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Trusts created during your lifetime, known as living trusts, do not go into the public record after you die. With rare exceptions, trusts remain private regardless of whether you have an irrevocable or revocable trust at the time of your death.

In the state of California, living trusts are not recorded anywhere, which means that the document itself remains private even in the event of the person's death.

Asset protection trusts offer a way to transfer a portion of your assets into a trust run by an independent trustee. The trust's assets will be out of the reach of most creditors, and you can receive occasional distributions. These trusts may even allow you to shield the assets for your children.

Your Life Savings. Savings accounts usually are fair game in a lawsuit. However, retirement accounts, such as a 401(k) and IRAs, are typically protected from a liability lawsuit.

Decide which kind of trust you want. For maximum flexibility, a revocable trust is best because you can adjust it as many times as you like while you're alive. In general, irrevocable trusts are best for those who have extensive assets, since these trusts offer greater tax benefits and asset protection.

Protects privacy better Because a will is a public document, anyone can get a copy of it after your death from the county records. But a living trust is totally private. With a trust, no one can know the details without the trustee sharing that information.

Another downside of living trusts is that transferring assets can be both time-consuming and complicated. If you hold a variety of assets, you'll need to contact your different banks and agents to have everything you own moved over -- a process that could involve a fair amount of paperwork.