A will and a trust are both estate planning tools, but they serve different purposes. Your last will and testament is a legal document that outlines how you want your assets distributed after death, but it must go through the probate process, which is often pretty lengthy and expensive. A trust, on the other hand, is a legal arrangement that allows you to transfer your assets into a secure trust, where they are managed for the benefit of your beneficiaries and distributed according to your wishes. Another key difference is that a will is a public record, while trusts are typically private. Not only that, but trusts avoid probate, which means you can preserve your assets for your heirs without the hassle of probate court.