Trust fund kid. The term conjures up images of entitlement, snobbery, and pastel golf shirts. Daddy’s spoiled little brats account for only a little more than 1% of the U.S. population (there’s that maligned 1% again). When compared to the approximately 22% of Americans who inherited money, those who did so via a trust fund are an especially small minority.

Whether or not you believe in the afterlife, there’s one thing that can’t be disputed: debt after death lives on. Seventy-three percent of Americans die with some form of debt to their name, with an average debt of $61,554, including home loans, according to Credit.com.

While the deceased might escape the creditors, their survivors don’t. This can be a source of stress for survivors, but contrary to popular belief, family members are not responsible for paying outstanding debt in most cases. The exceptions are community property states (Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Alaska) where a spouse can be held responsible for the debts of another.

As an attorney, you understand the value of a trust protector for an irrevocable trust. While “set in stone,” the trust still needs someone to watch over it and ensure it can adapt to changes in the law and/or resolve differences between trustees and beneficiaries.