Guides for protecting your assets and providing for your family. Covers wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives.
Probate is the court-supervised process of distributing your estate after death. It’s public record, it can take 9 to 18 months, and it costs 2–5% of your estate in legal and court fees. A revocable living trust lets your assets pass directly to your heirs — privately, quickly, and without court involvement. This page covers the documents you need to set up your trust, fund it correctly, and keep your estate entirely out of probate.
When your child turns 18, they’re legally an adult — which means you may lose the ability to access their medical records, make healthcare decisions, or help with financial matters in an emergency. Before they leave for college, a small set of legal documents gives you the authority to step in when it matters most. This page walks you through exactly what’s needed and how to get it done in minutes.
An irrevocable trust is one of the most effective — and most misunderstood — tools in estate planning. Once assets are transferred into an irrevocable trust, they’re removed from your taxable estate, which can significantly reduce what your heirs owe in estate taxes. The tradeoff is permanence: you give up control of those assets. This page explains what types of irrevocable trusts exist, what documents they require, and how to get started.
Divorce automatically revokes some beneficiary designations in certain states, but not all — and it never updates your actual will or trust documents automatically. Acting quickly after divorce ensures your ex-spouse does not inherit your estate or retain control over your finances.
A Last Will and Testament lets you name a guardian for your minor children, designate who receives your property, and set up a testamentary trust to hold assets until your children reach adulthood. Without a will, a court decides who raises your children and distributes your estate.
A simple will lets you direct where your assets go after you die — to a partner, family member, or charity of your choice. Without a will, state intestacy laws decide who inherits, which may not reflect your wishes, especially if you're unmarried or estranged from family.