Storage Units

What happens to a storage unit when someone dies without a trust?

When someone dies without a trust or clear estate plan, a storage unit and everything inside it typically becomes part of the probate estate, meaning a court oversees how it gets distributed. Family members usually cannot access the unit until they have legal authority — such as letters testamentary — which can take months to obtain. Storage fees continue accumulating during that time, and if bills go unpaid, the facility may auction the contents. Transferring a storage unit into a revocable living trust while you're alive allows your successor trustee to access and manage it without court involvement.