ANNE ARUNDEL, CALVERT, CHARLES, ST. MARY’S & PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES.
Trusts | Haskell & Dyer
A Trust Can Keep Your Family Out of Probate.
A trust can keep your family out of probate, protect assets, and control how and when your loved ones receive what you leave them. The question is whether one fits your situation, and we help you answer it honestly.
Compassionate estate planning for families across Southern Maryland. The consultation is a conversation, not a commitment.
Not Sure If You Need One
A trust is a tool, not a requirement.
Plenty of families are well served by a will alone. Others gain real benefits from a trust: avoiding probate, privacy, or control over how money reaches a young or vulnerable beneficiary. The honest answer depends on your situation, and we will tell you straight whether one is worth it for you.
The Two Main Types
Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts
Most planning trusts fall into one of two families. The right one depends on what you are trying to accomplish.
Flexible
Revocable Living Trust
You keep full control and can change or undo it during your life. Its main draw is avoiding probate and keeping your affairs private, while making a smooth handoff if you become unable to manage things yourself.
Protective
Irrevocable Trust
You give up some control in exchange for stronger protection. These trusts can shield assets, serve long-term care and tax planning, and protect a beneficiary who should not receive money outright. They are built for specific goals.
What a Trust Can Do
The Reasons Families Use One
A trust earns its place when it solves a real problem. These are the common ones.
Avoid probate
Keep your affairs private
Control timing of distributions
Protect a young beneficiary
Plan for incapacity
Provide for a blended family
Why It Matters
What the Right Trust Protects
Used well, a trust does things a will cannot, especially around timing, privacy, and protection.
Probate
Assets can pass without the court process
Privacy
Your affairs stay out of the public record
Timing
You control when beneficiaries receive
Protection
Assets can be shielded for the right reasons
How We Help You Decide on a Trust
We start with whether you need one at all, then build it to do exactly what you want and fund it so it works.
We Tell You If It Fits
No upsell. We look at your goals and assets and say plainly whether a trust adds enough value to be worth it.
We Match the Type
Revocable or irrevocable, we choose the structure that fits your goal, whether that is probate avoidance or protection.
We Draft It to Your Wishes
We set the terms so your loved ones receive what you leave them how and when you intend, not all at once by default.
We Fund It Properly
A trust only works if your assets are actually moved into it. We handle that step so it is not left half-finished.
Common Questions
Trusts, Answered
What's the difference between a will and a trust?
A will takes effect when you die and directs your probate estate through the court process. A trust can take effect during your life, hold your assets, and pass them to your beneficiaries without probate. Many people use both: a trust for the main assets and a will to cover anything left outside it. We help you decide what combination fits.
Do I actually need a trust, or is a will enough?
It depends on your goals. If you want to avoid probate, keep your affairs private, plan for incapacity, or control how a beneficiary receives money over time, a trust is worth considering. If your situation is simpler, a will may do everything you need. We give you an honest read rather than selling you a document you do not need.
What's the difference between revocable and irrevocable?
A revocable trust can be changed or undone during your life, and you keep control, which is why it is the common choice for probate avoidance. An irrevocable trust generally cannot be changed once set up, and you give up some control in exchange for stronger asset protection or tax and benefit planning. Each fits different goals.
Does a trust avoid probate completely?
A properly set up and funded trust keeps the assets inside it out of probate. The catch is funding: assets you never transferred into the trust can still end up in probate. This is the step people most often miss on their own. We make sure your trust is actually funded so it does what you set it up to do.
Is a trust only for wealthy families?
No. Trusts are used for many reasons that have nothing to do with great wealth: avoiding probate, keeping things private, planning for incapacity, or protecting a child who is young or has special needs. Whether one helps you comes down to your goals, not the size of your estate. We can tell you where you land.
Wondering If a Trust Is Right for You? Let's Find Out.
A trust can do a lot, but only if it fits your goals and is set up correctly. Reach out and we will give you an honest answer about whether one belongs in your plan. The consultation is a conversation, not a commitment.
Prefer to talk now? Reach us at 301-627-5844