Massachusetts families face a crucial choice between wills and living trusts for estate planning. Wills cost $500-$3,500 to create but require probate court proceedings lasting 6-18 months with $15,000-$50,000 in costs, plus everything becomes public record. Living trusts cost $3,000-$8,000 upfront but skip probate entirely, providing immediate private asset access and working during incapacity. Real examples show trusts typically save $5,300-$51,500 depending on estate complexity.
When to Choose Each: Wills work best for estates under $300,000 with simple ownership, straightforward families, and cost-conscious situations. Living trusts make sense for estates over $500,000, real estate ownership, privacy concerns, incapacity protection, and complex families. Massachusetts-specific factors include 14 probate courts with varying efficiency, a $2 million estate tax threshold (much lower than the federal $15 million), and favorable trust laws that benefit proper planning.
Taking Action: The worst choice is no planning at all. Whether through a well-drafted will or properly funded trust, families need protection that matches their situation and budget. Implementation takes 3-4 months with qualified Massachusetts legal help, but the return on investment is substantial - trusts typically save $20,000-$50,000+ in probate costs while providing privacy and incapacity protection that wills cannot offer.