The Trusty Blog

Quick Answer

A Will is a legally binding document that outlines who inherits your assets and how your estate is handled. A Letter of Wishes is a non-binding, personal document that explains your reasoning, provides guidance, and adds context your Will isn’t designed to capture. They serve different purposes: one provides legal structure, the other provides human understanding. Many people use both to combine clarity with care.

What a Will Does (And Is Designed to Do)

A Will is a formal legal document with a specific role: to ensure your estate is distributed according to your instructions after you pass away.

It names your executor, identifies beneficiaries, and sets out legally enforceable directions about who receives what. Because it must hold up in probate, it’s written in precise legal language and follows strict formal requirements.

Wills are intentionally structured and specific. They’re updated infrequently because changes typically require legal processes, witnesses, and professional guidance. That formality is what gives them their authority, and it’s also what defines their limits.

A Will is designed to handle the legal framework of your estate. It isn’t meant to explain your values, share personal messages, or capture the nuance behind your decisions. That’s not a shortcoming. It’s simply not what the document is for.

What a Letter of Wishes Is (And Why It Exists)

A Letter of Wishes is a personal, non-binding document that sits alongside your Will. Its purpose is to provide the context and guidance that legal documents can’t.

You may also hear it called a letter of memorandum, memorandum of wishes, or estate wishes letter. While the terminology varies, the intent is the same: it’s a place to explain your thinking in your own words and offer guidance that reflects how you want things handled, not just what the law requires.

People often create a Letter of Wishes after completing a Will, when they realize there’s more they want to communicate. They may want to explain why certain decisions were made, how personal items should be passed on, or what matters most to them beyond legal instructions.

A Letter of Wishes exists because not everything meaningful belongs in a legal document. Some things need to be shared in a human voice, with room for warmth, nuance, and change.

Will vs. Letter of Wishes: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Legal Status

• Will: Legally binding
• Letter of Wishes: Non-binding guidance
  

Primary Purpose

• Will: Distributes assets according to law
• Letter of Wishes: Explains reasoning and provides context
  

Language & Tone

• Will: Formal, legal terminology
• Letter of Wishes: Personal, conversational
  

Update Frequency

• Will: Infrequent (requires legal process)
• Letter of Wishes: Can be updated anytime
  

Privacy

• Will: Becomes public record after probate
• Letter of Wishes: Can remain private
  

What It Captures Well

• Will: Asset distribution, executor appointment, guardianship
• Letter of Wishes: Personal reasoning, family dynamics, sentimental items
  

What It Doesn’t Capture

• Will: Emotional context, personal messages
• Letter of Wishes: Legally enforceable instructions
  

Who Drafts It

• Will: Typically a lawyer
• Letter of Wishes: You, in your own words

Both documents serve your estate plan, but in different ways. One ensures legal compliance. The other ensures understanding.

Why Many People Choose to Have Both

Most people who create a Letter of Wishes already have a Will. They’re not trying to replace their legal planning, they’re trying to complete it.

Here’s why both often make sense together:

Personal items that don’t belong in a Will.
Wills typically focus on major assets and legal distributions. They don’t realistically capture everything that matters — collections, jewelry, artwork, heirlooms, or personal belongings that carry emotional value. Including all of these in a Will can be impractical or inappropriate. A Letter of Wishes gives you a place to share how you’d like these items passed on, and why they matter.

Guidance for situations that require judgment.
Executors often face decisions that aren’t black and white. A Letter of Wishes can explain your values, priorities, and hopes, helping them navigate situations where legal instructions alone aren’t enough.

Reducing confusion and emotional guesswork.
During an already difficult time, uncertainty can lead to stress or conflict. A Letter of Wishes helps your family understand not just what you decided, but the intention behind it, which can be deeply reassuring.

Put simply: a Will answers what. A Letter of Wishes explains why.

Where Trusty Fits (Without Replacing Anything)

Trusty is designed to work with your existing estate plan, not replace it.

Trusty is your modern Estate Binder — the single place where your Will, your Letter of Wishes, and the broader context around your estate live together. It brings legal documents, personal guidance, and access into one clear, organized reference point.

At its core, Trusty exists to make sure the things that matter most aren’t lost, overlooked, or misunderstood. It connects important information to the people who will actually need it, so they can find what they’re looking for when the time comes, without digging through folders, inboxes, or half-remembered conversations.

Trusty lets you securely share the right information with the right people, whether that’s your executor, a family member, or an advisor, and be clear about what they should have access to and when. Nothing is left to chance. Nothing relies on someone “just knowing.”

If you already have a Will, Trusty doesn’t ask you to redo anything. It protects the work you’ve already done by making it accessible, understandable, and usable when it matters most.

Trusty doesn’t compete with your planning.

It ensures it actually works in real life.

Do I Need Both a Will and a Letter of Wishes?

You don’t need both, but many people find having both helpful.

This is especially true if you already have a Will, if you have meaningful personal items that aren’t easily addressed in legal documents, or if you want to reduce ambiguity for your family and executor.

A Letter of Wishes isn’t required. It doesn’t add legal weight. What it adds is clarity, and for many people, that’s what makes their estate plan feel complete.

If you’re unsure whether it makes sense for you, ask yourself one simple question: is there anything I’d want my family or executor to understand that my Will doesn’t explain?

