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Comprehensive Living Trusts Information for Wilton Residents
If you live in Wilton, California and are considering a living trust, this guide is designed to help you understand how living trusts work, what benefits they can offer, and how they fit into broader estate planning goals. A living trust can streamline the transfer of assets, provide continuity of property management if incapacity occurs, and help families avoid costly delays in the local probate system. This introduction will outline core concepts and invite questions that matter for people with homes, bank accounts, retirement accounts, or family-owned businesses in the Wilton area, with clear, practical information for planning ahead.
This page focuses specifically on living trusts in Wilton, California and the surrounding Sacramento County area, highlighting local considerations like county probate timelines, real property recording practices, and common concerns among Wilton residents. You will find information about the typical steps involved in creating and funding a living trust, the roles of grantors and trustees, and how beneficiary designations interact with probate avoidance strategies. Whether you have a modest estate or more complex assets, this overview is intended to help you make informed decisions about preserving assets and protecting family needs in the Wilton community.
Why Living Trusts Matter for Wilton Families
A living trust can offer several practical benefits to residents of Wilton, including simpler asset transfer, potentially faster access to property by loved ones, and privacy compared with the public probate process. For families who own real estate in Wilton or maintain financial accounts that support household needs, a living trust can reduce the administrative burden after someone passes away. It can also provide a plan for managing assets if a person becomes incapacitated, helping to ensure bills are paid and financial affairs continue without court intervention. These advantages often create peace of mind for local households focused on continuity and family stability.
About Our Firm and Living Trust Services for Wilton
Our firm serves Wilton and the greater Sacramento County area with an emphasis on practical living trust planning tailored to local needs. We help clients identify which assets should be placed in a trust, how to fund a trust properly, and how to coordinate beneficiary designations and deeds. The goal is to design documents that reflect family priorities while addressing California rules. We focus on clear communication, timely document preparation, and step-by-step support so Wilton residents understand the long-term effects of trust decisions and how to keep their plans current as life changes occur.
Understanding Living Trusts and Their Use in Wilton
A living trust is a legal arrangement created during a person’s lifetime to hold title to assets and provide for management and distribution of those assets. In Wilton, as in the rest of California, a living trust can be revocable or irrevocable depending on the goals of the person creating it. A revocable living trust typically allows the grantor to retain control while providing a clear successor plan. The trust document names a trustee to manage trust assets and beneficiaries who will receive assets according to the trust terms. Proper funding of the trust and alignment with beneficiary designations are essential steps to achieve intended outcomes.
Living trusts are commonly paired with a pour-over will that catches any assets not transferred into the trust during life, which helps ensure the trust receives intended property after death. In Wilton, funding may include transferring real estate deeds, changing account ownership or beneficiary designations, and titling vehicles or business interests correctly. Coordination with financial institutions and proper notarization of documents are practical matters that can determine whether a trust operates smoothly. Thoughtful planning now can reduce confusion later, especially when family members must manage affairs under time pressure or emotional stress.
What a Living Trust Is and How It Works
A living trust is a private legal document that holds title to assets for the benefit of named beneficiaries. The person who creates the trust transfers ownership of assets into the trust and often serves as initial trustee, retaining the ability to manage assets and make changes while alive. The trust names successor trustees who take over management if the original trustee becomes unable to act or after death. Unlike a will, which becomes public through probate, a properly funded living trust can allow assets to pass according to the trust terms without full probate administration, offering a degree of privacy and continuity for families in Wilton who want to avoid delays and minimize administrative burdens.
Key Components and Steps in Setting Up a Living Trust
Essential elements include the trust document itself, which sets out who controls the trust, who benefits, and how distributions are made, plus supporting documents such as real property deeds, account retitling, and a pour-over will. The process starts with identifying assets to fund, drafting clear trust provisions reflecting your wishes, and executing the documents with required signatures and acknowledgments. After execution, proper funding—transferring titles, updating beneficiary designations, and ensuring financial institution requirements are met—is critical. Ongoing review and updates keep the trust aligned with life events like marriage, births, divorce, or changes in residence or assets.
