A life insurance trust is an irrevocable, non-amenable trust that is set up for the purpose of being owner and beneficiary of one or more life insurance policies. A life insurance trust generally exempts the life insurance policy from estate tax. The trust also can spell out how the Trustee should manage the death benefit so it best serves the needs of specified minors.
Before deciding to set up a life insurance trust you should consult a reputable life insurance agent and lawyer. Some things to consider are that the Insured person cannot be the Trustee, and only the Trustee can change the beneficiary. Also, the Insured person cannot borrow from the life insurance policy.
Agent Owner, Gilmore Insurance Services, Marysville, Washington State
A life insurance trust separates ownership from the insured's estate for estate tax reasons. While life insurance is generally income tax free, it is not estate tax free. If estate taxes are going to be an issue for a family in the future, it is a good idea to consider as it pulls those assets out of the taxable estate and can be set up to pay towards the insureds estate tax bill.
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Before deciding to set up a life insurance trust you should consult a reputable life insurance agent and lawyer. Some things to consider are that the Insured person cannot be the Trustee, and only the Trustee can change the beneficiary. Also, the Insured person cannot borrow from the life insurance policy.