What is a Trust?

A trust is a legal means of assuring that your property and assets are transferred to your heirs according to your wishes, with maximum privacy, minimum taxes, and no requirement to go through the court system. It's an important part of estate planning, but one that many people have mistakenly assumed was not available to them.

Isn't a will enough?

Everyday, people lose thousands of dollars in probate because their assets were included in a will but weren't protected by a trust. A will lets you choose your heirs and states the intentions you wish carried out upon your death. However, those intentions can only be carried out by court order, a sometimes long and often expensive process called "probate" in which personal information is made public. In addition to court and lawyers' fees, a will does not protect your heirs from estate taxes, personal representative's fees and other costs that can significantly reduce the amount of your estate. With a trust, you can ensure that your assets are distributed to the right people, at the right time, for the reasons you specify. Learn about the many types of trusts that are available to you.