Without the right documents in place, Medicaid can claim your property — or probate court can tie it up in proceedings for years. This happens to property owners of all ages, at every stage of life.
State-specific estate planning document templates — trusts, deeds, and beneficiary designations — populated from your intake and delivered with educational guidance through every step to recording.
See Packages“Every family — regardless of income — deserves access to proper estate planning document templates and someone who will walk them through the process. We provide the templates, the educational guidance, and the administrative support. That's the service.”
— Sacred Ministry Council
Probate is the court process that happens after someone dies. When a person passes away owning property in their name — whether they had a will or not — that property typically cannot transfer to their family without going through probate court first.
The court appoints an administrator, verifies debts, notifies creditors, and oversees the distribution of assets. This process is public record, meaning anyone can look up what you owned and who got it.
It takes time. Probate typically takes 6 months to 2 years, depending on the state and complexity. During that time, your family may have no access to the property.
It costs money. Court filing fees, executor fees, and attorney fees can consume 3–7% of the estate — money that would otherwise go to your family.
It is avoidable. A properly recorded trust or Transfer on Death deed passes property directly to your named beneficiaries — no court, no delay, and the trust terms remain private.
In most states, Medicaid requires spending down nearly all assets — including the family home — before long-term care coverage begins. Without an irrevocable trust recorded at least 5 years before applying, the home may be at risk. This is not a rumor. It happens to families every day.
Property that passes through a will — or with no plan at all — typically goes through probate court. That means months or years of delay, court costs, and everything becoming public record. A properly recorded trust or deed passes property directly to your family without any of that.
The Medicaid lookback period begins when you transfer assets — not when you apply. Every month you wait is a month of protection you cannot recover. Those who plan ahead keep their homes. Those who wait often cannot.
The most common concern we hear: “If I put my home in a trust, do I have to move out?” No. Not at all.
You live in the home exactly as you do today. You pay the same bills, maintain the property the same way, and make all the same decisions about your home. The trust holds title — your life does not change.
In most states, a properly drafted irrevocable trust preserves your homestead property tax exemption. We build this into your trust language for your state.
Your trust includes a retained life estate or income beneficiary provision — a legally recorded right for you to occupy the property for the rest of your life. No one can remove you.
These are real questions we hear often. Here is plain-language ministry education — not legal advice — on how these interact with estate planning documents.
A reverse mortgage allows homeowners 62 and older to borrow against their home equity without monthly payments. However, a home that has been transferred into an irrevocable trust generally cannot be used for a reverse mortgage — the borrower must hold title. If a reverse mortgage is in place or planned, discuss this with us before transferring the property.
Once a property is in an irrevocable trust, refinancing is generally not available — the grantor no longer holds personal title. If refinancing is needed, it should be completed before the deed is recorded into the trust. One option: have the trust documents prepared and signed first, complete the refinancing while still holding personal title, then record the deed into the trust. We flag this in every intake review.
A Durable Power of Attorney allows a trusted person to manage your financial and legal affairs if you become incapacitated. A POA does not replace a trust — they serve different purposes. A POA may be used to manage trust-related transactions during the grantor's lifetime. We can generate a POA as an add-on to any package.
Property held in an irrevocable trust can be sold — but the trustee must execute the transaction, not the grantor. Sale proceeds go into the trust and are distributed per the trust terms. If Medicaid planning is the goal, consult with us before selling so the lookback period implications are understood.
Transferring a property into a trust does not automatically trigger a due-on-sale clause on most mortgages when the transfer is to a revocable living trust. Irrevocable trusts can be more complex — lender notification is typically required. We address this in the recording instructions included with your documents.
Once a property is in an irrevocable trust, the grantor cannot use it as collateral for a new loan or HELOC — they no longer hold personal title. If financing is needed, complete it before the deed is recorded into the trust. A practical option: have the trust prepared and signed, close the loan while still holding title in your own name, then record the deed into the trust when financing is complete.
If your loved one is already receiving Medicaid benefits or has applied, transferring assets may affect eligibility or trigger a penalty. Contact us before purchasing — we will review your situation and tell you directly whether this service fits.
This information is educational ministry content and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult a licensed attorney and/or financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation.
This is not just for the elderly. Anyone who owns property and wants it protected, transferred, or kept out of court belongs here.
You own a home or land and want to decide now — while you're healthy and clear-headed — where it goes and how it's protected.
You want to keep your property out of probate so your family isn't sitting in a courtroom while they're grieving.
You are helping a parent, grandparent, spouse, or other loved one who owns property and needs someone to guide them through this.
