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Trusts

A trust is one of the most powerful tools in estate planning — and one of the most misunderstood. Many people assume trusts are only for the very wealthy, but in reality, a well-structured trust can benefit families of all sizes by avoiding probate, protecting assets, ensuring privacy, and providing for loved ones in ways that a will alone simply cannot.

When you pass away with only a will, your estate must go through probate — a public, court-supervised process that takes time, costs money, and puts your financial affairs on the public record. A revocable living trust allows your assets to pass directly to your beneficiaries without probate, privately and efficiently. For families with minor children, beneficiaries with special needs, or complex family dynamics, trusts offer a level of control and flexibility that is essential, not optional.

Katherine helps clients understand which type of trust is right for their situation and guides them through the process of creating, funding, and maintaining it over time.

Types of Trusts

• Revocable Living Trust — Maintain full control of your assets during your lifetime while ensuring a seamless, private transfer upon your passing. Avoids probate entirely.
• Testamentary Trust — Created through your will, taking effect after your passing. Often used to manage assets for minor children or protect an inheritance from being spent too quickly.
• Special Needs Trust — Provides for a loved one with disabilities without jeopardizing their eligibility for critical government benefits like SSI or Medicaid. Without this trust, an inheritance could disqualify them from the very programs they depend on.
• Charitable Trust — Support the causes you care about while potentially receiving significant tax benefits during your lifetime or at your passing.

Why Trusts Matter

The cost of not having the right trust in place can be measured in probate fees, lost privacy, family conflict, and — in the case of special needs beneficiaries — the loss of essential government benefits. A trust is not a luxury. For many families, it is the difference between a smooth transition and a legal and financial nightmare for the people left behind.