Start here
Setting one up
- Can you set up a trust without a lawyer?Yes, no state requires a lawyer to create a living trust. What a DIY trust needs to be valid, where DIY trusts go wrong, and the middle path.
- How much does it cost to set up a trust?A living trust package from an attorney often starts around $3,500; DIY runs $0–$600. What drives the price, the hidden costs, and what probate costs instead.
- What does it mean to fund a trust?Funding a trust means retitling your home and accounts into the trust’s name. How each asset gets in, what stays out, and what happens if you skip it.
Choosing what you need
- Trust vs. will: which do you need?A will needs probate to work; a living trust usually skips it and covers incapacity. How they compare on cost, privacy, timing, and why most plans use both.
- Revocable vs. irrevocable trust: what’s the difference?A revocable trust keeps you in control and can be changed; an irrevocable trust gives up control for possible tax and creditor benefits. How to compare them.
- How to avoid probateYou avoid probate by letting each asset pass outside the court: a living trust, beneficiary designations, TOD and POD accounts, or joint ownership.
People and paperwork
- What is a successor trustee?A successor trustee takes over a living trust at death or incapacity, without court. What they do, whether they get paid, and how to choose one.
- How much does a professional trustee cost?Professional trustees often charge around 1% of trust assets a year, with minimums. Typical fees by trustee type, and how to choose family or a pro.
- What is a certificate of trust?A certificate of trust is a short, signed summary that proves your trust exists and who can act for it, so banks don’t need to see the whole trust.
Common questions
Do I need a lot of money to set up a trust?
No. A simple revocable trust is a plan for anyone. It’s about avoiding probate and protecting your family, not your net worth. An irrevocable trust provides asset protection and tax benefits that compound over time.
I already have a will. Do I still need a trust?
Yes. A will still goes through probate, the public court process. A revocable trust skips it, keeps things private, and passes straight to the people you name. The two work together: the will is the backstop, the trust does the real work.
Don’t my beneficiary designations already handle this?
Partly. Accounts with a named beneficiary (401(k), IRA, life insurance, TOD/POD) do pass directly, which is good. But they don’t cover your house, they don’t help if you’re alive but incapacitated, and they can’t manage money for a young child. A trust ties it all together and covers the gaps those designations leave.
What trust protects me from lawsuits, creditors, and/or divorce?
Asset protection comes from irrevocable structures. Veros provides a signed revocable trust for probate avoidance, and an asset protection trust structure. Non-grantor irrevocable structures, which carry tax benefits, are coming soon to the platform.
Am I locking my assets up?
No. With a revocable trust, your assets stay fully accessible and yours. With an irrevocable trust you do move assets out of your estate (that’s what unlocks the protection and tax benefits), but you can still receive distributions if you name yourself or your family as beneficiaries.
Can I change it later?
Yes, for a revocable trust you change it yourself with attorney approval. For an irrevocable trust, you ask your trustee to make a change and they will make it for you.
Why South Dakota, and does it matter where I live?
You don’t have to live in South Dakota to have a trust there, and most of our clients don’t. SD simply has the best trust laws in the country: strong privacy (records are sealed from public view), no state income tax on what the trust holds, and rules that let a trust last for generations. Individually small, together they make it the best home for a trust, and it matters more as your structure grows.
How long does it take?
About an afternoon. Funding (retitling your assets into the trust) can trail a little after, and we walk you through every step so it actually gets done.
What if Veros goes away?
Your trust is a legal document that belongs to you, and it keeps working regardless of what happens to Veros as a company. You can download all of your documents at any time and work with a local attorney in your home state.
What if most of my assets are abroad, or I’m not a U.S. citizen?
For now, Veros is the right fit if most of your assets are in the U.S. or you’re building a long-term future here. More international situations get more complex.
What if I have questions along the way?
We have dozens of professionals in our network if you have further questions or want to speak with an advisor for an hourly fee.