When Is a Will Enough — And When Do You Really Need a Trust?
From Passing It On: Estate Planning for Families by Michael Pevney
January 12, 2026 · 14 min
About this episode
Michael Pevney discusses the differences between wills and trusts in estate planning, particularly in California.
In this episode, I dive into one of the most common estate planning questions I get: Is a will enough? Or do I need a trust? I break down when a will might be appropriate — and why, in most cases here in California, it falls short. Especially if you own real estate or have young kids, relying on just a will could cost your family tens of thousands of dollars and years of court time. You'll learn: What a will actually does (and doesn't do) Why a will does NOT avoid probate in California The types of people who might be okay with a will When a living trust becomes essential How probate works — and why we want to avoid it at all costs Why control matters when passing assets to kids or beneficiaries The 2 other must-have documents: Power of Attorney and Advance Healthcare Directive Whether you're starting your estate plan or just trying to figure out the difference between a will and a trust, this episode will give you a solid foundation. 👋 I'm Michael Pevney, an estate planning lawyer based in Orange County. I help families all over California set up custom estate plans that protect what they've built and avoid court. 🔗 Book a free strategy session with me at…
People in this episode
Host: Michael Pevney
Topics covered
- estate planning
- wills
- trusts
- probate
- financial planning
- family protection
Keywords
- will
- trust
- probate
- estate planning
- Power of Attorney
- Advance Healthcare Directive
- California law
- real estate
- young kids
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Pevney Estate Planning, PC
Places: California, Orange County, Laguna Hills
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