Do I need a trust, or is a will enough?

Trusts get talked about like they are either only for rich people or something everyone needs.

Neither is quite right.

A trust is a tool. The question is what problem you are trying to solve.

When a trust may make sense

A revocable living trust can help if you want to avoid probate, keep family details private, manage property in more than one state, plan for incapacity, or control how money is distributed to children or other heirs.

It can also be useful in blended families or situations where an outright inheritance would create problems.

When a will may be enough

If the estate is simple, beneficiary designations are clean, assets are titled properly, and probate is not a major concern, a will and the right powers of attorney may do the job.

The key phrase there is "if everything is clean." That is where assumptions can get expensive.

The part people miss

Creating a trust is not the finish line. The trust has to be funded. Beneficiary designations and account titles have to be reviewed. The investment, tax, and liquidity pieces still need to fit.

I have seen people pay for good estate documents and still leave the family with a mess because no one connected the documents to the financial life.

Better question

Do not start with, "Do I need a trust?"

Start with, "What do I want to happen if I become incapacitated or die, and what would keep that from happening cleanly?"

Then decide whether a trust solves a real problem.