A will and a trust are two very different documents. A will is a document that transfers your assets to your loved ones, but only if you hire an attorney and go in front of a probate judge to have it “probated” after you’ve passed. A trust is a private document that does not have to go through probate, even if it holds assets like your house. Trusts are usually used as tools to make administering an estate more convenient for the family, for example, by avoiding needing to hire an attorney and go in front of a probate court. Trusts are also frequently used for asset protection from creditors, divorce protection, and as a means to reduce estate taxes owed when transferring assets to your loved ones.