7 Best-Selling Trusts Books Millions Love

Discover best-selling Trusts Books authored by recognized experts including Ronald Farrington Sharp and Steven D. Fisher providing practical estate planning wisdom

Updated on June 28, 2025
We may earn commissions for purchases made via this page

When millions of readers and top experts agree on a book's value, it signals something special. Trusts remain a critical tool in estate planning, offering protection for assets, heirs, and legacies amidst increasing legal complexity. These books have proven their worth by helping countless individuals navigate the nuances of trusts and wills with confidence.

Authors like Ronald Farrington Sharp, Steven D. Fisher, and Martin M. Shenkman bring decades of legal and practical experience to their works. Their books have become staples for those seeking clear guidance on living trusts, wealth management, and state-specific estate planning. Their expertise ensures readers receive reliable, actionable information grounded in real-world practice.

While these popular books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific Trusts needs might consider creating a personalized Trusts book that combines these validated approaches with your unique circumstances. This way, you can focus on the aspects that matter most to your estate planning goals.

Best for probate avoidance beginners
Ronald Farrington Sharp is an attorney who transitioned from family law to specialize in trusts, estate planning, and probate. Since founding his firm in 1975, he has prepared over three thousand trusts and estate plans, bringing extensive hands-on experience to this book. His practical knowledge shapes a guide that removes legal complexity and empowers you to manage trusts confidently without costly legal help.
2017·192 pages·Trusts, Estate Planning, Wills, Probate Avoidance, Asset Protection

Ronald Farrington Sharp's decades of experience in trusts and estate planning led to this approachable guide that clears up common misconceptions about wills and probate. You’ll learn how living trusts can protect your heirs and assets without the legal complexities typically associated with estate planning. Sharp provides practical tools, including sample forms and detailed explanations about avoiding probate, handling online assets, and keeping trustees accountable. This book suits anyone wanting to take control of estate planning without expensive legal fees, especially those helping elderly parents or managing family wealth. It’s straightforward, focusing on real benefits rather than legal jargon.

View on Amazon
Steven D. Fisher’s book offers a straightforward plan to establish your own living trust, a critical tool for managing and protecting your estate. The guide’s clear explanation of how to transfer assets, select trustees, and navigate tax considerations provides practical clarity often missing in estate planning resources. This book is designed for anyone wanting to secure their financial legacy while minimizing probate complications and legal fees. Its step-by-step approach demystifies living trusts and helps you prepare for meaningful discussions with your attorney, making it a valuable addition to your estate planning toolkit.
2008·288 pages·Trusts, Estate Planning, Asset Protection, Tax Planning, Probate Avoidance

What started as a desire to simplify complex estate planning led Steven D. Fisher to create this accessible guide to living trusts. You learn how to effectively manage and protect your assets by transferring ownership into a living trust, avoiding probate, and ensuring your wishes are honored with minimal hassle. The book walks you through key concepts like naming trustees and successor trustees, tax implications, and the risks of poorly drafted trusts. If you want to approach estate planning with confidence and reduce legal uncertainties for your loved ones, this book equips you with the knowledge to engage meaningfully with attorneys and make informed decisions.

View on Amazon
Best for custom estate plans
This AI-created book on trusts is tailored to your experience level, interests, and specific estate planning goals. You tell us which aspects of trusts you want to explore—whether it's asset protection, tax considerations, or probate avoidance—and the book focuses on those areas. This personalized approach helps you learn efficiently by concentrating on the trust topics that matter most to you, providing a clear path through complex legal concepts without unnecessary information.
2025·50-300 pages·Trusts, Estate Planning, Trust Types, Asset Protection, Tax Considerations

This tailored book explores the intricacies of safeguarding assets through trusts, offering a focused examination of estate planning techniques that resonate with your background and goals. It covers essential types of trusts, legal considerations, and asset protection mechanisms, with a particular emphasis on how these tools can be adapted to your unique circumstances. By weaving together knowledge that millions have found valuable, this personalized guide matches your interests and delves deeply into the nuances of trust creation, management, and legal safeguards. The result is a learning experience tailored to enhance your understanding and application of trusts in protecting your estate.

