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Do I need a will or a trust?

Eight quick questions. You'll see whether a simple will is likely enough, whether a living trust could help, or whether your situation is worth an hour with an estate attorney, and why.

Do you have children under 18?
Do you own real estate in more than one state?
Is it important that what you leave, and to whom, stays private?
Do you want someone ready to manage your property if you can't, without going to court?
Do you want an heir to receive money over time, not all at once (for example a young adult, or someone who struggles with money)?
Does anyone you'll leave money to have a disability and receive (or may need) government benefits such as SSI or Medicaid?
Are you married with children from a prior relationship, and want to provide for both your spouse and those children?
Is your estate worth more than about $5 million, or do you own a business or farm?

General information, not legal advice. The quiz runs in your browser; nothing is sent to us.

Everyone needs a will, even with a trust

A will is the standard place to name a guardian for your children; a living trust can't do it. And people with a living trust still sign a short "pour-over" will that sends anything left outside the trust into it. Accounts with a beneficiary form, such as IRAs and life insurance, pass by that form, so keep those up to date whichever you choose.

Read more: Will vs. living trust and how to avoid probate.

Fifteen minutes today. Generations of good.

Write your will, choose your causes, and print it for signing. It's free, and your answers stay on your device.

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