You have been quoted $3,000–$8,000 by an attorney and need an accessible, faith-based alternative for document preparation.
You've watched someone else's estate get tied up in court — or claimed by Medicaid — and you will not let that happen to yours.
You want plain-language guidance from a real person who will explain each document and walk with you through every step.
Most families who need a trust or deed can't afford the attorney who charges $3,000–$8,000 to prepare one.That doesn't mean they need less protection — it means the system has left them behind.
Sacred Ministry Council was created as a ministry to close that gap. We are not a substitute for legal counsel — we are a ministry document assistance service that exists so families at every income level can access properly generated estate planning document forms.
We built our document platform specifically to meet state and federal requirements — Medicaid lookback rules under 42 U.S.C. § 1396p, community property statutes, county recording requirements, and deed language requirements that vary by state. The forms are not generic. They are built to the rules your state and county actually require.
We walk with you through the entire process — from intake to notarization to recording. That guidance is part of the service, not an add-on.
If your situation calls for an attorney, we will say so. Email us first if you're not sure.
Not sure which package fits? Email us first— we'll point you in the right direction at no charge.
Transfer or protect a property with the right deed
Documents Prepared
Includes
Right for someone moving property into an existing trust, transferring to a family member, or naming a TOD beneficiary when a full trust is already in place.
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Irrevocable trust with deed, certificate, EIN, and full estate planning support
Documents Prepared
Includes
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Educational services and document templates — not legal advice. Sacred Ministry Council provides state-specific estate planning document templates populated from your intake information. This service does not constitute legal advice and no attorney-client relationship is formed. We recommend attorney review of all documents before execution.
You submit your intake. Your information is used to populate state-specific estate planning document templates — trust, deed, or TOD — delivered ready to sign. Not a blank form left for you to figure out.
Every state has different statutory language, recording requirements, and Medicaid rules. Your templates are built to your specific state's requirements — what works in one state does not work in another.
Every delivery includes clear educational guidance: where to get it notarized, which office to record at, what to bring, and what happens next. You will not be left guessing.
Have a question after you receive your documents? We answer it. This is educational and administrative support — not a drop-and-done template service.
Online platforms drop blank templates and leave you to figure out the rest. Attorneys charge $2,500–$8,000 and bill by the hour. We are the middle — state-specific estate planning document templates, populated from your intake, with educational guidance and administrative support through every step to recording.
Sacred Ministry Council operates as a faith-based document preparation service under ministry covering. We generate documents — we do not practice law, and this is not legal advice. We recommend attorney review of all completed documents before signing.
$297–$897 total. No hourly billing. No surprises.
Select the level of protection that fits your situation. Not sure where to start? The Family Protection package is the most common choice. Email us first if you'd like guidance at no charge.
Complete checkout through PayPal. You'll land on a confirmation page. Within a few hours we verify your payment and email you a personal access code.
Use your access code to unlock the intake. You provide the details — property, owner, trustee, beneficiaries. Your intake is what we use to create your forms. Most intakes take about 10 minutes.
Your intake information is used to populate your state-specific trust, deed, or TOD document templates. Delivered by email within 24–48 hours with educational guidance and recording instructions.
Sign before a notary — most banks offer free notary services — then record with your county clerk. We provide clear instructions for every step.
No. Sacred Ministry Council provides educational services and document templates — not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by using this service. Your intake information is used to populate your state-specific document templates, which are delivered with educational guidance. SMC staff are Ecclesiastical Administrators, not attorneys. We recommend having your completed documents reviewed by a licensed elder law attorney before signing.
It means we walk alongside you. We are not a faceless template drop — we are a ministry that believes every family deserves access to proper estate planning document templates and the educational guidance to use them. We provide the templates, answer your questions, and support you through every step from intake to recording.
Either. You may be planning for yourself while you're healthy and able to do so. Or you may be helping an aging parent, a grandparent, or another loved one who owns property. Both are exactly who this service is for.
All 50 states. Every state has its own requirements for trust language, deed execution, recording procedures, and Medicaid rules — and we research and build your documents to your state's specific requirements. No matter where your property is located, we can generate the right documents for it.
A revocable living trust is the most common trust people have heard of. You remain in full control — you can change it, cancel it, or take assets back at any time. Because of that control, the assets are still legally yours. That means they go through your estate for Medicaid purposes, creditors can reach them, and while probate is avoided, the protection stops there. Good for privacy and probate avoidance. Not protective of assets.
