Answer:

No, not everyone needs a trust. There are a variety of valid reasons to have a trust, but for most of us a trust is not necessary.

A trust should be limited to those cases where there is a special need for one, such as where there is a child with special needs or an adult who needs someone to manage their assets because of a disability. For the vast majority of people, a simple Last Will and Testament, power of attorney and healthcare documents are all that is needed to have a complete estate plan. Nor is it necessary to list all of your assets in a Last Will and Testament. A Will speaks at the time of a person’s death, so it is unnecessary to list assets that may or may not exist at the time of death.

Most estate plans are inexpensive and can be accomplished in a brief meeting with an experienced estate planning lawyer.