The unfortunate reality here in Cumberland County: people aren't given much privacy when they pass away. Under the laws of our state and every state in the country, details about one's estate and inheritance are public record.

Someone can simply call the courthouse for details of your family's life you may want private. How fortunate that there's a way to keep your affairs private after you pass.

By creating a trust, you lock down the details of your estate because assets in a trust don't go through public probate. In addition, the assets will be distributed faster through the court system.

Trusts also offer you control over how the assets are used: for example, a trust for your grandchildren that they can only use for education. This can help if you are afraid the money might be otherwise squandered.

A Crossville, Tennessee wills and trusts attorney can help you create specific trusts to meet your family's needs while achieving secondary goals. For example, you could set up a charitable trust that leaves a portion of your assets privately for your loved ones and sends the remaining portion to a charity or nonprofit.

There are different trusts for different situations, so I strongly recommend working with a qualified attorney to create your documents. If you have more questions or need help getting started, contact our Crossville, Tennessee law firm, Cumberland Legacy Law, at 931-250-8585 to set up your appointment.