How to Set Up an Irrevocable Trust

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.

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An irrevocable trust is a trust that cannot be revoked during the lifetime of the person who creates the trust, commonly referred to as the "settlor" or the "grantor." This means that, once the settler's property is transferred to the trust, it cannot be transferred back to the settlor. Irrevocable trusts are most often used to protect assets from creditors or to obtain certain tax advantages. While it is advisable to enlist the help of an attorney when setting up this type of trust, it is possible to do it yourself.