Trusts are good for a variety of families

A trust can be a useful estate-planning tool for many people — not just the ultra-wealthy. Is a trust right for you? There are two main reasons why you would consider creating one. Let's examine them.

One is that you have a net worth of at least $100,000, a substantial amount of which is in real estate. The other is that you have very specific instructions on how and when you want your estate to be distributed among your heirs after you die. Trusts also are great for protecting your estate from lawsuits and creditors.

It is well-documented that most people do no estate planning. Of people who do, most use a last will to pass their estates to a spouse or divide it among their children. Most do not establish a trust, but if you want multiple heirs to share your assets after your death, your plan will benefit from a trust.

Here are other reasons to set up a trust:

• Protect beneficiaries

• Avoid court-supervised probate of trust assets and protect your estate's privacy

• Protect premarital assets in the event of a divorce

• Set aside funds to support you if you become incapacitated

• Manage indivisible assets, such as vacation homes and recreational vehicles

• Manage closely held business assets for planned business succession.

• Hold life insurance policies

• Efficiently give to charities

• Provide money for a disabled person without making them ineligible for Medicaid

Work with professionals

If you want to set up a trust, consult an estate attorney who will guide you through the various types of trusts, and help you decide which best suits your assets and goals while helping you make sure it's legally sound.

Your estate attorney likely will notify you if you need to update your trust for legal reasons, but you may have reasons to update the trust, such as to change beneficiaries or investments. It is best to consult your lawyer every few years to make sure your trust remains up to date.

Trusts are flexible, varied and complex. Each type has advantages and disadvantages, which you should discuss thoroughly with your estate-planning attorney before setting one up.

Assets you want protected by the trust must be retitled in the name of the trust. Anything that is not titled to the trust when you die will have to go through probate. The trust document gives you, another person or an institution the power to hold and manage your money for your benefit or the benefit of other people.