Most trust do not provide these financial options which are not taught in law schools. As a result, the surviving spouse will only receive a fraction of the income she may need and could have had received if the trust was properly worded to provide for these needs.
The general public believes that the tax laws laws and other regulations control their trusts and leave them few options, if any, other than naming those who are to receive the income and those who will receive the end-value of the trust after the death of the income beneficiary. This is not correct.
A person has many financial options that should be considered prioe to visiting an attorney who will prepare the documents. This book list the major options a grantor has that should be considered and explains the benefit and need for each option.