you mean a trust that holds your money for them after you die, the above is the usual starting point.
If you mean a trust for a child who is currently a minor, a special-needs trust, or a trust designed to protect an inheritance from creditors/divorce, the appropriate structure can be quite different.
If you tell me (1) how many children you have and their ages, (2) roughly what kinds of assets you want to put in the trust, and (3) whether you're married, I can walk you through what you'd typically discuss with the attorney and what decisions you'll need to make.
