Most people who get trusts don’t need trusts. Put your heirs on your bank accounts as POD. If you can do a Lady Bird or death deed in your state, do one. That’s generally enough unless you have a big enough estate that estate taxes are a concern. No trusts needed. That’s just a scare tactic somebody uses to get a few thousand out of you after feeding you a ten dollar buffet meal and showing you some PowerPoint slides.
But don’t be scared of probate. It isn’t that big of a deal if no one fights over it. You’ll get letters testamentary within a few weeks of filing and you can immediately start distributing the estate unless there are some creditors to deal with. Get your letters, file a notice to creditors, file an inventory, and a final accounting when you close. Generally no hearing is required except maybe the initial one for the letters and it is all a paperwork drill. The cost will be around $2,500 or so and that will be that.
Last edited by JoeBob; 08/21/19.
