Question

What is the difference between a will and a living trust?

Answer

A will directs how your assets are distributed after death and names guardians for minor children, but it must pass through probate — a public, court-supervised process. A revocable living trust holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them to your beneficiaries at death without probate, preserving privacy and allowing for faster distribution. Most families benefit from both: a trust as the primary distribution vehicle and a pour-over will to capture assets not formally titled in the trust.

About Mercer Advisors

We exist so you don’t have to worry about money. For more than 40 years, we’ve taken the sophisticated, time-tested approach that many ultra-high net worth individuals use to help manage their financial lives and made it accessible to more families.

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