I also do not have trusts. Mine are all jointly owned with my husband. He is the only one of us with wages. If one of us becomes deceased, assets will not be frozen, as full ownership is simply transfered to the surviving spouse.
All assets are insured and cover public liability. All are crosscollateralised including the ones carrying no debt. All mortgages including PPOR are held by the lender. Even if there is little debt, a maximum credit line is held for future purchases. More importantly, if someone wants to sue you, their lawyer will search into your financial status with the mindset that you can fund their fee. They will find you are fully drawn and all mortgages are held by the lender. It would be a brave lawyer to wish to take on a large lender.
With hubby on wages, he's does also get to pay a lions share of tax, and deduct only 1/2 of all expenses. The situation improves when we sell to reduce debt. If we have held the asset for over a year, then we are entitled to the 50% CGT exemption. Since we jointly owned the asset, only 25% of the CG is added to each of our incomes to be taxed. As I have a lovely tax free threshold, and low income there is very little tax for me.