Tailored Blueprint
Asset Protection Focus
3,000+ Books Created
Best for advanced asset protection strategies
Martin M. Shenkman's The Complete Book of Trusts, 2nd Edition offers an in-depth exploration of 30 varied trust types, making it a standout resource in estate planning. Its detailed coverage ranges from setting up trusts for asset management during disability to minimizing taxes and protecting wealth from creditors and Medicaid. This book serves those looking to navigate the legal intricacies of trusts with confidence, providing practical frameworks that address common estate planning challenges. Its thorough approach benefits anyone seeking to secure their assets and ensure financial protection for loved ones through legally sound trust arrangements.
1998·432 pages·Trusts, Estate Planning, Asset Protection, Tax Minimization, Probate Avoidance

When Martin M. Shenkman first realized how complex and varied trusts can be, he set out to create a guide that demystifies their many forms and uses. This book walks you through 30 different types of trusts, explaining how to protect assets from probate, minimize taxes, and shield wealth from creditors and Medicaid, all within legal boundaries. You’ll learn practical setups like Disclaimer Credit Shelter Trusts, GPRTS, and GRATs, gaining insight into managing your estate with precision. If you want a thorough understanding of trust mechanisms to safeguard your family’s financial future, this book offers clear, detailed guidance without unnecessary jargon.

View on Amazon
Charles Arthur is a renowned expert in wealth retention, management, and empowerment techniques, with decades of experience in the field. His deep knowledge informs this book, which unpacks complex trust and will concepts into accessible guidance. Arthur’s proven track record in helping families preserve wealth and avoid legal battles makes this work an authoritative resource for anyone involved in estate planning.
2007·370 pages·Trusts, Estate Planning, Wealth Management, Inheritance, Family Law

Charles Arthur's decades of expertise in wealth retention and management shaped this detailed guide to wills and trusts. You’ll learn not just the legal frameworks but practical strategies for building and preserving family wealth across generations. The book explores common pitfalls like inheritance disputes and offers insight into how clear communication between grantors and beneficiaries can prevent conflict. With chapters on trust types, trustee responsibilities, and privacy, it’s tailored for anyone looking to understand how to safeguard their legacy effectively. Whether you’re setting up a trust or inheriting one, the real-world focus will help you navigate complex family dynamics and legal nuances.

View on Amazon
Your Florida Wills, Trusts, & Estates Explained Simply offers Florida residents a clear roadmap through the often intimidating world of estate planning. Linda C. Ashar draws on her legal background to deliver state-specific advice, breaking down complex topics such as probate, trusts, and taxation into understandable language. This approachable guide helps you make informed decisions about wills and trusts, aiming to ease family burdens and safeguard your assets. Its practical focus on Florida laws makes it a valuable companion for anyone looking to secure their estate with confidence.
2010·288 pages·Trusts, Wills, Estate Planning, Probate, Taxation

Linda C. Ashar's decades of legal experience in Florida estate law led her to write this guide tailored specifically for residents navigating wills, trusts, and estates. You gain a clear understanding of key legal terms like trustee, probate, and beneficiary, along with practical insights into trust agreements, tax issues, and advance directives. The book’s Florida-focused approach demystifies complex processes, enabling you to plan your estate with confidence and reduce family stress in difficult times. If you want straightforward explanations and state-specific guidance on protecting your assets and loved ones, this book will serve you well; it's less suited for readers seeking national or highly technical legal treatises.

View on Amazon
Best for rapid trust setup
This AI-created book on living trusts is written based on your estate planning background and specific goals. You share which trust topics matter most and your experience level, and the book focuses on guiding you step-by-step through trust creation. This personalized approach helps you build your living trust efficiently, matching exactly what you want to learn and accomplish without wading through unnecessary information.
2025·50-300 pages·Trusts, Estate Planning, Living Trusts, Asset Protection, Probate Avoidance

This tailored book explores the essential steps for creating a living trust, designed to match your background and specific estate planning goals. It covers the practical aspects of trust setup, offering a clear, focused pathway to help you establish your trust confidently and efficiently. By concentrating on your interests, it addresses crucial topics like asset protection, probate avoidance, and personalized trust provisions, ensuring you grasp the nuances relevant to your situation. With a personalized approach, the book guides you through rapid trust establishment, demystifying legal terminology and procedural requirements. It reveals how to streamline estate planning by breaking down complex concepts into manageable steps tailored to your needs, making the process accessible and actionable.

