By Kristi Day, Living Trust Advisor · Published March 9, 2026 · Last reviewed October 24, 2026
Quick answer: A revocable living trust lets your family skip probate court, keeps your affairs private, lets a trustee you choose step in if you become incapacitated, and gives you control over how and when heirs inherit. In California it matters most for anyone with more than $208,850 in assets, which includes most homeowners.
The number one reason families set up a living trust is to avoid probate. In California, an estate worth more than $208,850 in gross assets (the threshold since April 1, 2025, not counting debt) generally has to go through probate court if there's no trust. Probate commonly takes 12–18 months and statutory attorney and executor fees are set by law as a percentage of the gross estate.
The top reasons people set up a trust
Avoid probate — it's slow, expensive, and public.
Privacy — a will becomes public record in probate; a trust stays private.
Control — you decide how and when assets are distributed, including staged gifts to children.
Incapacity planning — a successor trustee can step in without a court conservatorship.
Flexibility — a revocable trust can be changed any time while you're living and competent.
Tax strategy — a trust can be part of a broader plan for larger estates.
Faster, simpler administration — trust administration often wraps up in months, not years.
