It is possible to create a trust (living or otherwise) that does not do what you expect it to do. If you want to direct how the trustees handle the trust's assets after you are gone, and how much income specific beneficiaries will obtain from the trust, or create a complex trust, this may be the book you want.

If all you want is a living trust that will allow your assets to escape probate, and maximize the estate tax deductions, then forget this book. Read "the Living Trust" by Abts instead

There is some useful information in this book, but the main purpose of the work appears to be an attempt to justify all the sins of omission and commission perpetrated by lawyers in the area of family trusts. The most popular and useful of the trusts is the revocable living trust, to which Croke devotes 5 pages out of 300. Lots of "see your lawyer on this" though. Better to read the book by the Schumachers.

Review by reader from Tucson,Arizona is an attempt in reviews of this book to steer readers by inaccurate statements to another book. I have heard a talk by Mr. Croke in St.Petersburg,Florida and have read his book.All of the key omissions in estate planning documents he writes about apply to revocable living trusts as well as testamentary trusts and many other types of trusts dependent upon the grantor's needs and funds available. Croke's book is the best book available. None of the others clearly state the options you can include in your revocable living trust to provide for and protect your family.If your organization wants a great speaker on estate planning who also answers your questions,contact Mr.Croke