A.H.Steinmetz, Ltd. serves as an irrevocable trust attorney for individuals and families throughout Illinois and Missouri. Our firm prepares and administers irrevocable trust structures used for asset protection, tax minimization, wealth preservation, charitable giving, and intergenerational planning.
Irrevocable trusts, when properly designed and implemented, remove assets from the client’s taxable estate, protect property from future claims, and create long-term structures for family wealth and charitable objectives.
A.H.Steinmetz, Ltd. serves clients throughout Monroe, St. Clair, Madison, and surrounding counties in Illinois, as well as St. Louis, Jefferson, St. Charles, and surrounding counties in Missouri. Virtual appointments are available for clients who prefer remote consultation.
Irrevocable trusts are legally binding instruments that, once created and funded, generally cannot be amended or revoked by the grantor. Because the grantor relinquishes control, the trust can achieve results not available through revocable instruments, including:
A.H.Steinmetz, Ltd. advises clients on a wide range of irrevocable trust vehicles tailored to their objectives.
A GRAT allows a grantor to transfer appreciating assets to beneficiaries at a reduced transfer-tax cost. The grantor retains the right to receive an annuity for a fixed term; at the end of the term, the remaining trust property passes to beneficiaries.
GRATs are commonly used for:
Proper valuation and compliance with IRS requirements are essential to achieving the intended tax benefits.
An ILIT removes life insurance proceeds from the grantor’s taxable estate and ensures controlled distribution after death. The trust owns the policy, receives premium contributions, and ultimately receives the death benefit without estate tax inclusion.
ILITs are appropriate for:
Crummey notices, premium structuring, and funding mechanics must be administered correctly to preserve tax advantages.
A Dynasty Trust allows wealth to pass across multiple generations without incurring estate taxes at each generational level. These trusts offer long-term protection for family assets and may continue for centuries depending on applicable state law.
Dynasty Trusts provide:
Land Trusts hold real property in a private, trustee-administered structure that separates ownership, control, and beneficial rights. While often used for privacy or liability management, Land Trusts can also operate within a broader irrevocable-trust strategy.
Benefits include:
A CRUT provides the grantor or other designated individuals with a variable annual payment (based on a percentage of trust assets), with the remainder passing to a charitable organization.
CRUTs are appropriate for:
A CRAT functions similarly to a CRUT but pays a fixed annual payment rather than a percentage. At the end of the trust term or upon death of the income beneficiaries, the remainder passes to charity.
CRATs are appropriate for:
A.H.Steinmetz, Ltd. prepares irrevocable trusts through a structured and transparent process:
Irrevocable trust planning frequently intersects with other practice areas offered by A.H.Steinmetz, Ltd.:
Contact us today or book an appointment to schedule a confidential consultation with a knowledgeable irrevocable trust attorney serving Illinois and Missouri. Virtual and in-person appointments are available.