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Help protect your family's future with an estate plan
Estate Plan Bundle
Best value (save $100+)
Save on multiple documents. Get a living will, financial power of attorney, and either a last will or living trust—plus consultations with independent attorneys—for one low price.
From $249.
Last will and testament
Decide what happens to your property and who raises your children.
From $89
Living will (advance healthcare directive)
Make your health care wishes known now in case you're unable to communicate them later.
From $39
Healthcare power of attorney
Appoint someone to make health care decisions for you in case you're incapacitated.
From $39
Living trust
Preserve your assets for your loved ones, and help avoid any additional delays and expenses with the court later by taking control now.
From $279
Living will (advance healthcare directive)
Appoint someone to make financial decisions for you in case you're unable for any reason.
From $35
Not sure what you need?
Compare our estate planning products
Product
Decide who gets your property and cares for minor children
Help loved ones avoid delays and court costs after you die
Specify health care wishes and who can carry them out
Name who handles your financial affairs if you can't
Estate Plan Bundle
Best value
Last will or living trust, living will, power of attorney
From $249
Financial power of attorney
Also known as: power of attorney, durable power of attorney
From $35
Frequently asked questions
If you pass away without a last will (known as dying “intestate”), the state decides what happens to your property and your dependent children. The laws governing this process vary greatly from state to state.
Probate is the legal process through which the court oversees how an estate will be distributed. If you signed a last will, your estate passes to the beneficiaries named. If not, your estate passes to relatives based on state law. Generally, a formal probate action is required if an estate includes real property. But in many states, probate isn’t required and other legal remedies are available if the estate is of minimal value.
It’s a legal document that states who you want to manage and distribute your property if you’re unable to do so, and who receives it when you pass away. Once signed, you transfer ownership of your assets into the trust and you remain in complete control of your property. The trust property can be managed and distributed without going through the probate court.
Though they sound similar, a last will and a living will are two very different things that serve different needs. A last will details what you want to happen to your property after your death. A living will, sometimes called an advance directive, lays out the medical care you wish to receive under certain circumstances if you become incapacitated or unable to communicate.
The laws regarding what happens to your property after your death can be very complex and vary widely from state to state. In some states, the probate process is relatively simple, and a last will is sufficient for many people’s needs. But in other states, the probate process can be expensive and time consuming, which makes a living trust an appealing option, depending upon the size of your estate.
Questions?
