# Will vs Trust: What You Really Need

> Your estate plan might need both a will and a trust for smooth inheritance.
- Title: Will vs Trust: What You Really Need · Kiplinger | Shortify
- Summary: Your estate plan might need both a will and a trust for smooth inheritance. A will ensures assets go to chosen heirs after death, while a trust bypasses…
- Keywords: trust, estate planning, probate, revocable living trust, estate plan, family assets, financial planning, Really, Need, Kiplinger
- Source: Kiplinger — https://kiplinger.com/retirement/estate-planning/wills-vs-trusts-whats-right-for-your-family
- Published: 2026-10-04T11:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: will, trust, estate planning, probate, revocable living trust, estate plan, family assets, financial planning
## The core difference
A will traces back to English common law and the Middle Ages, but probate is slow, expensive and public.
## Why probate matters
When you die with a will, your estate goes through probate, a court-supervised process that can delay access to assets.
## How a trust works
A revocable living trust bypasses probate, keeping assets private and allowing faster distribution to chosen heirs.
## Why you might need both
If you have a revocable trust, you still need a will to sweep leftover probate assets into the trust.
## Myths about trusts
Most people think trusts are expensive and only for the wealthy, but 95% of trusts are revocable living trusts.
## Myths about wills
Wills do not avoid probate, and named executors gain no authority until probate is finalized.
## Three key questions
How would your family get by after you're gone? Who will handle the work? How much do you care about privacy?
## What matters most
Privacy, speed of access to assets, and whether to do the work now or later determine the right estate plan.
## Who to ask
Shelby Anderson and Patrick Schultz, Senior Wealth Planners at Clark Capital Management Group, provide expert advice on estate planning.
## The right choice
Your estate plan might need both a will and a trust to ensure smooth inheritance for your family.
## Key takeaway

A will ensures assets go to chosen heirs after death, while a trust bypasses probate for privacy and speed.