Avoiding Trust Mill Peddlers

There are some businesses designed to sell estate plans that have no business doing so. They will use non-attorney sales people to talk you into buying a trust that you do not need. These businesses are called trust mill peddlers.

Businessman Giving out Card

People often want to learn about estate planning and what they can do to protect their assets after they pass away. Knowing this, there are some businesses that will purport to offer free estate planning information. However, the real purpose is not to give out free information.

The real purpose is to get people face to face with salesmen who will convince the victim to purchase an estate plan from the business.

As the Times Herald points out in “Trust mill peddlers are alive and well,” these offers are nothing more than a way to get you to buy an over-priced standard trust form.

The whole process starts off innocent enough. The businesses often start out by sending out a mailer asking if you are interested in learning about estate planning. If you are, then the mailer instructs you to fill out a provided response card and they will send you a free book.

When the business receives the card, they call you and offer to have the book personally delivered to your home by a representative or they invite you to a free seminar where you can learn about estate planning.

The original article includes a helpful list of warning signs that you might be dealing with a trust mill peddler.

The list includes:

  • Informational meetings that include a free meal.
  • Mailing cards to your home offering free information.
  • Sending non-attorneys to your home to talk about estate planning.
  • Businesses that try to sell you an estate plan and also offer other services, such as insurance, mortgages, and tax help.

If you want to get an estate plan done right, you need to see an experienced estate planning attorney. Do not be fooled by a trust mill peddler!

Please contact our office today at 239-225-7911 to schedule an appointment with Barbara M. Pizzolato if you are interested in protecting your legacy and need to create or update your estate plan. You may also wish to attend one of our free seminars.

Reference: Times Herald (November 22, 2014) “Trust mill peddlers are alive and well

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