TRUST FUND? YEAH, BABY

Think trust funds are only for the ultrawealthy? Not so. Financial advisors say if you have an estate worth more than $100,000 and property you care about, you should consider one. Your heirs can avoid the hassles of probate, save money on taxes, protect the estate from public scrutiny, and give minor children controlled access to money or property.

Just the time saved could be reason enough to set up a trust: Probate can’t be completed in less than five or six months, but a trust can be transferred in as little as a few days. And if you’re worried about high estate taxes, think about this: A trust can allow up to $1 million of the estate to transfer tax-free.

But forget those mail-offer, fill-in-the-blank kits. You need a qualified estate-planning attorney to lead you through the sometimes-tricky trust-fund process. Expect to pay from $500 to $5,000 or more for a standard revocable living trust. And don’t forget you still need a will.