If the answer is yes, a Letter of Wishes may be worth considering.

People Also Ask

Do I need a Letter of Wishes if I already have a Will?‍

You don’t need one, but many people use it to explain decisions and provide context their Will isn’t designed to capture.

Is a Letter of Wishes legally binding?‍

No. It’s a non-binding document that offers guidance and insight, not enforceable instructions.

What’s the difference between a Will and a Letter of Wishes?‍

A Will is a legal document that dictates asset distribution. A Letter of Wishes explains the reasoning and intentions behind those decisions.

Can I update my wishes without changing my Will?‍

Yes. Because a Letter of Wishes is non-binding, it can be updated anytime without legal processes or fees.

How does a Letter of Wishes connect to my Will?‍

It lives alongside your Will as part of your Trusty Estate Binder, bringing together legal instructions and personal context so your family and executor understand not just the outcomes, but the intentions behind them.

Your Estate Plan Can Be Both Clear and Human

If you have a Will, you’ve already taken a meaningful step toward protecting the people you care about. A Letter of Wishes simply builds on that foundation by adding clarity, context, and care.

You’re not redoing legal work. You’re not complicating your plan. You’re making it easier for others to understand your decisions when you’re not there to explain them.

Estate planning doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. It can evolve over time, one thoughtful step at a time.

Read: What Is a Letter of Wishes
Read: How Trusty Fits With Your Will & Estate Plan

Start your Estate Binder with Trusty

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Quick Answer

A Letter of Wishes is a personal, non-binding document that sits alongside your Will. It provides context, explanations, and guidance to your family and executor that don’t belong in formal legal language.

Unlike a Will, which is legally binding and dictates how assets are distributed, a Letter of Wishes explains your reasoning, values, and intentions in your own words. It does not replace your Will, it helps people understand it.

What a Letter of Wishes Is (In Plain Language)

A Letter of Wishes is exactly what it sounds like: a place to express your wishes, in plain language, about matters that affect your estate and your family.

It’s a personal document that lives alongside your Will. While your Will provides legal instructions about who gets what, a Letter of Wishes provides the human context behind those decisions. It explains your reasoning, offers guidance to your executor, and speaks directly to the people you care about.

You may also hear this referred to as a letter of memorandum, memorandum of wishes, or an estate wishes letter. While terminology varies, “Letter of Wishes” is the most commonly used term for this type of personal, non-binding guidance.

The distinction is simple: your Will is formal and binding. Your Letter of Wishes is personal and flexible.

Why People Create a Letter of Wishes

Most people create a Letter of Wishes because they want their family to understand not just what they decided, but why.

A Will establishes the legal structure of your estate. It answers questions like who receives what and who is responsible. But by necessity, it focuses on major legal assets and formal instructions.

What it doesn’t capture are the many meaningful parts of a life that don’t fit neatly into a legal document.

Things like collections, jewelry, artwork, heirlooms, personal items, or family possessions that carry emotional value but may not warrant individual mention in a Will. Including every meaningful item can be impractical, overwhelming, or simply not appropriate for a legal document.

A Letter of Wishes fills that gap.

It gives you a place to explain how you’d like personal items passed on, share the stories behind them, and provide guidance that helps your family understand your intentions without needing everything formalized in legal language.

Your Will handles structure.
A Letter of Wishes handles meaning and understanding.

Is a Letter of Wishes Legally Binding?

No, and that’s intentional.

A Letter of Wishes is not a legal document. It doesn’t override your Will, and it doesn’t create enforceable obligations. While that may sound like a limitation, it’s actually what makes the document so useful.

Because it’s non-binding, you can update it whenever your thinking changes. There’s no need to involve a lawyer, pay legal fees, or formally amend legal documents. You can speak freely, adjust your guidance over time, and add context as life evolves.

Executors and family members read it for clarity and insight, not legal instruction. That flexibility allows it to remain current, personal, and meaningful.

Letter of Wishes vs. Will (A Simple Comparison)

Will

• Legal document
• Legally binding
• Written in legal language
• Updated infrequently
• Dictates what happens
• Becomes public after probate

Letter of Wishes

• Personal document
• Non-binding guidance
• Written in your own voice
• Can be updated anytime
• Explains why and how
• Can remain private

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Both documents serve your estate plan, just in different ways. One provides the legal framework. The other provides the human context.

What People Include in a Letter of Wishes

There’s no required format or content for a Letter of Wishes. That flexibility is part of the point.

Most people use it to add clarity where legal documents are intentionally limited. Common inclusions are explanations behind how assets are divided (especially if choices may surprise someone), guidance for executors on decisions that require discretion, and personal messages that help family members understand intent rather than assume meaning.

The goal isn’t to be exhaustive. It’s to reduce uncertainty and give your loved ones insight that formal documents can’t provide.

How Trusty Makes Letters of Wishes Easier to Maintain

Trusty is your modern Estate Binder — a single place to organize your Will, supporting documents, and the personal context that connects them.

Instead of treating a Letter of Wishes as a static document, Trusty lets you build and update your wishes over time. You can add context gradually, revise it as life changes, and keep it alongside the documents your executor and family will already be looking for.

Nothing here replaces legal advice or formal estate planning. Trusty simply gives your personal guidance a clear, accessible home, so it’s easy to find, easy to update, and easy to understand when it matters.

