Wills are legal documents that provide direction on managing certain issues after one passes away.  They can be a cost-effective choice for certain estates.  However, property in a will goes through probate, which is a court-supervised procedure where a judge oversees the distribution of assets.  Many people try to avoid probate because it can be time consuming, costly, and public.  A person who makes a will is called a "testator."  The person assigned by the testator in the will to carry out the testator's wishes is referred to as the "personal representative" or "executor."  A "beneficiary" is one who receives a gift from the will.  

A trust is a legal arrangement where a person gives ownership of property to another person or entity referred to as the "trustee."  The trustee holds property until it needs to be transferred to a trust's beneficiary.  The trustee is often the same person or couple that forms the trust.  Trusts are preferred by many because they avoid probate and can pass property quicker, cheaper, and more privately compared to a will.  They are also used to protect assets from creditors.  Trusts are very flexible and created during one's lifetime ("living" or "inter vivos" trust) or at death ("testamentary" trust).  A will and trust are not mutually exclusive.  A pour-over will is often used in conjunction with a trust to transfer any remaining assets into the trust upon one passing away.  

Md. Health-General Code § 5-602 is part of the Health Care Decisions Act in Maryland and provides for Advanced Directives.  This allows a person to make a written provision of health care for themself or withhold certain care.  It can be used by individuals to decide how they want to be cared for so family members have clear direction about your wishes.  This is a common and useful tool in estate planning.

Establishing guardianship for minor children through a testamentary appointment (also known as testamentary guardianship) is an important reason that families initially pursue estate planning.  Taking control over who will properly care for and raise your children is important so courts and other individuals don't exert more influence than you are comfortable with.  Guardians can also be relevant for a disabled person. See Md. Estates and Trusts Code §§ 13-701 - 13-703.