MARK KOHLERMain Street Professionals, Main Street Professionals, Main Street Professionals, Main Street Professionals, Main Street Professionals, LLC · Owner at Main Street Professionals, LLC

Protect Your Money with a Will or Trust?

6 Nov 2025 · 1 min

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In this segment, Mark Kohler explains the fundamental differences between a traditional will and a revocable living trust as estate‑planning tools. He defines a will as a legal document that designates heirs, guardians for minor children, and an executor, but warns that every will must undergo probate—a public, court‑supervised process that can take nine to eighteen months and cost thousands in legal fees. He then contrasts this with a revocable living trust, describing it as a “bucket” created during the grantor’s lifetime into which assets are transferred. The grantor retains full control and can amend the trust at any time. Upon death, the trust’s designated trustees distribute the assets according to the grantor’s instructions without any court involvement, allowing for faster, private, and potentially cheaper asset transfer. The overall message is that a revocable living trust offers greater flexibility and avoids the drawbacks of probate associated with wills.

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A will is a legal document that says who gets what when you die. It also lets you name guardians for your minor children and an executor to carry out your will. But here's the catch. A will, no matter how beautifully written or notarized, must go through probate, which is a public court process which can often take nine to 18 months and usually costs thousands of dollars in legal fees. The purpose of the probate is to have a court verify that your will is valid and accurate and you really wrote it and it's just a public mess to get that process done now. On the flip A revocable living trust is the ability to not only say who gets what, but when and how. And you create this bucket during your lifetime. You put your assets into it. You control it, and while you're alive, you can make changes anytime you want. But when you pass away, your chosen trustees distribute everything without court involvement. That's the beauty of the when and how.