As estate planning strategists, The Law Office of Marilyn Sullivan helps clients achieve estate plans fitting their goals. We also provide asset protection planning, sheltering clients' assets from excessive taxation and lawsuit taking. For simplicity purposes, this page refers primarily to estate planning through the use of living trusts, whereas our Asset Protection page relates to more complex procedures that are used in conjunction with the living trust. Many clients require both living trusts and asset protection vehicles for a complete plan addressing both estate planning and asset protection — while other clients require only living trusts.

The Law Office of Marilyn Sullivan highly recommends the revocable living trust as an efficient way to transfer property at death, avoiding the costs, delays, and complications of probate. Created in your lifetime, a living trust is a legal agreement that directs your chosen trustee to transfer all trust property to your beneficiaries when you die. It lives on through the designated trustee after you die — thus, the name "living trust". This surviving characteristic is one of its most advantageous features — since the trust has survived with a trustee to act, the transfer of your assets can occur without the court's probate orders. For more information on trusts, click here.

Because of the varying needs of our clientele, The Law Office of Marilyn Sullivan has developed a schedule of per document fees. That is, we do not charge a flat fee for a "package" of documents — a practice which often results in your paying for documents you don't need. Instead, each client chooses just those documents he or she desires, and pays only for those. Thus, you get, and pay for, just what you need. Click here for fees.

Lawyers often put complicated trust packages together, leaving the client with little understanding of the trust's use and purpose. The Law Office of Marilyn Sullivan is different.  Through our monthly free living trust seminars we guide you and your loved ones through the living trust process.  These seminars give clients practical easy-to-understand information about living trusts and provide ongoing support as clients transition from individual ownership to trust status and finally to after-death distributions. Click here to download our Living Trust Questionnaire if you're interested in getting started on your own living trust.

Finally, once you have reviewed this page, we highly suggest that you click on our Asset Protection page to determine if asset protection is something your estate needs.