Can I Have a Letter of Wishes If I Already Have a Will?

Yes, and in fact, people who already have Wills are often the ones who benefit most from a Letter of Wishes.

If you’ve gone through the process of creating a Will, you’ve already thought carefully about how your estate should be handled. A Letter of Wishes gives you a way to explain the thinking behind those decisions without reopening legal documents.

It doesn’t replace or modify your Will. It complements it. Many people simply reference the existence of their Letter of Wishes when updating their Will, while keeping the document itself flexible and separate.

For a deeper explanation of how these pieces work together, see our guide on How Trusty Fits With Your Will & Estate Plan.

People Also Ask

Do I need a Letter of Wishes if I already have a Will?‍

You don’t need one, but many people find it helpful for explaining decisions, sharing intentions, and giving guidance around personal items or situations their Will isn’t designed to capture.

Is a Letter of Wishes legally binding?‍

No. A Letter of Wishes is non-binding, which allows it to remain flexible, personal, and easy to update.

What should I include in a Letter of Wishes?‍

Many people include explanations for decisions, guidance for executors, and personal context that doesn’t belong in legal documents, such as wishes around meaningful personal items, family dynamics, guardianship preferences, care for pets, burial or memorial wishes, and messages they want loved ones to understand.

Can I update my wishes without changing my Will?‍

Yes. Because a Letter of Wishes is non-binding, you can update it at any time without modifying your Will.

How does a Letter of Wishes connect to my Will?‍

It sits alongside your Will as part of your Trusty Estate Binder, bringing together your legal documents and personal wishes in one place so your family and executor can understand not just the outcomes, but the thinking, care, and intentions behind them.

A Letter of Wishes Isn’t More Paperwork — It’s Clarity

Creating a Letter of Wishes isn’t about adding another task to your estate planning checklist. It’s about making sure the people you care about understand your choices when you’re not there to explain them yourself.

It’s optional. It’s flexible. And it’s deeply human.

You can start small, update it over time, and use it to provide reassurance and clarity that legal documents alone can’t offer.

Start your Estate Binder with Trusty — and give your family a clearer place to begin.

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Quick Answer

Your Will is a legal document that outlines who gets what after you pass away. Trusty doesn’t replace your Will, it works alongside it.

Trusty is your Estate Binder: a single place to securely store and reference your Will, keep the most up-to-date version accessible, and organize the broader estate information your family, executor, and advisors will need. It also gives you space to capture the stories, context, and wishes your Will was never meant to hold, so the people you love aren’t left guessing when it matters most.

What a Will Does (And Is Designed to Do)

A Will serves a clear and important legal purpose. It names your executor, designates guardians for minor children, and specifies how your assets should be distributed. It’s an enforceable document that guides probate and ensures your wishes are carried out according to the law.

In other words, your Will answers the essential legal questions: who receives what, who’s responsible, and how decisions should be handled. If you have one, you’ve already done something many people never get to. It’s a foundational step in caring for the people you love.

For a high-level, non-legal overview of estate planning and preparing important documents, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) offers accessible, family-focused guidance on how wills and related planning tools are typically used in the United States.

In Canada, the Government of Canada provides clear, plain-language information on what a will is, how it works, and why it matters as part of estate planning.

What a Will Doesn’t Capture (And Why That Matters)

Wills are designed for courtrooms, not living rooms. They’re built to be legally precise, not emotionally complete — and that’s intentional.

A Will doesn’t explain why you made certain decisions. It doesn’t tell your family where to find insurance policies, account details, or important documents. It can’t capture the story behind your grandmother’s ring, a family cottage, or a collection that mattered deeply to you.

A Will answers legal questions. Families still have practical and emotional ones.

Most importantly, a Will doesn’t give your loved ones a single, clear place to start. Instead, they’re often left piecing together scattered documents, emails, conversations, and best guesses — usually during an already overwhelming time.

The Estate Binder Most Families Don’t Have

Many estate planners recommend creating what’s often called an Estate Binder: a centralized place to organize key documents, important information, and guidance for your family, executor, and advisors.

You may hear it called different things: an estate organizer, a legacy binder, a death binder, or even a life binder. The names vary, but the idea is the same: a single place someone could go to understand your affairs if they needed to step in.

In theory, it’s meant to hold everything your family or executor would need to find answers without searching through filing cabinets, email inboxes, or half-remembered conversations.

In theory, it’s a great idea.

In practice, most people don’t actually have one.

Information lives in filing cabinets, email inboxes, safety deposit boxes, and conversations that were never written down. Families assume someone will “figure it out,” but when the time comes, there’s often no clear starting point.

Trusty is designed to be your Estate Binder, and is built for how we actually live today.

It gives you one organized place to reference documents, record what you own, note where things are located, and share information your family, executor, or advisors will need. Not as a stack of papers, but as something you can update over time, in your own words.

Your Will vs. a Letter of Wishes: A Clear Comparison That Makes a Big Difference

What Is a Letter of Wishes?

A Letter of Wishes is a personal, non-binding document that sits alongside your Will. It’s a place to explain decisions, share context, and offer guidance that doesn’t belong in formal legal language.

