Are estate-planning documents specific to my state?

Yes. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health-care directives, witnesses, and notarization are governed largely by state law. A document prepared for one state may use different terms or signing steps than a document prepared for another.

General information

• The person's residence can affect the version of the documents.
• The location of real estate can create more state-law issues.
• Moving does not always cancel a document. But it is a good reason for review.

Service steps to consider

1. Considering the choice of the person's actual primary state of residence.
2. Reviewing the signing instructions included with the person's documents.
3. A licensed attorney in the relevant state can advise about uncertainty or out-of-state property.

Quick check

• Do I know who I want to name?
• Do I know what I own and owe?
• Do I need advice about my own facts?

How Complete Wills can help

Complete Wills offers guided online questionnaires for will-based and trust-based estate plans. Customer support can explain the website, account steps, package features, and how to correct details. It cannot decide which legal plan fits a particular situation or give legal advice. Customer support can explain website features and questionnaire fields, but it cannot choose documents, people, distributions, or legal terms, interpret a completed document, or explain how the law applies to a person's facts. Only a separately engaged licensed attorney may provide legal advice within the attorney's engagement.

Important limits

• Estate-planning law is mainly state law. The correct document and signing rules can change by state.
• A licensed attorney can provide advice about blended families, disputed relationships, special-needs planning, tax issues, foreign property, business succession, or any question that requires advice about the person's facts. This article gives general information only. A licensed attorney can explain how state law applies to a specific estate plan or document.