DIY vs. Pro: 3 Ways to Set Up a Living Trust

18/07/2025 1 min
DIY vs. Pro: 3 Ways to Set Up a Living Trust

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Episode Synopsis

A solid living trust is the backbone of any complete estate plan—but what’s the smartest way to create one? In this bite-sized episode we compare the three routes open to Californians: • Write it yourself. Great for legal-savvy DIYers, but one wrong clause can land your heirs in probate. • Use an online/doc-prep service. Faster and cheaper than hiring counsel, yet still “assembly line” and often missing state-specific tweaks. • Hire a qualified estate-planning attorney. The priciest option up front, but it custom-fits your family’s goals, plugs tax leaks, and keeps your plan court-proof. We’ll walk through cost ranges, common pitfalls, and the key checkpoints—funding the trust, titling real estate, updating beneficiary designations—that make or break each approach. 🎯 California listeners—secure your FREE Estate Planning Strategy Session: calendly.com/mpevney/strategysession ℹ️ Explore more resources at www.ocestateplanlawyer.com

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