Disabled beneficiaries
Disabled beneficiaries can lose access to needs-based benefits after an inheritance. To avoid that, you could leave wealth to other relatives in a will under the promise that they will care for the disabled family member. However, there is no guarantee those relatives will comply with your wishes. A revocable trust or a special needs trust will more reliably ensure the disabled beneficiary has sufficient access to funding.
Beneficiaries who need help managing wealth
Without a trust, you can only leave lump-sum wealth transfers to your beneficiaries. With a trust, you can distribute wealth in installments. This may be a good strategy for beneficiaries who have extreme spending habits.