Originally Posted by JoeBob
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.


Actually quite accurate, for Georgia and Florida at least.
Unless your estate is over 5M you are often wasting time and money to do a trust.
But consult a qualified attorney in your jurisdiction.

Carry what you’re willing to fight with - Mackay Sagebrush

Perfect is the enemy of good enough