Do I still need a will if I have a trust?

Yes — every trust plan includes a pour-over will, which captures any assets not transferred into the trust during your lifetime. A will is also the only document that lets you name a guardian for minor children.

Revocable Living Trusts Online | Skip Probate

What Is a Revocable Living Trust?

Your estate — protected, private, and in your control

A revocable living trust is a legal entity you create during your lifetime to hold your assets. You remain in complete control as the trustee — you can change it, add to it, or revoke it at any time.

When you pass away, your assets transfer directly and immediately to your beneficiaries — no court, no probate, no public record. Your family gets access in weeks, not years.

It also protects you while you're alive. If you become incapacitated, a successor trustee you've named steps in seamlessly — without the expense or delay of court intervention.

Multigenerational family together at golden hour — what you've built worth protecting

What's Included

Your eLegacy Trust Plan

A trust plan includes everything in our will plan, plus the trust documents and funding guidance that make it work.

Revocable Living Trust

The core document — holds your assets, names your trustees, and directs distribution to your beneficiaries.

Pour-Over Will

A safety net that captures any assets not formally transferred into your trust during your lifetime.

Trust Funding Guidance

Step-by-step support for re-titling your home, accounts, and investments into the trust's name.

Financial Power of Attorney

Designates someone to manage your finances if you're ever unable to do so yourself.

Healthcare Power of Attorney

Names someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf during an emergency.

Advance Healthcare Directive

Documents your end-of-life care preferences so your family never has to guess.

Is a Trust Right for You?

When a trust is the smarter choice

You own real estateProperty in a trust transfers immediately at death — no probate, no court delays, no public record.

Privacy matters to youUnlike a will, a trust never becomes public record. Your assets and beneficiaries stay completely private.

You want immediate access for your familyTrust assets transfer in weeks — not the 12–24 months probate typically takes.

Your family situation is complexBlended families, special needs planning, multi-generational wealth — a trust gives you the control to handle it right.

You want incapacity protectionA trust manages itself seamlessly if you become incapacitated — no court-appointed conservatorship required.

Start With a Free Consultation →

Family with children outdoors at golden hour — building a future worth protecting

Will vs. Trust

How a trust compares to a will

Understanding the key differences helps you choose the right level of protection for your family.

Feature	Will	Trust
Takes effect	At death only	Immediately (and at death)
Requires probate	✗ Yes — public court process	✓ No — bypasses probate entirely
Privacy	✗ Becomes public record	✓ Completely private
Incapacity protection	✗ Not covered	✓ Successor trustee steps in
Asset transfer speed	12–24 months (probate)	Weeks — no court delays
Names guardian for children	✓ Yes	✗ Requires a pour-over will too
Upfront cost	Lower	Higher upfront — saves more long-term

3–7%

of the estate is typically lost to probate fees — avoided entirely with a properly funded trust

9–24 mo.

typical probate timeline — a trust passes assets to your family in weeks, not months

Private

unlike a will, a trust never becomes public record

Sources: NOLO · AARP · American Bar Association

Frequently Asked Questions About Trusts

A will takes effect at death and must go through probate — a public court process that typically takes 1–2 years. A revocable living trust takes effect immediately, avoids probate entirely, stays private, and can also manage your assets if you become incapacitated. Most families benefit from having both.

Yes — that's what makes it "revocable." You remain in complete control throughout your lifetime. You can add assets, remove assets, change beneficiaries, or revoke the trust entirely at any time. It only becomes irrevocable at your death.

A trust only works for assets that are formally transferred into it — a process called "funding." This means re-titling your real estate, bank accounts, and investment accounts in the trust's name. eLegacy guides you through this process step by step after your trust is drafted, so nothing falls through the cracks.

Yes — every trust plan includes a "pour-over will," which captures any assets you didn't transfer into the trust during your lifetime and routes them into it after death. A will is also the only document that lets you name a guardian for minor children, which is why it remains essential in every complete estate plan.

For most families who own real estate or significant assets, a trust typically saves far more in probate costs than the difference in price. The average probate costs 3–7% of the estate's value in attorney and court fees — often $15,000 or more for a modest estate. A trust eliminates that entirely.

Most trust plans are completed in 6–8 weeks from your initial consultation. The exact timeline depends on how quickly you can review documents and respond at each step — when you engage promptly, we move quickly. More complex situations — business interests, blended families, special needs planning — may take a little longer, but we will give you a clear roadmap upfront and keep you informed every step of the way.

Revocable Living Trusts — Smarter Protection for Your Family