A living trust ensures your loved ones won't go through enormous expense and delays of dealing with the courts after your death ("probate"). A will does not avoid probate, but a living trust does. You can also completely customize how you want your everything handled upon your death. In addition to planning for your affairs after your death, a living trust also allows you to appoint individuals to manage your affairs should you become incapacitated (alzheimer's, dementia, coma, etc.).