Myth: “I Don’t Have Enough Money for a Living Trust”

One of the most persistent myths in estate planning is that living trusts are only for the wealthy. In practice, families of modest means often benefit the most from trust planning because they can least afford the cost, delay, and stress of probate.

A trust is not about how much you have. It’s about how you want things handled when it matters most.

Is There a Minimum Net Worth for a Trust?

No. There is no legal threshold. The real question is not “How much do I own?” but rather, “What do I want to protect, and how do I want my family to experience this process?”

If you own a home, even one with a mortgage, a trust is often the only reliable way to avoid probate. Probate fees, court costs, and administrative expenses can consume thousands of dollars that could otherwise stay with your family.

The Hidden Cost of “Cheaper” Planning

Wills are often chosen because they cost less upfront. What they guarantee, however, is court involvement later. A trust costs more at the beginning, but it avoids probate entirely.

Think of a trust as prepaying for estate administration at a discount, rather than forcing your family to pay a premium during a crisis.

Protection During Incapacity

Estate planning is not just about death—if you become incapacitated due to illness or injury, a will offers no protection at all. A properly funded trust allows your chosen successor trustee to step in immediately, privately, and without court supervision.

Without that structure, families may be forced into guardianship proceedings simply to manage everyday finances. Trust planning is often as much about protecting yourself as it is about protecting your heirs.

Privacy Matters

Probate is public. Anyone can review court filings to see what you owned and who inherited it. That visibility attracts unwanted attention, including scammers and predators.

Trusts are private agreements. They keep family matters out of public records and reduce the risk of exploitation.

A Practical Trust Checklist

You may benefit from a trust if you:

• Own real estate

• Want to avoid probate delays and expense

• Value privacy

• Want to prevent court involvement if you become incapacitated

A living trust is not about being wealthy—it’s about being intentional.

At Robert Jewett Law, PLLC, we help clients evaluate whether a trust makes sense based on their actual circumstances, not myths or assumptions.