Key Terms and Glossary for Living Trusts
Understanding the terminology used in trust planning helps Wilton residents make confident decisions. This glossary defines common terms you will encounter when creating a living trust, including roles such as grantor and trustee, descriptions of trust funding, and explanations of related documents like pour-over wills or durable powers of attorney. Familiarity with these terms can reduce confusion during planning meetings and document signing, and it makes it easier to follow recommendations about titling property or designating beneficiaries in ways that achieve the intended outcome while complying with California laws and local procedures.
Trust
A trust is a legal arrangement in which one party holds legal title to property for the benefit of another. In the case of a living trust, the creator places assets into the trust and establishes rules for how those assets are to be managed and distributed. Trusts can provide mechanisms for ongoing management, protect privacy by avoiding public probate, and specify conditions or timing for distributions. Properly drafted and funded trusts help ensure that assets are available to beneficiaries according to the grantor’s wishes while reducing administrative friction for family members who may otherwise need to navigate probate in Sacramento County.
Trustee
A trustee is the person or entity responsible for managing the assets held in a trust according to the trust document’s instructions. The initial trustee often is the creator of the trust, who retains control during their lifetime, with successor trustees named to step in at incapacity or death. Trustees have a duty to follow the trust’s terms and to manage assets prudently, maintain clear records, and communicate with beneficiaries. In Wilton, choosing a trustee who understands local property matters and how to interact with county offices can make administration more efficient when the time comes.
Grantor
The grantor, sometimes called the settlor or trustor, is the person who creates the trust and transfers assets into it. The grantor defines the trust’s terms, names beneficiaries, and often acts as the initial trustee, retaining the ability to change or revoke the trust if it is revocable. The grantor’s decisions about which assets to fund into the trust and how to structure distributions are central to achieving the plan’s goals. In Wilton, the grantor should coordinate asset transfers with local property records and financial institutions to ensure the trust functions as intended.
Beneficiary
A beneficiary is an individual, group, or organization designated to receive benefits from the trust. Beneficiaries may receive income, principal distributions, or specific assets according to the trust’s terms. The trust document can set conditions, timing, or methods for distribution, allowing the grantor to address needs such as ongoing support, education expenses, or staggered inheritances. Clear beneficiary designations and communication about intent can help prevent disputes and simplify administration in Wilton by making it clear who is entitled to trust assets and under what circumstances.
Comparing Living Trusts with Other Estate Planning Options
When evaluating estate planning options, consider factors like privacy, cost, time, and how assets will be managed if incapacity occurs. A living trust often reduces public probate proceedings but requires careful funding and occasional updates. A will remains important for assets not placed into a trust and for naming guardians for minor children. Other planning tools, such as beneficiary designations, joint ownership, and powers of attorney, each serve different roles and can complement a living trust. Residents of Wilton should weigh these options in light of local probate timelines, property transfer procedures, and family priorities to arrive at a coordinated plan.
When a Limited Plan May Meet Your Needs:
Small Estate with Simple Assets
For households with modest assets and straightforward ownership, a limited approach combining a will, up-to-date beneficiary designations, and a durable power of attorney can be sufficient. If property is jointly owned or primarily held in accounts with payable-on-death or transfer-on-death designations, the administrative steps after death can be manageable without a full living trust. In Wilton, this approach can work well when the goal is to provide for immediate survivors, avoid excessive legal complexity, and maintain low upfront costs while still ensuring that basic arrangements are in place to handle finances and healthcare decisions.
Low Risk of Probate Complications
If your assets and estate plan are unlikely to trigger extensive probate procedures—because most assets pass through beneficiary designations or joint ownership—a limited plan might be appropriate. Households with minimal real estate holdings in Wilton or those whose accounts are aligned with heirs may face less need for a living trust. Still, even in these situations, it is important to confirm that account paperwork and deed records are current and to document healthcare and financial directives to avoid confusion. Regular review helps ensure that a limited plan remains aligned with your current circumstances and local legal rules.
Why a Comprehensive Living Trust Plan Can Be Beneficial:
Complex Asset Ownership and Family Arrangements
When families have multiple properties, business interests, blended-family considerations, or specific distribution goals, a comprehensive living trust approach helps coordinate these elements into a single, cohesive plan. Properly drafting and funding a living trust can address how real estate in Wilton is held, how business succession will proceed, and how to manage distributions to different family members while reducing the potential for disagreement. A thorough plan also considers tax implications, creditor concerns, and long-term management needs, which often requires careful drafting and coordination with financial and tax advisors to align with personal goals.
