Why More Americans Are Adding Trusts to Their Estate Plans

For many years, having a will was considered the standard approach to estate planning. If you had one, you likely felt you had taken care of the essentials.

Today, that is changing.

According to the 2026 Trust & Will Estate Planning Report, trust ownership among U.S. adults increased from 11% to 14% in just one year. As more families seek greater flexibility, control, privacy, and continuity in managing their assets, trusts are becoming an increasingly common part of comprehensive estate plans. 

Why More People Are Choosing Trusts

Families today often have more complex lives than they did a generation ago. Blended families, children with different financial needs, property in multiple states, family businesses, and growing investment portfolios all create situations where a simple will may not be enough.

Many people are also looking for ways to avoid probate, the court-supervised process of settling an estate. Probate can take months, sometimes longer, and may involve additional costs and public filings. A properly established and funded trust can often help families avoid that process altogether, or at least minimize the time and expense of probate.

Perhaps most importantly, a trust is designed to do more than distribute assets after

death. It can also provide a plan for managing your affairs if you become unable to do

so yourself during your lifetime, without the need for a court-appointed guardian, and

help ensure your wishes are carried out over time after your demise.

Creating a Trust Is Only the Beginning

Having a trust is an important step, but it is not a "set it and forget it" document.

A trust only works as intended if it is kept up to date. Assets need to be properly titled in the name of the trust, beneficiary designations should match your overall estate plan, and the trust itself should be reviewed whenever there are major life changes such as marriage, divorce, the birth of grandchildren, significant financial changes, or the purchase of new property. Without those updates, parts of your estate may still pass through probate or be distributed differently than you intended.

One of the Most Important Decisions Is Choosing the Right Trustee

When people create a trust, they often spend a great deal of time deciding who should receive their assets.

Far less time is spent deciding who will manage them.

Your trustee has an important responsibility. They oversee the trust, communicate with beneficiaries, make distributions according to your instructions, work with attorneys and tax professionals, and help ensure everything is handled properly. Depending on the trust, those responsibilities may continue for many years.

Many families automatically name a relative or close friend because it feels like the obvious choice. While they may be well-intentioned, serving as trustee can be time-consuming, emotionally challenging, and legally complex.

Choosing the right trustee is just as important as creating the trust itself.

Your Estate Plan Should Grow With You

Estate planning is not something you complete once and never think about again.

As your family, finances, and goals change, your trust should change with them. Taking time to review your plan periodically helps ensure it continues to reflect your wishes and provides the protection you intended for the people you care about most.

At inTRUST Counsel, we work with individuals and families to provide professional trustee services that help ensure trusts are administered carefully, objectively, and according to your wishes. If you have questions about your trust or are considering whether an independent professional trustee is right for your family, we're here to help.