YES, YES, YES! Even if you have a Revocable Living Trust—which I hope you do, because that’s one of the Must Have Documents—you still need a Will. And let me explain why.
A Trust Doesn’t Cover Everything
Your Trust is amazing for keeping your estate out of probate, managing your assets, and protecting your loved ones. But it only works for the assets you’ve actually placed into it. That’s called “funding the trust.” If you forget—or just don’t get around to—moving some assets into your Trust, they won’t be covered by it.
That’s where your Will steps in. Specifically, I want you to have what’s called a Pour-Over Will. This kind of Will acts like a safety net—it catches anything you didn’t put into the Trust and “pours” it over into the Trust after you pass away.
What Happens If You Don’t Have a Will?
If you die without a Will—even if you have a Trust—any assets not in that Trust will be distributed according to your state’s laws of intestacy. That means the courts, not you, decide who gets what. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want a judge making those decisions for my loved ones.
Bottom Line
Here’s what you need to know:
A Trust manages and distributes the assets you put into it.
A Pour-Over Will makes sure anything you didn’t put into the Trust still ends up there.
Having both is not extra—it’s essential. They work together to protect your wishes, your legacy, and your family.
Please don’t think having a Trust means you’re totally covered. A Will is part of the complete Must Have Documents package. When you have both in place, you’re not only being smart—you’re being loving, responsible, and in control of your future.