Educational content only. Not legal, financial, tax, or medical advice. Plan Your Passing is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is created here. Estate, probate, tax, and inheritance laws differ by country, state, and county. You are responsible for confirming what applies to you. Always consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read or generate on this site.
Plan your own passing
The greatest gift you can give your family is a plan. Every hour you spend on this now saves your family ten hours of grief, conflict, and legal fees later.
What you need and why
Last Will & Testament
EssentialNames your executor, distributes your assets, and names a guardian for minor children. Without it, the state decides all of this.
Revocable Living Trust
Highly recommendedAvoids probate entirely, keeps your estate private, and makes asset transfer faster and cheaper for your family.
Durable Power of Attorney (Financial)
EssentialNames someone to manage your finances if you become incapacitated. Without it, your family needs a court order — expensive and slow.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
EssentialNames someone to make medical decisions for you if you cannot. Every adult needs one of these regardless of age or health.
Advance Healthcare Directive / Living Will
EssentialDocuments your wishes for end-of-life medical care so your family doesn't have to guess — or fight.
Beneficiary designations
Critical — often missedLife insurance, 401(k), IRA — these pass OUTSIDE your will to whoever is named as beneficiary. Review and update them now.
The four conversations to have now
Documents cover what happens legally. These conversations cover what happens relationally — which is where most damage occurs.
Tell someone where everything is
Your executor cannot do their job if they cannot find your documents. Create a 'Letter of Instruction' that lists every account, every document, and where to find them.
Have the talk with your kids
What you want for your personal property, your home, your sentimental items. Not legally binding — but it prevents 90% of conflict.
Tell your executor you've named them
Do not surprise them. Ask first, explain what it involves, and make sure they are willing and able.
Update your beneficiary designations
After every major life event: marriage, divorce, death of a beneficiary, birth of a child. These trump your will.
If you have weeks, not months
If you or someone you love has received a serious diagnosis, focus on these three things first — everything else can wait.
Advance directive + healthcare power of attorney. These must be done while the person can still sign.
Someone needs authority to pay bills, access accounts, and manage finances when the time comes.
A letter of instruction: every account, every policy, every document, and where to find them.
Plan Your Passing is not a law firm. The information on this site is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, tax, medical, or professional advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this site or using any tool on it. Estate, probate, tax, and inheritance laws differ by country, state, province, county, and individual circumstance, and they change over time. You are solely responsible for confirming the laws that apply to you. Always consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before making any legal, financial, or tax decision regarding wills, trusts, beneficiaries, probate, real estate transfers, gifts, or end-of-life directives. The author, operators, and affiliates of this site disclaim all liability for actions taken or not taken based on its contents.
Free resource
Start with the checklist
Download the free Family Estate Readiness Checklist — 47 things to do, say, find, and decide.
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