Quick answer: often worth it for privacy, out-of-state property, or incapacity planning — less clearly worth it purely to skip a lawyer, since Vermont never requires one for probate anyway. Run your own numbers in the Vermont probate vs living trust calculator before deciding.
One common argument doesn't apply here
Where a Vermont trust still earns its keep
- Privacy — probate is a public court record; a funded trust generally isn't.
- Out-of-state real estate — held in a trust, it avoids a separate ancillary proceeding elsewhere.
- Incapacity planning — a successor trustee can step in immediately without a court proceeding.
The will's-fee quirk, with a trust in place
For assets actually held in the trust, Vermont's unusual rule that the will's compensation clause controls by default becomes moot — there's no probate estate or executor fee to argue about. A pour-over will paired with the trust, though, can still be subject to that same default rule for whatever assets end up in probate.
When a trust adds less value
Vermont's small estate procedure already lets a successor collect an estate worth $45,000 or less in personal property without full administration — and without needing an attorney either. For an estate that genuinely qualifies, a trust's advantages matter less.
A quick framework
- Estimate your probate-side cost with the calculator.
- Compare that to a realistic Vermont trust quote (see trust setup cost).
- Weigh privacy, out-of-state property, and incapacity planning independently of the dollar comparison.
- If you proceed, fund it correctly — see funding mistakes.
A local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.