You may also hear this type of document referred to as a letter of memorandum or a personal memorandum. While the terminology varies, the purpose is the same: to capture intent, explanation, and personal guidance that legal documents aren’t designed to hold.

People often use a Letter of Wishes to explain why certain choices were made, share stories about meaningful items, or offer personal guidance to executors and family members navigating complex or emotional decisions.

Is a Letter of Wishes Legally Binding?

No — and that’s by design.

A Letter of Wishes isn’t legally enforceable, which means it doesn’t override your Will or carry weight in court. That flexibility is what makes it useful. You can be personal, change it over time, and include details that would feel out of place in a legal document.

Will vs. Letter of Wishes

Your Will is legally binding, formal to create or update, and focuses on legal distribution using structured legal language for courts and probate.

• Legally binding
• Formal to create or update
• Focuses on legal distribution of assets
• Written in legal language
• Guides courts and the probate process

Your Letter of Wishes is not legally binding, easy to update, and captures personal context and guidance in your own voice to help family, executor, and decision-makers.

• Not legally binding
• Easy to update at any time
• Focuses on context, intent, and personal guidance
• Written in your own voice
• Guides family members and decision-makers

Both serve important roles. Your Will provides legal structure. A Letter of Wishes provides human context.

How Trusty Uses Letters of Wishes to Go Further

This is where Trusty goes beyond a traditional Letter of Wishes.

Trusty is designed to capture Letters of Wishes across many parts of your life, not just assets. It gives you space to share guidance, preferences, and personal context your Will was never meant to formalize.

This may include things like:

• Assets and heirlooms, assigning them to an heir and explaining why they matter
• End-of-life or memorial preferences, such as tone, wishes, or considerations you don’t want locked into legal language
• Care guidance for loved ones or dependents, including routines, relationships, or details that help others step in thoughtfully
• Personal values or messages, shared in writing or video, for the people who matter most

Each entry focuses on clarity and understanding, not legal instruction, so your wishes are understood, not just recorded.

Trusty captures the full story of your estate and your life, not just legal distribution.

Your family doesn’t just inherit responsibilities or belongings. They inherit clarity, reassurance, and your perspective — shared thoughtfully, without formality.

Because none of this is legally binding, you can add to it and update it as life changes. No lawyers. No redrafting documents. No pressure to get it perfect.

Can I Update My Wishes Without Changing My Will?

Yes — and this is one of the biggest advantages of using Trusty alongside your Will.

Legal documents are meant to change infrequently. That’s a good thing. They require care, review, and formal execution.

Life, on the other hand, changes all the time.

New relationships, new purchases, shifting priorities, evolving thoughts. Trusty gives you a flexible place to reflect those changes without reopening legal documents every time you want to add context or explain a decision.

Your Will remains the legal foundation. Trusty provides the living layer around it.

How Advisors and Executors See This

Estate attorneys and financial advisors increasingly recognize that legal documents alone don’t fully prepare families for what comes next.

Even the most carefully drafted will can leave people unsure if no one knows where documents are or why certain decisions were made. Executors are left searching. Families are left wondering.

Trusty doesn’t replace professional advice or interfere with legal planning. It helps reduce confusion, improve preparedness, and give everyone involved clearer information to work from.

It’s a practical tool that makes an already difficult process more human and more manageable.

How to Start (Without Overthinking It)

You don’t need to document everything at once. You don’t need perfect language. You don’t need to have it all figured out.

A simple place to start:

• Upload your Will to Trusty — or note where it’s located
• Add one meaningful item —this could be a piece of art, jewelry or a special family heirloom
• Write a few sentences or record a short message explaining why it matters

That’s enough. Truly.

Trusty isn’t about finishing your estate plan. It’s about giving your family a clearer place to start and continuing every time you’re inspired, without incurring more legal fees

You can return anytime to add more, update details, or reflect changes as life unfolds.

People Also Ask

Do I need a Letter of Wishes if I already have a Will?
If you already have a Will, a Letter of Wishes helps add context and explanation that legal documents aren’t designed to capture.

Is a Letter of Wishes legally binding?
No. A Letter of Wishes is not legally binding, which allows you to be personal, flexible, and update it as life changes.

What should I include in a Letter of Wishes?
Many people include explanations for decisions, guidance for family or executors, stories behind meaningful items, and personal wishes that don’t belong in legal language. Over time, Trusty will support more of the real-life topics families think about when planning ahead. Grow with us!

Can I change my wishes without changing my Will?
Yes. You can update your wishes at any time without modifying your Will, which is designed to change less frequently.

How do I connect my Letter of Wishes to my Will?
Many people reference their Letter of Wishes directly in their Will. Trusty provides simple, templated language you can share with your lawyer the next time your Will is updated, so there’s a clear reference point, while keeping the Letter of Wishes separate and easy to update over time.

You’ve already done important work by creating a Will. Trusty simply builds on that foundation.

It’s not about urgency or obligation. It’s about care, clarity, and connection — shared in your own words, on your own time.

Start your Estate Binder with Trusty — it’s free, and you can move at your own pace.

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I’ve spent most of my career building technology that simplifies people’s lives. But Trusty didn’t begin as a business idea. It began with a small moment in my own home, one that I think many families can relate to.

