As we enter 2026, the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has fundamentally undermined the foundations upon which legal systems establish valid evidence for inheritance and succession. Video-recorded wills and lawyer-notarized documents—long regarded as the “gold standard” in family wealth planning—are now facing an unprecedented credibility crisis. With deepfake technology capable of generating high-resolution video and voice replicas within seconds and at minimal cost, disputes among ultra-wealthy families are no longer confined to courtrooms; they have expanded into battles over the authenticity of pixels themselves.

In early 2026, a prominent industrial tycoon passed away, leaving behind a video will that designated his successor. Other heirs, however, hired AI experts who argued that the recording was a deepfake created using “semantic voiceprint synthesis.” This case prompted a stark warning from a senior family wealth advisor (Family CFO): traditional will structures are exceptionally fragile in the digital age. Even with lawyers present, even with video documentation, dissatisfied heirs can still claim that the footage was “AI-generated” or “technologically manipulated.”

“Lawyers can only prove that the person appeared at the time of recording,” the expert noted, “but they cannot prove that the digital file was not altered by AI afterward.” In fully digitized court proceedings, digital evidence lacking a robust digital fingerprint now carries significantly reduced credibility. As a result, many families find themselves trapped in prolonged “technical authentication disputes” after the passing of a patriarch or matriarch, with assets frozen for years.

‍

Why Are Living Trusts Immune to AI Forgery?

Faced with the challenges posed by AI, high-net-worth individuals are rapidly shifting toward living trust structures—trusts that take effect during the settlor’s lifetime. This is not merely a psychological preference, but a strategic response grounded in legal and practical “fact-based defenses.”

A will is a document that takes effect only after death, and its authenticity depends entirely on a static piece of paper or a single recording. A living trust, by contrast, involves the transfer of assets, the opening of accounts, and active operation during the settlor’s lifetime. When a trust has been in operation for three to five years, supported by repeated signed instructions from the settlor, bank transaction records, and actual income distributions, these continuous behavioral records form an irreversible “chain of facts.” AI may forge a moment—but it cannot convincingly fabricate years of ongoing execution.

Moreover, when a living trust is established, ownership of the assets is legally transferred to the trustee (such as a trust company or professional fiduciary). Ownership has already changed hands. The dispute among heirs is no longer about “who owns the money,” but about “how the benefits are distributed.” This structural shift fundamentally isolates assets from the risk of malicious freezes caused by inheritance disputes.

In the deepfake era, legal procedures protect form—but chains of facts protect substance. Rather than leaving behind a video that may be questioned, it is far wiser to establish a legally protected, continuously operating trust entity during one’s lifetime. This is not merely a technological upgrade—it is a profound commitment to long-term family stability and peace.

From a trust perspective, the core question is not “who do I want to give assets to,” but “can the assets actually be delivered as intended?” A will can only specify how assets should be divided; a trust allows you to design how assets are managed over a lifetime and how family members are protected. A will is more like a “final instruction” than a complete succession framework. If the goal is not only smooth distribution, but also long-term protection and phased support for loved ones, a will alone is often far from sufficient.

‍

About Dreamer Group

The Dreamer team specializes in integrating the advantages of cross-border asset structuring.

From personal trusts and family trusts to offshore company formation, tax compliance, and international asset allocation, we build bespoke solutions for enterprises and families—grounded in robust systems and bridged by trust—designed to be both resilient and globally competitive.

Let every global deployment become the foundation upon which dreams are realized.

‍