a will is basically useless for the most part. The problem with a will is it must be adjudicated. That means a court,ie the probate court has to make a ruling and say yes the will is valid and that is what is going to happen. I recommend a will for personal things, like say guns, jewelry. basically anything there is not "title" to.

the purpose of a trust is mainly so that assets can be transferred beyond someone's death. Think of a trust is a contract with a set of instructions that define who manages it and who benefits from it. Its a document that isn't filed anywhere but defines and holds title to things. So lets say your house is your primary assset. Without a will the court will define who is getting what % of it. With a will the court is still going to have to enforce what the will says. HOWEVER if a trust is set up before you die. What you do is transfer title of the property into the trust. A COMMON MISTAKE WITH A TRUST IS ASSETS DON'T ACTUALLY GET TRANSFERRED INTO IT!! This has to be done with the recorders office. Title of the property must be in the name of the trust. That way in order to do anything with the property if its in a trust. you simply take the trust docs with you to the title company. They look who it says is the trustee and the trustee can sign for the sale of the property. There is NO court proceeding to make this happen. The trustee can open bank accounts in the name of the trust. They have `100% control of the asset, but still maintain a fiduciary responsibility to the beneficiaries of the trust.

bank accounts, retirement accounts etc. This can be done 2 ways you can actually have them transferred into the name of the trust. OR you can have the trust be the beneficiary upon death. again this needs to be done at the bank prior. A will can be made so that it direct certain personal things to be given to the trust upon death. Many couples have their things be given to the trust upon their death. however those things would again have to be adjudicated if challenged by potential heirs.

trusts can be used for asset protection, ie irrevocable trusts, or for tax purposes.

what other questions do you have?