Trust vs Will

You have it exactly right !  A will becomes public after you die because it has to be registered or probated. It is the registration or probate process that gives your executor the authority to act on behalf of the estate.  The will does not have to list your assets, but it will list your heirs.  The will can say something simple like I leave my entire estate to Mary Jones and John Jones in equal shares, share and share alike.  That way no one knows what assets you have, but they would know that Mary and John are your heirs.  If you dispose of your estate by way of a trust, the trust does not have to be registered and therefore can remain private.  I would be happy to answer any other questions you may have regarding your estate plan.