Living Trust vs. Will In Ohio: The Honest Breakdown
Living Trust vs. Will: This may be the most common question in Ohio estate planning, and some of what you find online is written for other states. This video is the honest Ohio breakdown: what a will actually does here, what a revocable living trust actually does, and a nine-factor comparison so you can see exactly where each one wins.
Andrew C. Goodwin, Esq., Principal Attorney at Rhodium Law, walks through the one sentence that clears up the confusion, why a will guarantees probate in Ohio, the four benefits of a living trust, the one cost a trust has (funding), and the combination he recommends for most of the Ohio professionals, business owners, and families he works with: a funded revocable living trust paired with a pour-over will.
What this video covers:
• The one sentence that clears up the will vs. trust confusion
• How probate actually works in Ohio, in brief (the full breakdown is in the probate video linked below)
• What a will does in Ohio, and its limitation: a will guarantees probate
• What a revocable living trust does: the four benefits
• The one cost a trust has: funding, and why an unfunded trust does not deliver
• The nine-factor will vs. trust comparison: probate, privacy, speed, incapacity, minor-children guardianship, out-of-state property, and more
• The real answer for most situations: a funded living trust plus a pour-over will
• When a will-only plan is the right fit
• Why you cannot just DIY a trust online
WATCH FIRST
This video builds on the probate breakdown. Watch first: How Ohio Probate Works (2026):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeXmg51W3rU
CHAPTERS
0:00 Will or trust? The question every Ohio family asks
0:46 Who I am and why this practice exists
1:56 The one sentence that clears up the confusion
2:41 How probate actually works in Ohio
3:44 What a will does in Ohio
4:42 The limitation: a will guarantees probate
5:23 What a living trust does (four benefits)
7:27 The one cost a trust has: funding
8:16 Will vs. trust: the 9-factor comparison
10:26 The real answer: a trust plus a pour-over will
10:58 When a will-only plan is the right fit
12:27 Why you cannot just DIY a trust online
14:00 Drew, give it to me straight
15:10 A living trust is not a luxury
15:36 A final act of provision
16:49 Free guide and next steps
FREE GUIDE
Download the complimentary Trust vs Will Comparison Guide: https://clevelandwillsandtrusts.com.
It walks through the nine-factor comparison from this video in a format you can keep and share.
WORK WITH RHODIUM LAW
For Ohio residents who are ready to put your plan in place, visit clevelandwillsandtrusts.com and click “Book Vision Meeting” or call Rhodium Law at (216) 699-8145.
SUBSCRIBE
We publish a new Ohio estate planning video every Tuesday. Subscribe so your family is never the one learning this the hard way:
https://www.youtube.com/@RhodiumLaw?sub_confirmation=1
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DISCLAIMER: Andrew C. Goodwin is an attorney licensed in the State of Ohio, but watching this video does not make him your attorney and does not create an attorney-client relationship. This video is general information about Ohio estate planning law, not legal advice, and should not be relied on for your specific situation. Estate planning law varies by state and changes over time. If you are ready to create or update an estate plan, please consult a licensed attorney who can review and discuss your specific circumstances.
Strategize. Secure. Shine.
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