An irrevocable trust is different. Once you transfer property in and the deed is recorded, you no longer own it — the trust does. You give up control in exchange for protection: the property avoids probate, is shielded from most creditors, and after a 5-year period is outside your countable estate for Medicaid eligibility. You retain the right to live in the home for life. This is what seniors use when they want to preserve the home for their family.
A MAPT (Medicaid Asset Protection Trust) is simply the name attorneys and Medicaid planners use for an irrevocable trust when the stated goal is Medicaid protection. It is not a different document — it is the same irrevocable trust structure. We use the term "irrevocable trust" because the document serves the same purposes whether your priority is Medicaid planning, probate avoidance, creditor protection, or simply passing your home to your children cleanly. The goal does not change the instrument.
No. This is the most important thing to understand about an irrevocable trust for your home.
Your trust includes a retained life estate — a legally recorded right for you to occupy and use the property for the rest of your life. You live in the home exactly as you do today. You pay the same utility bills, maintain the property the same way, make the same decisions about your home day to day. The trust holds title on paper. Your life does not change.
The trustee — the person you name — has no authority to move you out or interfere with your daily use of the home. They only act when the property needs to be managed, sold, or distributed to beneficiaries after your passing.
In most states, a properly drafted irrevocable trust also preserves your homestead property tax exemption. We build your state's specific language into every trust we generate.
If you or your loved one is applying for Medicaid within the next 5 years, transferring assets to a trust may trigger a penalty period. Please contact us before purchasing so we can understand your timeline and make sure this is the right step.
A trusted family member or close friend who is organized and reliable. The trustee has no ongoing day-to-day duties — they act when the property needs to be managed, sold, or distributed to beneficiaries. With an irrevocable trust, the grantor (the property owner) cannot serve as their own trustee.
Once a property is in an irrevocable trust, the grantor can no longer borrow against it personally — so planning ahead matters. Here are the most practical options families use:
Get the trust first, finish financing after. The Medicaid lookback clock does not start until the deed is recorded. Have the trust prepared and signed, complete any refinancing or new loan while still holding personal title, then record the deed when financing is done. This is the cleanest path when care costs or financing needs are on the horizon.
Children borrow against their own assets. An adult child can take out a HELOC or personal loan using their own home or savings to fund care costs. Their beneficial interest in the trust is a future interest — it cannot be pledged as collateral — but their own assets can be.
Trustee reimbursement provision. If the trust is drafted with a caregiver reimbursement provision, the trustee can repay family members who paid out of pocket for the grantor's care — medical bills, in-home care, housing costs. Siblings who front care costs can be reimbursed from trust assets or from the proceeds when the property eventually sells. We offer this as an optional provision — ask about it in your intake.
Trustee borrowing authority. If the trust includes trustee borrowing powers, the trustee can take out a loan secured by the trust property to fund care or other needs without selling. Private and hard-money lenders will sometimes lend against irrevocable trust property when the trustee has this authority. This provision can be built into your trust at intake.
The trustee can rent the property. If the grantor moves to a care facility, the trustee can rent the home. Rental income can be directed toward care expenses per the trust terms.
The trustee can sell the property. Proceeds stay in the trust and are distributed to beneficiaries per the trust terms. For Medicaid planning, proceeds generally cannot be returned to the grantor directly.
Veterans benefits. If the grantor or their spouse served in the military, VA Aid and Attendance can provide significant monthly benefits toward care costs — separate from Medicaid planning.
Wait for Medicaid. After the 5-year lookback, the property is protected and Medicaid-funded care is available. The trust ensures the home passes to the family rather than being consumed by spend-down.
Sacred Ministry Council (SMC) is an independent Integrated Auxiliary of the International Order of Sacred Healing Arts (IOSHA)— a 508(c)(1)(A) ecclesiastical organization. SMC operates as a Private Fellowship under IOSHA's spiritual covering and is authorized by IOSHA charter to provide ecclesiastical administrative document assistance and ministry advocacy services.
SMC is an independent integrated auxiliary of IOSHA — authorized specifically to provide estate planning document templates, educational guidance through the formation and recording process, and ministry advocacy and administrative support. You complete the intake. Your information populates the templates. SMC provides the educational resources, ministry advocacy, and administrative support to see you through every step.
Our staff are Ecclesiastical Administrators — not attorneys. We provide educational services, ministry advocacy, and document templates — not legal advice. All services are delivered as ecclesiastical educational and administrative consulting. We recommend attorney review of all documents before execution.
Service fees support the ongoing ministry advocacy work of SMC under IOSHA's 508(c)(1)(A) tax-exempt status.
The second best time is today. The 5-year clock starts the day you act — every month you wait is a month of protection you cannot recover.
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