When Tom passed away, his family quickly learned that his will wasn’t enough. What followed was a year of probate—an emotionally and financially draining process that left his children bitter and fractured. Despite Tom’s best intentions, court fees piled up, disputes over sentimental items escalated, and cherished family memories were overshadowed by resentment. Probate is a court-supervised process designed to settle an estate, but for many families, it feels more like a punishment. It’s public, lengthy, and expensive, with fees in New York State often eating up anywhere from 5%-20% of the estate’s value. For Tom’s family, it was a stark reminder that a will alone isn’t enough to prevent complications. Contrast this with Sarah’s story. Sarah had taken a proactive approach by working with The Estate Planning Law Center to create a revocable living trust. When Sarah passed, her assets bypassed probate entirely. Her successor trustee handled everything seamlessly—distributing
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