A couple years ago, I bought a piece of jewelry for my wife. It came with the usual appraisal documents, and I did what most people do: I slid them into our “important documents” drawer. They landed right beside my will. And that’s when it hit me—my will didn’t mention any of the assets that mattered most to me. Not this piece of jewelry, not other valuables, not the sentimental things with real meaning.

When I asked lawyers why these details weren’t included in my will, they explained that a will is a legal document; personal direction around treasured belongings, family guidance, and broader wishes are meant to live separately in “Letters of Wishes”. At the time, I didn’t even know what a Letter of Wishes was even though I just updated my Will that year. 

But to me, those missing pieces felt like some of the most important matters. I got overwhelmed thinking what if my family had to piece this all together. But I didn’t know where to start - so I didn’t. 

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Then it became real - loss put things in perspective

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Just a few months later my grandmother passed away at 104. My family and I found ourselves facing a different set of challenges, ones that had nothing to do with the specific financial parts of her will. It was the fears I’d found in that drawer just a few months earlier: who would receive the personal, meaningful things? The treasured items that carried her story, her humour, her elegance—pieces we wanted to hold onto as reminders of who she was from art to handbags and even the gong that called everyone to dinner.  

In our case, we were lucky. Our family is loving, and at times almost too polite. Instead of fighting, we tiptoed around decisions moving yellow sticky notes with names from one heirloom to the next, unintentionally creating frustration for the executors. But as I started speaking to more families, I learned that this is where many people struggle the most—not with the legal documents, but with the things that aren’t defined.

And it wasn’t just valuables. We found heartfelt, handwritten notes—guidance for how she hoped we’d support each other after she was gone. Those notes rallied us. They drew us closer, helped us understand her intentions, and brought a sense of unity at a time when emotions easily could have pushed people apart.

That experience crystallized something for me: legacy isn’t just about what you leave behind—it’s about the clarity, comfort, and connection you leave your family with.

That moment set me down the path of building Trusty—not just to organize assets and documents, but to give families a better way to capture the wishes, context, and clarity that sit between life and legacy.

When I finally dug into estate planning, the gaps became obvious and who got heirlooms was just one

I started researching how families, particularly those with more complex estates, keep track of their wishes, their documents, and the legacy they hope to leave behind. It became clear that even the most organized individuals and their advisors face similar challenges: the information was scattered. 

• A Will covers only a fraction of what families need to know about how to pass on wishes, plans, and assets.
• Wealth managers track financial accounts, but not household, personal, or practical information.
• Medical directives are created but not always clearly shared.
• Executor roles are defined legally, but rarely supported operationally.
• Insurance information exists, but often no one knows what policies cover, or if there are risky gaps in coverage.
• Updates happen but live in email threads, handwritten notes, and updated PDFs no one distributes.

Every expert handles a piece of the puzzle, but no one connects the dots.

The result? A burden for families during the most difficult moments of their lives, and unnecessary, often costly, risk for individuals who believe they’ve already “taken care of everything.”

The insight that shaped Trusty

Estate planning is not as simple as “do you have as Will?” or a set of documents. It’s a living ecosystem of information, decisions, and intentions — financial, personal, emotional, and practical.

And that ecosystem breaks down without:

• A simple way to keep information centralized and updated
• A way to share the right pieces with the right people at the right time
• A bridge between families and the advisors who support them

No platform existed to do this in a way that felt intuitive, modern, secure, and accessible to both families and professionals.

So we built it. One secure Estate Binder where everything lives. 

Trusty’s mission is simple: clarity for families, confidence for advisors

Trusty exists to make estate and legacy management seamless, and to do it long before families find themselves in crisis.

For families, it means:

• One trusted home for estate documents, plans, accounts, insurance, key contact details, and personal wishes
• A place to record personal intentions and stories behind meaningful possessions
• The comfort of knowing loved ones will know where to find what they need when it’s needed most

For advisors, it means:

• A clear, organized view of the families and households you support
• Fewer gaps and blind spots in planning, because you finally see a full picture of wealth
• The ability to deepen relationships across generations, a gap in many trusted advisors business today
• A tool that strengthens, not replaces, their role

For investors, it means addressing one of the largest, most emotionally charged, least-modernized categories in financial services: wealth transfer and family legacy.

This isn’t about death. It’s about connection.

When we landed on the term Estate Binder we decided not to lean to the click-bait options like Death Binder. Trusty is not a product born from fear. It’s born from care; care for the people who matter, for the legacies we build over a lifetime, and for the stories that deserve to be carried forward.

We’re building Trusty because families deserve clarity. We’re building for Advisors who want to help families and bridge relationships into the next generation. That next generation deserves more than documents, they deserve the meaning behind them.

The definition of a trustee is one who manages and ultimately distributes assets to one or more beneficiaries. If we can make moments a little easier, a little clearer, and a lot more connected, then we’re delivering on our promise. 

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An Exciting Milestone for Better Family Clarity

I’m incredibly excited to share a major milestone: Trusty has raised $1 million in pre-seed funding, co-led by Relay Ventures and Graphite Ventures, with participation from Mistral Venture Partners and some amazing angel investors.

This funding gives us the fuel to move faster—enhancing our AI tools, deepening advisor partnerships, and helping more families track, protect, and pass down what matters most.