Desire to Avoid Probate and Minimize Delays
For individuals who want to minimize delays and public procedures after death, a well-funded living trust can significantly reduce the role of probate, allowing beneficiaries to access assets more quickly. In Wilton and Sacramento County, probate can take months or longer, which may create financial strain for survivors who need to pay bills or maintain property. A comprehensive trust plan seeks to ensure assets are properly titled and beneficiary designations coordinated so that transfers occur smoothly, reducing the administrative load on loved ones and preserving family stability during a difficult time.
Benefits of a Comprehensive Living Trust Approach
A comprehensive living trust plan addresses both immediate and long-term concerns by combining clear document drafting with thorough funding and coordination of assets. This approach can reduce the likelihood of costly or time-consuming administration, protect privacy by avoiding full probate filings, and establish a practical roadmap for trustees and beneficiaries. For Wilton residents with diverse assets, a comprehensive plan can provide continuity of management in the event of incapacity, reduce the potential for family disputes, and make it easier for successors to understand and carry out the grantor’s intentions with minimal delay.
Beyond probate avoidance, a comprehensive plan can incorporate contingencies for changes in family circumstances, options for protecting legacy assets, and provisions to address special financial needs. Careful coordination between deeds, retirement accounts, life insurance, and bank accounts helps ensure that the living trust functions as intended. Regular review and updates keep documents current with life events and legal changes, helping Wilton households maintain a resilient plan that responds to evolving goals while reducing stress and uncertainty for caregivers and beneficiaries.
Faster Asset Access and Reduced Administrative Burden
One major benefit of a comprehensive living trust is faster access to assets by those who need them, which is especially helpful when immediate expenses like mortgage payments, utilities, or medical bills arise. A trust that has been properly funded enables successor trustees to manage or distribute assets without waiting for a lengthy court process. This can reduce stress for family members in Wilton tasked with maintaining property or paying ongoing expenses, and it can help preserve the value of assets by enabling prompt decisions related to maintenance, tax payments, or sale of property when necessary.
Clear Decision-Making for Incapacity and Transition
A comprehensive plan includes provisions that address not only distribution upon death but also management during periods of incapacity. Naming trusted successor trustees and establishing clear instructions for handling investments, paying bills, and caring for dependents provides a practical framework for continuity. This clarity reduces confusion among family members and helps ensure that financial affairs and property are managed in ways consistent with the grantor’s wishes. In Wilton, where maintaining local property and family relationships matters, these advance arrangements support orderly transitions and responsible stewardship of assets.
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Practical Tips for Creating and Maintaining a Living Trust
Inventory and Document Your Assets
Start by creating a complete, organized inventory of all assets you intend to include in a living trust, such as real estate in Wilton, bank and investment accounts, retirement plans, business interests, and valuable personal property. Include account numbers, contact information for financial institutions, and copies or references to deeds and title documents. Clear documentation helps ensure nothing important is overlooked during trust funding and makes coordination with trustees and heirs simpler. Maintaining an up-to-date asset list also streamlines periodic reviews and reduces the chance of unintended probate for overlooked assets.
Coordinate Beneficiary Designations and Deeds
Review and Update Regularly
Life events such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, changes in residence, or significant changes in asset value can alter the effectiveness of a living trust. Schedule periodic reviews to confirm that the trust remains aligned with current wishes and legal changes. Revisiting your plan every few years, or when significant life changes occur, ensures that successor trustee selections, beneficiary designations, and asset titles remain appropriate. For Wilton residents, regular updates help account for local property transactions and evolving family dynamics, keeping the plan practical and resilient over time.
Reasons to Consider a Living Trust in Wilton
People consider living trusts for a variety of reasons, including the desire to minimize probate, provide for a smooth transition of real estate in Wilton, protect privacy, and designate how assets should be managed if someone becomes incapacitated. A living trust can also facilitate ongoing financial management for beneficiaries who may need staged distributions or oversight. For households with older homeowners, parents planning for children, or individuals who own local businesses or multiple properties, a trust offers a framework that addresses both immediate needs and long-term intentions in an orderly manner.
