Most Massachusetts plans use both, because the two documents do different jobs. A will takes effect only at death: it says who inherits, names the person who settles your estate (known as the “Personal Representative), and is the only document that can name a guardian for minor children. A trust works from the day you sign it, so the Trustees have authority to control the Trust assets even if you become unable to, and it keeps the assets it owns out of probate. Which combination fits you is a question that is addressed in the Estate Planning Intake meeting.

Three things people rarely hear about: If illness or injury leaves you unable to manage your finances, your successor trustee steps in without a court proceeding. A trust is usually never filed with the court, so your family's affairs stay private. And it keeps working after your death, holding a child's inheritance until an age you chose rather than handing it over at eighteen. It does not protect assets from creditors or nursing home costs.

Yes, three of them. The day your child turned eighteen, your automatic right to their medical information and medical decisions ended, which is why a hospital may not be able to tell you anything. A health care proxy lets them name you to make medical decisions if they cannot, a HIPAA authorization lets doctors talk to you about everyday matters, and a durable power of attorney covers the bank account, the lease, and the paperwork while they are away.

State law decides, using a fixed list that starts with your spouse and children and works outward through relatives. The results surprise people most often in blended families, where a spouse may not inherit everything. The statute recognizes only legal relationships, so an unmarried partner, a stepchild you never adopted, or a close friend inherits nothing. The court also chooses who settles your estate and who raises your minor children.