Foundation Trusts are the starting point for modern estate planning. These are the structures most families encounter first — not because they are "fancy," but because they create order, clarity, and continuity during some of life’s most difficult moments.
At their core, these trusts are about avoiding unnecessary chaos, protecting loved ones, organizing assets, planning for incapacity, and keeping families out of court whenever possible.
Think of them as the foundation beneath the home. Without a foundation, everything above it becomes unstable. The same is true in estate planning.
Most people assume trusts are only for the ultra-wealthy. In reality, many trusts are simply organizational tools that help families manage transitions more smoothly and intentionally.
These are often the trusts that answer questions like: "What happens if something happens to me?" "Who handles things if I become incapacitated?" "How do I avoid probate?" "What happens to my children?" "How do I make this easier on my family?"
This category is designed to introduce people to the world of trust planning in a clear, approachable, and non-intimidating way.
Revocable Living Trust
The Modern Family Playbook
A Revocable Living Trust is a legal structure that allows you to place your assets into a trust during your lifetime while still maintaining complete control over them. You can change it, amend it, add or remove assets, or revoke it entirely. Think of it less as "giving things away" and more as creating a private management system for your life and estate.
Read the One-Sheet →I.2Testamentary Trust
The Trust Created by Your Will
A Testamentary Trust is a trust that is created through your Last Will and Testament and only comes into existence after your death. Unlike a Revocable Living Trust, it is not active during your lifetime. Instead, it acts as a future protective structure for beneficiaries.
Read the One-Sheet →I.3Minor’s Trust
Because Children Can’t Legally Inherit
A Minor’s Trust is a trust designed to hold and manage assets for a child until they reach a specified age. Because minors cannot legally control inherited assets outright, the trust creates a structure for managing money responsibly until adulthood.
Read the One-Sheet →I.4Marital Trust
Protecting the Surviving Spouse
A Marital Trust is a trust created for the benefit of a surviving spouse. It is often used to provide income and support, preserve assets, reduce estate taxes, and maintain long-term control over how assets eventually pass to children or other beneficiaries.
Read the One-Sheet →I.5Credit Shelter Trust
Preserving Wealth Across Generations
A Credit Shelter Trust — sometimes called a Bypass Trust or Family Trust — is a trust traditionally used by married couples to help preserve wealth and reduce estate taxes across generations.
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.
Schedule a ConsultationPrefer to talk first? Call us at (215) 967-7890.