What does a simple will actually cover?

A simple will handles the core basics for a straightforward estate. It names beneficiaries who inherit your assets, appoints an executor to carry out your wishes, and — crucially for parents — nominates a guardian for minor children. It can include modest specific gifts (a piece of jewelry to a niece) and direct the remainder to your chosen heirs. What it doesn't do: it doesn't avoid probate, manage assets over time, handle complex tax planning, or control how a young heir spends an inheritance beyond a basic setup. It also doesn't govern assets that pass by beneficiary designation or joint title, which override the will. For many people with uncomplicated finances, a simple will plus up-to-date beneficiary forms covers the essentials well. If you need staged distributions, privacy, or probate avoidance, you've outgrown a simple will and should look at a trust.