The $35,000 Lesson One Family Shouldn’t Have Had to Learn

When Mary Thompson passed away, her family expected a smooth transition. She’d invested in a trust designed to protect them. But her home, bank accounts, and investments were still titled in her name.

Eighteen months later, her estate cleared probate—$35,000 lighter.

This isn’t rare. It’s routine.

We think of estate planning as a document exercise. It’s not. It’s an implementation challenge.

Every time I hear stories like Mary’s, I’m reminded why I built Trust Align, not to replace attorneys, but to preserve their work.

A trust that never controls assets isn’t a minor oversight. It’s a broken promise.

Families deserve better. And we can deliver it.

Disclaimer: We are not a law firm.