The structures in this category are the ones most people have never heard of — and that sophisticated families and their advisors quietly use.
Some are tax-driven. Some are about asset protection, privacy, or a very specific kind of asset (a pet, a digital footprint, an insurance policy). Together they show how creative and customized trust planning can actually get.
We don’t pretend to be the world’s foremost expert on every one of these. The aim of this section is closer to a guided tour — what these structures are, what they’re actually for, and which ones might be worth a real conversation.
Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT)
Freezing the Value
A GRAT — or Grantor Retained Annuity Trust — is an advanced estate planning strategy designed to transfer appreciating assets to beneficiaries while potentially minimizing gift and estate taxes. The creator of the trust retains an annuity payment for a set period of time, after which remaining appreciation may pass to beneficiaries.
Read the One-Sheet →VIII.2Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT)
Keeping Insurance Outside the Estate
An ILIT is an irrevocable trust designed to own and manage life insurance policies outside of a person’s taxable estate.
Read the One-Sheet →VIII.3Intentionally Defective Grantor Trust (IDGT)
Broken on Purpose
An IDGT is an advanced estate planning trust intentionally designed to create certain tax consequences for income tax purposes while achieving different outcomes for estate tax purposes. In simple terms: the trust is "defective" by design.
Read the One-Sheet →VIII.4Pet Trust
Planning for the Animals We Love
A Pet Trust is a trust designed to provide financial support and care instructions for pets after the owner’s death or incapacity.
Read the One-Sheet →VIII.5Digital Asset Trust
The Estate You Cannot Touch
A Digital Asset Trust is a trust or planning structure designed to manage digital property such as online accounts, cryptocurrency, NFTs, websites, digital businesses, cloud storage, intellectual property, and social media assets.
Read the One-Sheet →VIII.6Silent Trust
Inheritance Without Disclosure
A Silent Trust is a trust structure that limits or delays information disclosed to beneficiaries about the trust’s existence, terms, or assets for a period of time.
Read the One-Sheet →Schedule a Complimentary 30-Minute Consultation
At Hurwitz.Law, we believe that thoughtful planning begins with a meaningful conversation.
We offer a private, 30-minute consultation—by phone or Zoom—for individuals and families considering estate planning, elder law, or trust administration services. This conversation allows us to understand your goals, answer your questions, and help determine whether our firm is the right fit for your needs.
Our firm is intentionally boutique. We work with a limited number of clients so that we can provide a high level of personal attention and care. If we’re not the right fit, we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction.
This consultation is not a sales pitch. It’s a conversation rooted in clarity, respect, and the belief that your time—and your legacy—deserve both.
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