Your Trust Tier—What It Means

SIMPLE TRUST

• ~50 pages
• A basic revocable trust designed primarily to avoid probate
• Assets pass outright to heirs
• No income tax-saving strategies or divorce/creditor protections
• Most often used in straightforward, minimal-asset estates

BASIC TRUST

• ~80 pages (includes Article XIII as “Reserved”)
• Builds on the SIMPLE Trust
• Adds:
  • 100% step-up in basis at first spouse’s death (potentially saving $50,000–$200,000 in taxes)
  • Special Co-Trustee & Trust Protector clauses
  • More robust administrative flexibility
• Ideal for moderate estates or clients needing post-death tax control

PAT / WEALTH PROTECTION TRUST

• Over 100 pages, includes full Article XIII – Personal Asset Trust Provisions
• Everything in the BASIC Trust plus:
  • Asset protection against divorce, lawsuits, creditors, bankruptcy, and nursing homes
  • Beneficiary-by-beneficiary trust design
  • Advanced tax-planning tools & post-death amendment flexibility
• Designed for those seeking to preserve multigenerational wealth

 

🔎 Which Trust Do I Have?

If you’re unsure which type of trust you have:

✅ Check the page count:

• SIMPLE: ~50 pages
• BASIC: ~80 pages with Article XIII marked “Reserved”
• PAT: Over 100 pages, Article XIII fully included

📬 Still not sure?  If you still have your fee agreement from when you hired us, it will tell you what level of trust plan you chose.

Once you know which type of trust you have, consider upgrading your trust. Your family deserves the best protection Take advantage of our special, limited-time Upgrade Your Trust Offer!

You can learn about our 2025 Trust Amendment Package here.