Tailored Guide
Trust Setup Expertise
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for practical living trust setup
The Living Trust by Henry W. Abts offers a proven alternative to the costly and time-consuming probate process that many estates face. This book lays out a straightforward legal framework for establishing a living trust, ensuring your assets transfer smoothly and quickly to your heirs. Updated to reflect the latest federal tax laws and legal developments, it serves those planning their estates who want to protect their loved ones from unnecessary expenses and delays. By focusing on practical trust formation and management, it addresses a critical need within the estate planning landscape.
2002·432 pages·Trusts, Estate Planning, Probate Avoidance, Tax Planning, Legal Strategy

Millions have turned to Henry W. Abts’ The Living Trust for a clear, accessible approach to estate planning that sidesteps the traditional pitfalls of probate. Abts draws on his expertise as a living trust authority to unpack how setting up a living trust can save your heirs time and money, avoiding up to 10% of estate costs and lengthy legal delays. You’ll learn why a will alone often falls short and how to implement a trust correctly, with updated federal tax code considerations. If you’re serious about safeguarding your estate and want a straightforward, reliable guide, this book speaks directly to your needs.

View on Amazon
Your North Carolina Wills, Trusts, & Estates Explained Simply Important Information You Need to Know for North Carolina Residents offers a clear roadmap through the complexities of estate planning in North Carolina. Linda C. Ashar, an experienced attorney, has crafted this book to remove the confusion by providing state-specific advice and accessible explanations of legal terms and processes. This book empowers North Carolina residents to confidently make decisions about wills, trusts, and estate administration, addressing a vital need for clarity and preparation that benefits families facing these important life matters.
2011·288 pages·Trusts, Wills, Estate Planning, Probate, Legal Terminology

During her years as an attorney, Linda C. Ashar noticed many clients overwhelmed by estate planning jargon and complex legal processes. Her book breaks down these barriers by explaining wills, trusts, and estates in straightforward terms tailored specifically for North Carolina residents. You’ll learn essential legal concepts like probate, beneficiary rights, and trust administration, along with state-specific details such as survivorship deeds and gift tax issues. This guide is especially useful if you want to take control of your estate planning without legal confusion, making it a solid choice for individuals or families seeking clarity in North Carolina’s legal landscape.

View on Amazon

Proven Trusts Strategies, Personalized

Get trusted estate planning methods adapted to your unique needs and goals.

Targeted estate planning
Custom asset protection
Efficient trust setup

Validated by hundreds of estate planners and trust users

Trusts Mastery Blueprint
30-Day Trust Setup System
Strategic Trust Foundations
Trusts Success Code

Conclusion

The collection of these seven widely-adopted Trusts books reveals common themes: practical approaches to living trusts, strategies for asset protection, and tailored guidance for state-specific laws. Each book offers validated methods trusted by readers and professionals alike.

If you prefer proven methods for probate avoidance and trust setup, start with Ronald Farrington Sharp’s or Henry W. Abts’ guides. For validated, in-depth asset protection, Martin M. Shenkman’s work pairs well with Steven D. Fisher’s step-by-step plan. Meanwhile, those in Florida or North Carolina will find Linda C. Ashar’s books indispensable for local legal clarity.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Trusts book to combine proven methods with your unique needs. These widely-adopted approaches have helped many readers succeed in securing their estates and planning their legacies.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with "Living Trusts for Everyone" by Ronald Farrington Sharp. It offers clear, accessible guidance on avoiding probate and protecting heirs, making it a great entry point for beginners.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Trusts?

No, several books like Fisher’s step-by-step guide break down complex concepts into understandable steps, suitable even if you're new to trusts and estate planning.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with general living trust guides like Sharp’s or Abts’, then move to detailed works such as Shenkman’s for asset protection. Finally, explore state-specific guides if relevant to you.

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick based on your needs. For broad trust setup, one book suffices, but combining titles offers deeper insight, especially for tax or state-specific issues.

Which books focus more on theory vs. practical application?

"The Complete Book of Trusts" covers detailed trust types and legal theory, while "The Complete Guide to Creating Your Own Living Trust" focuses on hands-on, practical steps.

Can I get a Trusts book tailored to my specific needs?

Yes! While these expert books offer solid foundations, a personalized Trusts book can combine proven methods with your unique situation. Check out custom Trusts books for targeted guidance.

📚 Love this book list?

Help fellow book lovers discover great books, share this curated list with others!