Protect What Matters.Plan What Comes Next.

A last will and testament is the most common starting point for a plan. It lets you name beneficiaries, choose an executor or personal representative, and address guardianship for minor children. When someone dies without a will, state intestacy laws generally determine how the estate is distributed. Whether a will alone is enough depends on your family, your assets and the state you live in.

A will is a document of instructions that takes effect after your passing and is typically filed with the probate court. A trust is an ongoing legal arrangement in which a trustee holds and manages assets for beneficiaries — it can operate during your lifetime and continue afterward. Many plans use both: a will for personal instructions and guardianship, a trust for how assets are held and distributed.

A power of attorney names a person — your agent or attorney-in-fact — to act on your behalf. A financial power of attorney covers money and property matters; a healthcare power of attorney covers medical decisions. A durable power of attorney is written to remain effective if you become incapacitated, though definitions and requirements vary by state.

Yes. Execution requirements such as witnesses and notarization, community-property rules, probate procedures, guardianship processes and even the names used for documents can differ from state to state. If you move, it is worth having your existing documents reviewed for your new state of residence.

Common triggers include marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, a death in the family, a significant change in assets, a move to another state, a change in health, or a change in the person you named as executor, trustee, agent or guardian. Many people review their plan every few years even when nothing obvious has changed.

Yes. Adults of any age can plan. Younger adults often begin with a will, a financial power of attorney and a healthcare power of attorney, then add trusts or more detailed planning as their family, assets or business grows. Planning early is usually simpler and less expensive than planning in a hurry later.

No. Estate planning is about clarity and the people you care about, not only the size of an estate. A modest estate with minor children, a home, retirement accounts, life insurance or specific healthcare wishes can benefit just as much as a larger one.