When we think about wills, many of us assume they're only necessary for the wealthy. The reality, however, is that a will is an essential legal document for anyone who owns anything of value—whether that’s a car, a house, or even a prized art collection.

Many people use the terms “will” and “trust” interchangeably, but these documents are very different. In many cases, it’s wise to set up both a will and a trust as components of a comprehensive estate plan.