Why We Built Trusty

Like a lot of people, I didn’t think much about estate planning until it became personal. After my grandmother passed away at 104, I saw how even well-organized families with wills can struggle with the emotional and logistical weight of managing an estate. My own drawers were overflowing with appraisals, receipts, and documents I hadn’t touched in years—many of which my family wouldn’t even know existed.

That’s when it hit me: Wills aren’t the whole story. And handwritten “Letters of Wishes” aren’t enough.

So, I set out to build something better: a tool that could bridge the gap between legal documents and real-life clarity. A place to organize your assets, share personal messages, and make sure nothing gets lost in translation. A platform that’s clear, collaborative, and built for real families.

That’s what became Trusty (as early followers know I briefly launched with project name Loaded).

A Better Way to Transfer Wealth

Over $84 trillion is expected to change hands in the coming decades during what many are calling The Great Wealth Transfer. But too often, what’s actually being passed down is confusion, conflict, and clutter.

At Trusty, we’re building an estate platform that brings together:

• AI-powered asset detection to simplify cataloging valuables
• A conversational assistant (we call him Max) to help families understand legal docs
• Personal video messages and notes to give heirs real context and clarity
• Storage of your will and other key estate documents for reference and better comprehension
• Ability to invite trusted family and advisors to ensure your wishes are clear including and beyond your will

Because this isn’t just about paperwork. It’s about legacy.

Why Investors Have Backed Us

“I’ve been an executor myself, and I’ve seen the toll it takes when families are left without clarity,” said Aaron Bast, Managing Director at Graphite Ventures. “The legal documents are there, but the context is often missing—what’s valuable, who it’s for, where to find it. That’s where Trusty comes in.”

“We love backing category-defining technologies and leaders, and Randy is doing just that in estate tech with Trusty,” added Alex Baker, Managing Partner at Relay Ventures. “Randy’s blend of vision, founder experience, and product intuition makes this an easy bet.”

Where We’re Going

While Trusty started as a consumer-first app (and still is), we’re building to support the broader estate ecosystem. Our goal is to complement, not replace, the professionals already helping families with their planning.

We’re excited to be working on early commercial distribution partnerships. One of the first is Purpose Unlimited, founded by Som Seif, which is exploring distribution of Trusty in alignment with its vision of “shaping the future of finance by equipping financial advisors with transformative solutions.”

We’re also deepening partnerships with banks, insurance providers, and estate planners so that Trusty becomes a go-to tool in everyday advisory workflows.

Want to Get Invovled?

Whether you’re looking to better organize your own estate, or you help others do the same, Trusty is here to make things easier, clearer, and more human.

👉 You can download the app today on Apple’s App Store or Google Play, or visit www.mytrusty.ai to learn more.

Thanks to everyone who’s supported us so far. We’re just getting started.

— Randy

Becoming an executor might feel like an honour — and it is — but it’s also a serious responsibility. You’re expected to carry out someone’s final wishes, navigate legal processes, and act as the go-between for grieving family members, institutions, and the courts. It can be overwhelming, especially when emotions are high and instructions are unclear.

It can be overwhelming — and the data backs that up.

According to a survey by EstateExec, the average estate takes over 500 hours to settle, often stretching across 16 months or more.

The biggest delays? Executors feeling unprepared, lacking guidance, or struggling to locate documents and assets.

At Trusty, we’ve spoken with countless families and professionals who agree: executors don’t just need access to documents — they need context, clarity, and structure. That’s why we’ve created this simple checklist to help.

This guide is for anyone who’s been named an executor, whether you’re stepping into the role soon or planning ahead.

✅ Executor Checklist: What to Do When the Time Comes

1. Locate the Will and Supporting Documents

Identify the most recent signed version of the Will. Find supporting documents like powers of attorney, Letters of Wishes, funeral directives, and trust agreements. Confirm where the Will is stored (e.g., lawyer, safe, safety deposit box).

2. Get Official Copies of the Death Certificate

You’ll need multiple copies to deal with banks, insurance, government agencies, etc.

3. Apply for Probate (If Required)

File the Will with the appropriate probate court to validate the Will and receive authority to act.

4. Notify Key Parties

Contact beneficiaries, banks, insurance providers, government agencies, and utilities.

5. Secure and Review All Assets

Take inventory of bank accounts, real estate, valuables, business interests, and digital assets.

6. Pay Outstanding Debts and File Taxes

Settle liabilities and file final personal and estate tax returns.

7. Distribute the Estate

Follow the Will’s instructions and provide transparency throughout the process.

8. Handle Sentimental Guidance with Care

If there’s a Letter of Wishes or video messages, share them thoughtfully to reduce misinterpretation or tension.

Trusty Makes It Easier to Carry It All Out

Trusty isn’t a legal service, but it’s designed to support you through the emotional and logistical complexity of being an executor. Think of it as your digital companion for the moments where clarity matters most.

Here’s how Trusty helps with key parts of the process:

• Step 1 – Locating the Will: The person creating the Will can log where it’s stored and who to contact to retrieve it. No more confusion about which lawyer or what version is valid.
• Step 5 – Tracking Assets: Trusty gives executors a clear, consolidated list of what exists — including homes, accounts, collectibles, and storage locations — often with appraisals and attached documents.
• Step 8 – Understanding Intentions: Trusty goes beyond the legal formality by storing Letters of Wishes and heartfelt video messages that explain decisions and minimize misinterpretation.
• Steps 4, 7 & 8 – Reducing Conflict: When you can show beneficiaries the full picture — not just who gets what, but why — it’s far easier to avoid disputes and delays.

