Does a Letter of Wishes replace my will or trust?

No. A Letter of Wishes accompanies your will or estate plan but doesn't replace it. Kris Kluver, in The Dysfunctional Family Office, frames the relationship clearly. The Letter of Wishes is a non-binding document that offers your family and trustees guidance on your intentions after your death. It sits outside the formal legal instruments and isn't enforceable like a will or trust. It usually contains personal messages, nuances, and guidance on matters the legal documents can't capture. The Letter and the legal documents do different things. The legal documents control what happens. The Letter explains why and what you hoped for. They work together. They never substitute for each other. The Letter must align with the formal estate plan to avoid future conflict. UHNW families often skip the Letter because the legal documents feel sufficient. They aren't. The legal documents leave the kids guessing about intent. The Letter removes the guessing.