I grew up in California, so when I moved to Colorado nearly 20 years ago, ice hockey was a new sport to me. I once had dinner with a group of friends, who pointed out that Peter Forsberg was sitting right behind me, but I did not recognize him. Friends tried unsuccessfully to teach me about hockey, and the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2001. Now, I have children of my own who play hockey and who are fans of all of the local professional sports teams. From time to time, someone will mention where a favorite player lives in the metro area. “Did you know that so-and-so lives ___________?” Periodically, I also read in the local newspapers and business journals about the homes local professional athletes have purchased.
I assume that professional athletes wish to protect their privacy and are not thrilled when their addresses become public records. Even lay people often have good reasons for keeping their personal address private. Doctors and other mental health professionals, for example, may wish to keep their home address private from patients.
Although there are a few techniques for taking title to your house privately, establishing a revocable trust with an inconspicuous name to hold title is one of the simplest. An experienced estate planning attorney, who can work with your mortgage broker, lender, realtor, and title company, can ensure that your name is not identified on the vesting deed or statement of authority recorded at closing.
Please contact our Denver estate planning attorneys if you would like to discuss establishing a revocable trust to take title to your house privately.