Whether you’re preparing for this role or naming someone else to carry it out, this checklist — and tools like Trusty — help ensure the person in charge can honour your wishes with confidence.

When most people think about estate planning, they focus on what’s in the Will: who gets the house, the jewelry, the investment accounts. But the smooth execution of those wishes hinges almost entirely on one role: the executor.

And yet, the person often given this responsibility—usually a family member—is the least prepared, least informed, and most overwhelmed.

The Forgotten CEO of Your Estate

Think of your executor as the CEO of your estate. They’re tasked with:

• Locating and filing the Will
• Settling debts and final taxes
• Identifying, securing, and distributing all assets
• Communicating with heirs (sometimes with different expectations)
• Working with lawyers, accountants, and the courts

This isn’t a ceremonial role. It’s a job. And it often comes at one of the most emotionally raw moments in a family’s life.

A Familiar Story

After Raj passed away, his daughter Priya was named executor. He’d never told her directly—she only found out through the Will.

She was grieving, raising three kids, working full-time—and now expected to decipher her dad’s finances, gather dozens of documents, calm her uncles, and figure out what he meant by “my coin collection should go to the person who most admired it.”

There was no inventory. No notes. No Letter of Wishes. No hint at what “admired” meant.

Just a family at odds, trying to interpret a sentence that likely came from love—but sowed seeds of tension. A few of these stories is what enlightened Trusty's founder to our company's vision.

“Lack of clarity creates conflict.”
— Randy Frisch, Founder of Trusty

When Families Are Left to Interpret Intentions

When instructions aren’t clear, families fill the gaps with assumptions—and those assumptions quickly turn emotional:

• “Dad always promised me that watch.”
• “She said the cottage was going to be shared.”
• “Why did he name her as executor?”

These moments, however small, can tear families apart. According to a TD Wealth survey, 1 in 4 Canadians report poor planning and communication being the number one cause of family conflict.

In the U.S., LegalShield found that 58% of Americans experienced conflict, or know someone who has, due to the absence of an estate plan or will.

You Don’t Have to Choose a Family Member

While many people instinctively name a child or sibling as executor, it’s important to know that you have another option: appointing a professional executor.

These are individuals or institutions who specialize in handling estate administration—bringing legal, tax, and emotional neutrality to the process.

In Canada, examples include:

• 🏛️ RBC Royal Trust
• 🧾 ClearEstate

In the U.S., similar services are offered by:

• 🏢 Fiduciary Trust International
• 💼 Everplans (partnering with professional fiduciaries in select states)

These services often charge a percentage of the estate’s value (typically 2–5%), or a flat fee depending on complexity. While it may seem expensive, for some families it’s worth the investment to avoid emotional strain, legal missteps, or family conflict.

So… Which Is Better?

There’s no right answer. Some families value the personal connection a loved one brings. Others prefer a neutral third party to ensure no one feels unfairly treated—or overwhelmed.

What matters most is that your executor:

• Understands the responsibilities of the role
• Is equipped with the tools and context to do the job well
• Has access to your true intentions, not just your legal instructions

Trusty: Giving Your Executor a Clearer Path

Trusty was created to support whoever you choose—friend, family, or professional—with clarity and care.

With Trusty, you can:

• Track and catalog key assets with context
• Leave heartfelt video wishes for specific people and items
• Store and locate important documents
• Assign an executor and give them controlled access
• Share relevant data with advisors or institutions helping settle your estate

“One of the reasons I started Trusty,” says founder Randy Frisch, “was to create harmony. I wanted to make it easier for the executor—the person we all turn to—to actually deliver the clarity and peace we intended.”

Clarity Is a Gift. So Is Preparation.

Who you choose as executor may vary based on your family, your wealth, or your personal preferences. But regardless of who takes on the role, the most important thing you can do is equip them—with your documents, your voice, and your true wishes.

Because clarity doesn’t just make things easier. It prevents conflict.

It sounds unthinkable—yet it happens all the time.

Someone passes away, leaving behind what they believed was a carefully planned estate. A Will was drafted, decisions were made, roles assigned. Everything, they thought, was in order.

But when the moment comes, no one knows where the Will actually is.

Maybe they assume it’s with a lawyer, though they can’t recall which one. Maybe it was tucked away in a fireproof safe, but no one has the combination. Sometimes the only copy is in a folder marked “taxes” at the back of a closet no one has touched in years. In those moments, even the best intentions start to unravel.

After her father passed, Emily and her two siblings gathered in his condo to begin settling his affairs. He’d always said his Will was handled—he used that exact phrase: “handled.” But when they went looking for it, nothing turned up. The safe couldn’t be opened. His emails gave no clue. No one could remember which lawyer he’d used, or even if he’d updated it in the last decade.

What followed wasn’t chaos, exactly. It was slower and more corrosive than that. The estate froze. Accounts were locked. They filed court documents and waited for rulings. And slowly, each sibling began to second-guess the others. Was someone hiding something? Was there a version of the Will they hadn’t seen? Had Dad made promises he didn’t write down?

