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Articles about Estate Planning
Everything you need to know about estate planning, from writing your first will to setting up a power of attorney. Simple guides to help you protect your family and plan ahead with confidence
Everything you need to know about estate planning, from writing your first will to setting up a power of attorney. Simple guides to help you protect your family and plan ahead with confidence
Someone has to carry out your wishes. Learn what an executor does, how to choose the right person, and what makes the role easier for everyone involved.
February 23, 2026
Who gets what you leave behind? Learn what a beneficiary is, how designations work, and why keeping them updated is one of the most important things you can do.
February 22, 2026
What happens to everything you didn't name specifically? Learn how a residuary gift works and why it's the clause that ties your whole estate plan together.
February 15, 2026
A will without the right witnesses may not hold up. Learn who qualifies, what they do, and how to get this small but important step right.
February 15, 2026
Estate planning isn't just about after. Learn how a power of attorney protects you while you're still here, and what happens if you don't have one.
February 8, 2026
If you couldn't speak for yourself, who would? Learn how a healthcare directive protects your medical wishes and takes the guesswork away from your family.
February 8, 2026
Who would raise your children if you couldn't? Learn how to choose a guardian, what the role involves, and why naming one is one of the most important decisions you'll make.
February 1, 2026
Your pet can't speak for themselves either. Learn how to name a caretaker, provide for their costs, and make sure they're in the right hands.
February 1, 2026
Your family shouldn't have to guess. Learn what to document, where to keep it, and how writing down your preferences lifts a real burden from the people you love.
January 25, 2026
Most people have more than they think. Learn what counts as an asset, how to take inventory, and why knowing what you own is the foundation of any estate plan.
January 25, 2026
Legal documents handle the practical. This one handles the personal. Learn how a legacy letter lets you say what matters, in your own words, to the people you care about.
January 18, 2026
A practical guide explaining when to review and update your will, including key life events such as marriage, divorce, new children, buying or selling a home, starting a business, moving states, major health changes, and relationship shifts.
December 29, 2025
A practical guide for U.S. adults explaining the difference between a durable power of attorney for finances and a healthcare proxy or healthcare agent, when each is used, who to choose for each role, how they work with your will and advance directive, and why many people benefit from having both documents.
December 22, 2025
A practical guide for U.S. parents on how to choose a legal guardian for their minor children, including what a guardian does, who can serve, criteria to compare options, how to write guardianship clauses in a will, and when to update your choice.
December 15, 2025
A clear, practical guide to what happens if you die without a will in the United States, including what intestate succession means, which property it covers, who inherits in common family situations, and how a simple will can change those default outcomes.
December 8, 2025
A step-by-step guide for U.S. adults with simple estates explaining how to write a will without a lawyer: how to title the document, list assets, name beneficiaries, choose an executor, add guardianship, write bequests, include a residuary clause, sign correctly, store the will, and know when to see a lawyer.
December 1, 2025
A clear, practical checklist explaining what to include in a basic will: financial assets, personal property, real estate, digital assets, specific bequests, executors, guardianship, debts, what not to include, and simple examples.
November 24, 2025
A clear, simple guide to advance healthcare directives for U.S. adults: what they are, when they apply, how to choose a healthcare agent, how to express your medical preferences, how to complete, sign, store, and update your directive.
November 17, 2025
A clear, simple step-by-step guide to creating a basic will in the United States, including understanding what a will does, listing assets, choosing beneficiaries, picking an executor, naming guardians, signing correctly, and storing your will safely.
November 10, 2025
A clear guide for U.S. homeowners on how to leave a primary home to family through a will, including how ownership type affects inheritance, options for who receives the home, example clauses, mortgage considerations, and planning for multiple children.
November 3, 2025