When clients come to us for estate planning, one of the first questions they ask is: do I need a will or a trust? It's one of the most common points of confusion in estate planning — and understandably so. Both documents serve important purposes, but they work very differently and are not interchangeable.

The honest answer is that many South Florida families benefit from having both. But the right approach depends entirely on your situation. Here's what you need to know.

Most people know they should have a will. Far fewer actually have one. If you've been putting off estate planning — for any reason — this article is worth reading before you put it off any longer.

Dying without a will in Florida is called dying "intestate." When it happens, Florida law — not you — decides what happens to your assets, your property, and in some cases, your children.