Eventually, they found the Will. It had been sitting in a manila envelope labeled “Dad’s Taxes 2012.” What could have been resolved in a few days took nearly eight months.

That story isn’t unusual. In fact, it’s disturbingly common.

The Canadian Bar Association reports that over half of Canadians don’t have a Will at all, and among those who do, many haven’t updated or properly stored it. In the U.S., a 2024 survey by Caring.com found that 67% of adults don’t have an up-to-date Will. But even having one isn’t enough if no one knows it exists—or where it is.

Wills often end up scattered across disconnected locations: with a lawyer who’s retired, in a bank box no one can access, at a cottage drawer forgotten over the years. Some people never tell anyone they even made one. Others update their Will, but forget to destroy older versions, leaving behind layers of ambiguity. And in today’s mobile world, crossing provinces or states can make tracking documents even more complicated, with local laws and jurisdictions further muddying the waters.

When a Will can’t be found, the law often assumes there wasn’t one. That means the estate is settled according to default rules—which might distribute assets in a way the deceased never intended. Children inherit before spouses. Friends or charities named in conversation are forgotten by the courts. The nuances and wishes that defined someone’s life are reduced to paperwork protocol.

The legal implications are frustrating enough. But it’s the emotional toll that’s often hardest. Loved ones begin to argue. Trust erodes. Executors, who were once confident in their role, are caught between loyalty and legality. Grief becomes tangled in bureaucracy.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Estate planning isn’t just about having documents—it’s about ensuring those documents can be found, understood, and acted upon at the right time. That means naming an executor and letting them know where your Will is kept. It means destroying outdated versions. It means having a way to track not only what you own, but who should be involved when the time comes. And for many, it means going a step further—leaving a Letter of Wishes to explain the meaning behind the decisions and provide the kind of guidance a legal form never could.

Trusty doesn’t replace the legal process. In most jurisdictions, courts still require a physical, signed Will to proceed. But Trusty exists to ensure that when the time comes, the people who need your documents actually know where to find them. It’s a digital companion to your estate plan—one that logs where your Will is stored, who your key contacts are, and how to access related documents when they matter most.

More importantly, it brings humanity back to the process. With Trusty, you can leave video messages, assign heirs, and give your executor the tools and clarity they’ll need to honour your legacy—not just legally, but emotionally too.

Because the best estate plan in the world is only useful if it’s found.

And when it is, it should speak clearly.

When it comes to estate planning, most people assume the Will is the final word. But there’s an important—and often overlooked—companion to the Will that brings heart, clarity, and personal intent to the process: the Letter of Wishes.

Why Wills Fall Short

Wills are legal documents. They’re designed to meet the standards of probate courts, not to hold nuance or emotion. And while they cover the big stuff—like naming guardians or splitting the house—they fall short in the areas that often matter most.

Here’s why certain things shouldn’t go in your Will:

• Wills become public documents once they go through probate—meaning anyone can access them.
• Updating a Will is expensive and time-consuming—involving lawyers and formal processes.
• They lack flexibility and aren’t suited to more fluid or evolving personal instructions.
• They’re written in legal language, not your voice.

So while your Will handles the “what,” a Letter of Wishes explains the “why.”

“It’s often the small stuff—the watch, the wedding ring, the cottage—that causes the biggest fights. The Letter of Wishes is where you prevent that.”
— Tom Deans, author of Willing Wisdom

What Is a Letter of Wishes?

A Letter of Wishes (sometimes called a Memorandum of Wishes or Statement of Intent) is a private, non-binding document that accompanies your Will. It’s meant to guide your executor, family, and advisors on how you want things handled—especially the personal, sentimental, or situational decisions.

Unlike your Will, it:

• Stays private—only seen by those you choose
• Can be updated easily without a lawyer
• Captures your voice—through words or even video
• Fills the emotional and practical gaps your Will can’t

What Belongs in a Letter of Wishes?

Common things people include:

• Personal belongings: Who gets sentimental items and why (e.g. jewelry, heirlooms, collectibles)
• Stories and values: Notes about family traditions, charitable causes, or lessons for future generations
• Explanations: Clarifying decisions that may be emotionally sensitive or unexpected
• Care instructions: For pets, vacation homes, or even family rituals
• Messages: Parting words, notes of gratitude, or personalized video messages

📌 Note: In some jurisdictions, items like personal property can legally be distributed using a separate Memorandum. It’s wise to check with an estate planner in your region.

Letter of Wishes Checklist

Want to start yours? Here’s a quick list to guide you:

✅ List any personal items you want specific people to receive—and explain why

✅ Clarify your intentions behind sensitive decisions (e.g., unequal divisions)

✅ Include notes or stories that add emotional meaning to the items

✅ Provide any special instructions (e.g., how to care for a pet or maintain a cottage)

✅ Add a message for your family—this could be written or recorded as a video

✅ Store your Letter of Wishes in a place your executor can easily find

✅ Review and update it regularly—no lawyer required

The Bottom Line

Your Will is essential, but it was never meant to carry your legacy alone.

A Letter of Wishes helps ensure your voice is heard, your intentions are understood, and your family is supported.

At Trusty, we’ve made it easy to create, store, and share Letters of Wishes—complete with the option to record video messages and attach them to specific assets. Because sometimes, it’s not just about who gets what.

It’s about what it meant to you—and what it could mean to them.