Avoid probate court with a living trust
Keep your assets with your family and out of the courts. Create your living trust simply and affordably—whether that's on your own, or with help from estate planing attorneys in our network. Living trusts start at $279.
Why use LegalZoom to set up your living trust?
Easy & convenient
Direct how your assets pass to your beneficiaries and help your family avoid probate court.
Accepted in all 50 states
Enjoy peace of mind knowing our living trusts were created by experienced attorneys, and have been accepted in all 50 states.
Attorney-supported
Access guidance from highly-rated, vetted attorneys from our network, who can help you create the trust you want.
Priced according to your needs
Do it yourself
Basic
Living Trust
$279
Get a personalized living trust using our online questionnaire.
Attorney Assist
Adeel, 4.8/5 star ratingComprehensive
Living Trust
$299
Get a living trust—plus, legal advice for 2 weeks after purchase.
Attorney Assist
Adeel, 4.8/5 star ratingEstate Plan
Bundle
$399 Save $150+
Get 3 essential estate planning documents, including living trust—plus, legal advice for 1 year.
Set up your living trust with LegalZoom in 3 simple steps
We make it easy to create your living trust in just a few simple steps. Plus, attorneys are ready to answer your questions and guide you through the estate planning process.
Why create a living trust?
Living trusts are a way to distribute your assets and provide for your beneficiaries while keeping loved ones out of probate court. Revocable living trusts allow you to change your terms if you change your mind. You can:
Keep family out of probate court
Spare your loved ones from the expenses and delays that may result from the probate process. Avoid multistate probate if you own real estate in another state.
Protect your privacy
Keep your personal matters—and assets—private with a trust. Probate court records are public records, which means that anyone can access your will.
Avoid bank delays
Help ensure your assets are accessible to your loved ones with less interruption after your death. With a living trust, a trustee can typically access assets and handle affairs more quickly than with a will.
What’s a living trust?
Once you sign and transfer your assets to the trust it’s considered effective and can be managed by you as the trustee. You can use the trust assets in the same way you did before creating the living trust. When you can no longer act as trustee, the successor trustee that you name takes over and uses the trust assets for your lifetime benefit. After you pass away, the successor trustee distributes your assets to your beneficiaries without going through probate court.
The living trust cost is higher than some other estate planning documents, but it can be worth it if it meets your needs. You can always consult with a living trust attorney for guidance.
What’s the difference between a living trust and a last will?
While both types of legal documents let you designate who gets your property and assets after your death, there are major differences. If you’re unsure whether a living trust or last will would work best for you, schedule a call with an estate planning attorney.
Living trust
- Spells out how your assets will be managed and distributed if you’re incapacitated and after your death
- Can cost more and requires more upkeep
- Lets loved ones avoid the probate process
- Provides privacy—it’s not part of public record
Last will
- Puts a plan in place for distributing your assets after your death
- Usually costs less and easier to set up
- Requires that loved ones go through the probate process
- Becomes part of the public record when it goes through probate court
Ready to start your living trust?
Start my living trustWhat are the disadvantages of a living trust?
Having a living trust as part of your estate plan has many advantages—but it does take more effort to set up. Here are some reasons you might not want a living trust:
Costs more than a will
It’s more expensive to set up a living trust—including revocable living trusts and irrevocable trusts—than a last will.
Needs funding and title transfers
If you die without funding your living trust, your estate will be subject to the probate process. For assets where you own the title—like real estate—you must legally transfer ownership to the trust.
Requires more paperwork
It takes more time and paperwork to set up and fund a living trust than a will. Living trusts also require more ongoing maintenance since they need to be updated as your assets change.
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Start my living trustFrequently asked questions
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Start my living trustWhat our customers are saying
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