The One Big Beautiful Bill made headlines for raising the estate tax exemption — but buried in the footnotes is a provision that tax lawyers are calling a double taxation problem for family trusts. It’s not just a concern for the ultra-wealthy. Special needs trusts, spousal trusts, and life insurance trusts may all be affected. Here’s what you need to know right now — and what to do before the end of the year.

When a loved one dies, debt collectors may call within days — implying that family members are responsible for balances they may have no legal obligation to pay. Debt doesn’t transfer to heirs the way assets do, but the exceptions matter enormously. Learn what really happens to debt after death, which situations create genuine personal liability, and how the right plan ensures your family knows exactly who to call when those calls come in.

A living trust created during your lifetime works very differently from a trust buried in your will — and the difference could save your family months of court delays, thousands in legal fees, and enormous stress during an already difficult time. In Part 2, learn exactly how a revocable living trust works, why funding it is the step most people miss, and how to decide which approach truly fits your family’s needs.