Heidi S. Webb
Attorney at Law, Florida
September 17th, 2025
Estate planning is full of legal jargon and look-alike terms that can trip people up. A few small words can make a big difference.
The Most Commonly Confused Estate Planning Terms:
- Will vs. Living Will
- Power of Attorney vs. Executor/Personal Representative
- Trust vs. Will
- Revocable Trust vs. Irrevocable Trust
- Beneficiary vs. Heir
- Probate vs. Non-Probate Assets
- Joint Tenancy vs. Tenancy in Common
- Estate Tax vs. Inheritance Tax (and a Florida note)
Key Takeaways:
• A will and a living will do different jobs.
• POA power ends at death; the Personal Representative begins then.
• Funding a revocable trust is how you actually avoid probate.
• Naming beneficiaries (and keeping them updated) is just as important as signing documents.