In addition to probate avoidance, a living trust can provide peace of mind through clear directives for trustees, reduce administrative burdens for family members, and help prevent disputes over estate matters. It is particularly useful when assets are located in Wilton and need local handling, such as property maintenance or sale. By setting out specific procedures and naming trusted successors, a living trust helps ensure continuity and stability for family finances. This planning can also be coordinated with tax and retirement strategies to fit broader financial goals and family needs.
Common Situations Where a Living Trust Is Useful
Living trusts are often recommended when there are real estate holdings, blended families, minor beneficiaries, or concerns about prolonged probate. They are helpful for people who want to plan for incapacity management of finances and property, those who wish to provide structured distributions over time, and individuals who prefer to keep estate matters private. In Wilton, where property values and local maintenance needs may be important, a living trust provides a legal structure to ensure continuity of ownership and clear instructions for those managing affairs during transitions.
Owning Real Estate in Wilton
If you own a home or other real property in Wilton, a living trust can simplify the transfer of that property to heirs and reduce the likelihood of court-supervised probate. Transferring the deed to the trust or otherwise titling the property to the trust helps ensure continuity and faster administration when the time comes. This becomes particularly important if the property must be maintained or sold quickly to cover expenses or if multiple family members have interests that need clear instructions for management and distribution under local property rules.
Planning for Incapacity
When there is concern about the possibility of incapacity due to illness or aging, a living trust provides a mechanism for trusted successors to manage financial affairs without court appointment. Including provisions that specify how assets should be used for medical care, living expenses, and property management can reduce delays and ensure that bills and obligations are handled responsibly. This is especially valuable for Wilton households that rely on local services, property upkeep, or ongoing business operations that require consistent financial attention.
Desire for Privacy and Speed
Families who prefer to keep estate matters private and to minimize public court involvement often choose living trusts to reduce the role of probate. Because trust administration generally occurs outside of the public probate process, sensitive details about assets and beneficiaries remain more private. In addition, proper funding of the trust can allow beneficiaries quicker access to assets, which helps with managing immediate expenses or property needs. For Wilton residents, privacy and speed can be important considerations when deciding how to structure an estate plan.
We’re Here to Help Wilton Residents with Living Trusts
Why Choose Our Firm for Living Trust Services in Wilton
We prioritize clear communication, careful document drafting, and practical steps for funding and maintaining living trusts for Wilton residents. From initial planning conversations to executing and recording deeds or retitling accounts, our process aims to ensure that all elements work together to achieve your goals. We focus on making plans that are understandable to family members and straightforward to administer, helping reduce the stress that can accompany estate transitions. Clients appreciate a methodical approach that addresses both legal requirements and real-life practicalities.
Our service includes personalized drafting of trust documents, coordination with financial institutions, and ongoing support to review and update documents as circumstances change. We emphasize hands-on assistance with the practical tasks that ensure a trust functions properly, such as property deed preparation, account retitling instructions, and assembling a comprehensive asset inventory tailored to Wilton households. We aim to provide the clarity and follow-through necessary to make your plan effective and durable over time, with attention to local requirements and common administrative needs.
When you work with us, you gain access to a clear process for addressing questions about beneficiaries, trustee selection, incapacity planning, and coordination with other estate planning tools. We support clients through each phase, from gathering documents to finalizing signatures and verifying funding steps. This practical assistance helps reduce the chance that assets will remain outside the plan and inadvertently fall into probate, offering Wilton families a smoother transition and less administrative burden at a time when they are focused on family and recovery.
Ready to Discuss a Living Trust for Wilton Property?
Our Living Trust Process for Wilton Clients
Our process for creating a living trust in Wilton begins with a thorough review of your assets and goals, followed by careful drafting and execution of trust documents and supporting paperwork. We provide step-by-step guidance on funding the trust, coordinate with county recorder offices for deed transfers when needed, and confirm beneficiary and account changes. After execution we offer documentation and checklists to help you maintain the plan. Regular reviews and updates are encouraged to keep the trust aligned with life changes, ensuring it continues to serve your family’s needs effectively.
Step 1: Initial Consultation and Asset Review
The first step is an intake meeting to identify your objectives and compile a complete inventory of assets to be considered for the trust. This includes real estate in Wilton, bank accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance, business interests, and personal property. We discuss your priorities for distributions, management during incapacity, and any particular family circumstances that should be addressed. This review establishes the foundation for drafting a trust that aligns with your goals and clarifies the practical steps required to transfer assets into the trust so it functions as intended.
