Will vs. trust, honestly compared
When a will is genuinely enough, and the point at which a trust starts paying for itself.
(c) Learn
Plain words for a field that hides behind Latin
Short explainers written the way we'd explain it across a kitchen table — no billable hours, no jargon for its own sake.
What probate actually costs
A walkthrough of the court process, typical timelines by state, and what your family carries.
Naming a guardian without regret
How to think about the choice, how to name backups, and how to talk to the person first.
Digital assets after death
Photos, crypto, subscriptions, and the accounts your executor legally cannot open.
Funding a trust properly
A trust only protects what it holds. Here's how to retitle a home and move accounts in.
When to update your plan
Six life events that should send you back to your documents within the month.
Glossary
Words you'll meet
- Executor
- The person who carries out the instructions in your will.
- Probate
- The court process that validates a will and supervises distribution.
- Grantor
- The person who creates a trust and places assets into it.
- Pour-over will
- A short will that sweeps anything left outside your trust into it.
- Power of attorney
- Authority for someone to act on your financial matters if you cannot.
- Intestate
- Dying without a valid will; your state's default rules take over.