The claims are too good to be true. No trust will avoid all income taxes for you, no trust will allow you to stop pay self employment taxes, and no trust will turn your family into a business with thousands of dollars of business expense deductions. The salesmen are the nicest, most sincere people you've ever met. They promise you exactly what you want, when you want it. The trust documents are often pre-printed , with the client's names, the names of trustees, and the distribution plans typed in later.
Clients never have an opportunity to talk to an attorney.
They are often assured that an attorney has looked at their file and has approved it, or that attorneys review all of the cases. In some cases the salesman will masquerade as an attorney, and will not give a straight answer if asked if he is an attorney. Clients are often told they should not seek a second opinion from an attorney. Difficulties encountered with a living trust are either glossed over, or dismissed entirely. After the death of a trustor, administration of a trust may cost more than original fee to set up the trust.