Gathering Documents and Information
In this phase we help you assemble deeds, account statements, beneficiary forms, and any business or mortgage documents that affect ownership. Accurate documentation is essential for ensuring that assets are properly funded into the trust and for avoiding unexpected probate exposure. We provide a clear checklist tailored to Wilton residents to streamline the collection process and identify items that require attention, such as outdated beneficiary designations or jointly held property that may need to be retitled or addressed to match the trust plan.
Discussing Goals and Successor Choices
We will discuss who you want to name as successor trustees, how and when beneficiaries should receive distributions, and any preferences for guardianship or support arrangements. Choosing appropriate successors and setting clear instructions can help avoid disputes and ensure responsibilities are accepted and understood. Our team helps explore practical questions such as trustee availability, local management of Wilton property, and provisions for interim decision-making to maintain continuity and preserve the value of assets under diverse circumstances.
Step 2: Drafting and Executing Documents
After goals and assets are identified, we draft the trust document, pour-over will, and any ancillary powers such as financial and healthcare directives tailored to your preferences. Documents are prepared with attention to clarity and enforceability under California law, and we review them with you to confirm that they reflect your intentions. Execution typically involves signing in the presence of required witnesses and notaries, and we provide guidance on proper recording of deeds and steps to notify financial institutions to accept the trust as owner where necessary.
Review and Finalize the Trust Document
We walk through the finalized trust provisions line by line, ensuring that distribution rules, successor trustee powers, and incapacity procedures are clear. We recommend specific language to address common issues such as tax planning, creditor considerations, and needs-based distributions for beneficiaries. This careful review helps prevent ambiguity that can lead to disputes or delays and ensures the document is consistent with related estate planning instruments and local considerations in Wilton, such as property transfer processes and recording requirements.
Execution, Notarization, and Recording
Once documents are signed, we assist with notarization and, when necessary, recording deeds with the county recorder to formalize trust ownership of real property. We also prepare instructions and verification letters for financial institutions to accept account retitling. This administrative support is critical to ensure the trust is effective and that assets are not accidentally left outside the trust. Completing these steps reduces the chance that unexpected probate procedures will be required and provides a clearer path for successor trustees in Wilton to manage assets when needed.
Step 3: Funding, Implementation, and Ongoing Review
The final stage focuses on transferring assets into the trust, confirming beneficiary changes, and ensuring that practical administration steps are clear for successors. We provide documentation and checklists for managing trust assets and offer periodic reviews to update the plan as circumstances change. Ongoing review is particularly important after real estate transactions, major gifts, or family changes. This continuous care helps Wilton residents keep their trust effective, reduce the risk of assets falling into probate, and ensure that successors have the information they need to act promptly and responsibly.
Funding the Trust and Verifying Transfers
Funding the trust involves retitling assets, updating beneficiary designations, and transferring deeds for real estate where appropriate. We help prepare the necessary forms and coordinate with local offices to verify that transfers have been completed correctly. Confirmation steps include obtaining recorded deed copies, verifying account ownership with financial institutions, and documenting any exceptions that require follow-up. Proper funding is essential for the trust to achieve its intended probate avoidance and management benefits, and we emphasize careful verification to prevent unanticipated administrative issues later on.
Ongoing Maintenance and Amendments
After the trust is funded, we recommend regular reviews to account for changes in assets, family dynamics, or goals. Amendments or restatements may be appropriate to reflect new property purchases, changes in beneficiaries, or shifts in distribution preferences. We provide guidance on when to amend, how to perform updates, and how to document the changes properly. This ongoing maintenance helps ensure that the living trust remains aligned with your intentions and continues to function as an effective tool for asset management and transfer in Wilton over time.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Living Trusts in Wilton
What is a living trust and how does it work?
What is the primary advantage of a living trust for Wilton homeowners? For Wilton homeowners, a primary advantage of a living trust is smoother transfer of real estate without the full probate process, which can be time-consuming and public. By transferring the deed into a trust, successor trustees can manage or distribute property more promptly, reducing delays that can affect property maintenance or sale. This continuity can be particularly valuable when immediate decisions are needed about mortgage payments, property upkeep, or occupancy. The trust also provides a framework for managing assets in the event of incapacity, which helps families maintain stability during difficult transitions.
Can a living trust help avoid probate in Wilton?
