An estate plan is a group of documents and instructions for managing the person's property, health-care choices, and people who may act during life and after death. It can include a will, trust, power of attorney, advance health-care directive, and HIPAA authorization.
General information
- A will mainly directs property handled through the estate and can nominate guardians.
- A trust can hold property during life and direct what happens to trust property later.
- Powers of attorney and health-care documents work during life. A will does not.
Service steps to consider
- Listing the people who may act for the person.
- Listing major property, accounts, debts, and beneficiary forms.
- Considering whether the person may need general details or advice from an attorney.
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.
Verified September 1, 2026. Prices, offers, state availability, and laws can change; use the linked current source.
