Continuing Trusts: Protecting Family Assets for the Next Generation

When you think about the future, chances are your deepest wish is to protect and preserve what you’ve worked so hard to build for your children and grandchildren. Even when children are responsible, capable, and successful, life has a way of presenting unexpected risks. Divorce, business setbacks, or health challenges can change everything in an instant. Some children may simply struggle with money management or saving over the long term.

Estate planning gives you the opportunity to prepare for those possibilities, so your family’s legacy remains secure no matter what tomorrow brings.

Why Trusts Matter

During your lifetime, you can choose when and how to provide financial support to your children. But what happens after you are no longer here? How can you make sure that your assets are used wisely and remain protected from outside risks?

This is where trusts come in. A carefully designed trust can provide a variety of functions, as appropriate:

• Protect inheritance from divorce or creditors
• Prevent reckless spending through “spendthrift” provisions
• Ensure financial support for children with health or special needs
• Preserve wealth across multiple generations

By limiting direct access to large sums of money, a trust reduces the chances of an inheritance being quickly lost to poor decisions or difficult circumstances.

Continuing Trusts

A Continuing Trust is created within your revocable living trust and then divided into separate shares for each child. Each share can be tailored to that child’s unique circumstances. For some, this may mean steady income or targeted distributions for health and education. For others, it may provide only the income generated by the trust.

The goal is long-term family security, not indulgence. In practice, this might look like one child receiving a regular allowance while another has more limited access to funds. In every case, the trust is designed to provide stability and preserve your legacy.

Choosing the Right Trustee

One of the most important decisions you will make is who oversees these trusts. While some families choose a relative, an independent corporate trustee can often be a wise choice. Professional trustees provide impartiality, accountability, and consistency, ensuring that your wishes are carried out faithfully even after you are gone.

Benefits for Future Generations

Well-structured trusts don’t just protect your children. They can also extend to grandchildren, covering education, health, and other essential needs. This means your foresight provides security and opportunity for generations to come.

The Value of Planning Ahead

Every family is unique, and trusts should reflect both your vision and your children’s needs. With thoughtful planning and the guidance of an experienced estate planning attorney, you can create a strategy that balances protection, flexibility, and family harmony.

The peace of mind that comes from knowing your wealth will support — not burden — your loved ones is truly priceless.