Will a living trust avoid all probate in California? A living trust can avoid probate for assets that are properly titled in the trust and for accounts that pass outside probate through beneficiary designations. However, assets not transferred into the trust or with conflicting designations may still require probate proceedings. Pour-over wills are often used to ensure any remaining assets are transferred into the trust after death, but these assets may still go through a simplified probate step. Careful funding and coordination of beneficiary forms and deeds are essential to maximize the probate-avoidance benefits of a living trust.
How do I fund a living trust?
How do I fund a living trust for my Wilton home? Funding a living trust for a Wilton property typically requires preparing and recording a deed that transfers title from individual ownership into the name of the trust. This can involve a grant deed or similar instrument recorded with the county recorder, and it must be done with attention to mortgage lender requirements and local recording procedures. We provide step-by-step assistance to prepare the necessary deed, coordinate the recording, and verify that the transfer is complete so the property will be handled under the trust terms when the time comes.
What should I know before setting up a living trust?
Can I be the trustee of my own living trust? Yes, most people serve as the initial trustee of their own living trust while they are capable of managing their affairs. Serving as trustee allows you to retain control of assets and make changes if the trust is revocable. It also provides for successor trustees to take over management if you become unable to act or upon death. It remains important to name successor trustees who are willing and able to manage assets and to communicate your intentions clearly so that the transition is as smooth as possible for Wilton families.
When should I consider creating a living trust?
Does a living trust replace the need for a will? A living trust complements a will rather than completely replacing it. Many clients use a pour-over will to catch any assets not transferred into the trust during life, ensuring they are moved into the trust for administration after death. The will is also the way to nominate guardians for minor children and address matters that trusts do not always cover. Both documents work together to create a comprehensive estate plan that addresses different aspects of asset transfer, guardianship, and incapacity planning for Wilton residents.
What role does a trustee play in a living trust?
Are living trusts expensive to create and maintain? The upfront cost of creating a living trust can be higher than a simple will because of the additional drafting and funding tasks involved, such as deeds and retitling accounts. However, many families view the investment as worthwhile because it can reduce probate costs, delays, and administrative burdens for survivors. Ongoing maintenance costs are typically limited to occasional reviews and updates as circumstances change. For Wilton residents, the long-term savings in time and administrative effort often offset initial expenses when plans are properly implemented and maintained.
How does a living trust differ from other estate planning tools?
How often should I review my living trust? It is advisable to review a living trust every few years or whenever significant life changes occur, such as marriage, divorce, births, deaths, major financial transactions, or moves that affect property ownership. Regular reviews help ensure beneficiary designations, trustee choices, and asset titling remain consistent with your current goals and local requirements. For Wilton homeowners, reviews are particularly important after real estate sales or purchases so deeds and records reflect current ownership and the trust continues to function as intended.
What are the steps to establish a living trust?
Can a living trust help if I have blended-family concerns? A living trust can be tailored to address blended-family needs by setting specific distribution plans, creating protective provisions for a surviving spouse while preserving assets for children from a prior relationship, and establishing clear trustee instructions. These provisions can provide flexibility and control over timing and conditions of distributions to help avoid conflict. Thoughtful drafting and communication of intentions can minimize ambiguity and reduce the likelihood of disputes among beneficiaries in blended-family situations common in many communities, including Wilton.
How do I choose the right trustee for my trust?
What happens to my living trust if I move out of California? If you move out of California, your living trust remains valid, but certain terms or procedures may require review to reflect the laws of your new state. Real property located in Wilton will still be governed by California recording and property rules, so maintaining clarity about title and deed records is important. We recommend reviewing the trust after any interstate move to confirm that successor trustee provisions, tax considerations, and distribution mechanics are appropriate under the new jurisdiction and that local property matters in Wilton remain properly addressed.
What is a successor trustee and what do they do?
How do I choose the right successor trustee for my Wilton trust? Choosing a successor trustee involves evaluating who is capable, trustworthy, and willing to handle the responsibilities of managing assets, paying bills, and communicating with beneficiaries. Consider local availability, willingness to handle property tasks in Wilton, and ability to work with financial institutions and advisors. Some people name individuals, while others select a professional or corporate trustee for continuity. It is also helpful to name alternate successors and to discuss responsibilities with the chosen individuals so they are prepared to serve when called upon.