Step Three: Which Estate Planning Documents Do You Need?

There are different documents that you should consider completing as part of your estate plan. Keep in mind that estate planning rules are different in each state. More information about each state’s rules can be found by visiting our Estate Planning Materials and Resources page.

Decisions About Your Property

The two main estate planning documents to use to describe what you want to happen with your property are a will and a trust.

1. Wills

A will is a legal document that provides instructions for what an individual would like to have happen to their property upon death. A will is also a place where parents can name a guardian for any minor children or adult children with developmental disabilities. Each state has different rules about how to create a valid will, so it is critical to check the rules in your state. There are different types of wills:

1. Written: Most states require that: 1) your will be in writing; 2) you be of “sound mind;” 3) you sign the will; and 4) it be witnessed by an “uninterested party.” Some states may require two witnesses, that the witnesses are present when you sign the will, or that the will be notarized. “Sound mind” generally means that you have an understanding of what you are doing. An “uninterested party” generally means someone who is not getting anything in the will.
2. Statutory: Some states (California, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, and Wisconsin) have a statutory will form, which can be filled in with the details of your estate plan and your wishes. Will forms are free and you don’t have to hire an attorney. But, they can’t be customized, so they are better for simpler estates.
3. Oral: Generally, oral wills are only allowed in very limited and unusual circumstances (e.g., statements made on one’s deathbed).

There are several do-it-yourself will options, if you have a relatively simple estate, or cannot afford an attorney. There are online services, books, and computer software that can cost anywhere between $35-$200. You may also want to consider hiring an estate planning attorney, especially if you have a complicated estate. When an attorney helps you create a will, you will typically be charged a flat fee or an hourly rate. How much it will cost depends on factors such as the size of your estate or how complicated your wishes are. There are legal aid organizations that provide free or low-cost legal services for people with low and moderate income levels.

For legal resources in your state, visit Triage Cancer's State Resources page.

When you write a will, you should also consider who you want to be the executor of your will. This is the person who will ensure that your property is distributed according to your will.

You can change or revoke (cancel) your will at any time, as long as you are of sound mind. A codicil is a legal document that you can use to make changes to your will, and can be used for minor changes (e.g., adding a particular gift or updating the legal name of one of your beneficiaries after they get married). Codicils must be executed in the same way that wills are in your state. For example, if a state requires that a will be signed by two witnesses, the codicil must also be signed by two witnesses. If you need to make more substantial changes (e.g., completely removing a beneficiary or adding a new child as a beneficiary) you may want to consider revoking (canceling) your current will and writing a new one. Generally, if you create a new will, you should destroy any older versions to avoid any confusion or doubt.

2. Trusts

A trust is a document that allows you to hold assets for one or more beneficiaries. A beneficiary is a person who receives the benefit of the assets in the trust. You can choose a “trustee” to oversee the assets in the trust, or you can act as your own trustee during your lifetime.

Property that can be placed in a trust includes real estate, cars, bank accounts, stocks, art, and jewelry. When you place property into a trust legal ownership is transferred from you to the trust itself. Then the trustee has a legal responsibility to manage the property in the trust the way that you specified in the trust document. The most common types of trusts are:

Living trust: created while you are alive and is revocable until your death. Typically, you act as your own trustee, and while you are alive, you can make any changes for any reason.

Testamentary trust: used to provide for individuals who need help managing their assets. Testamentary trusts can be especially useful to parents who have young children and want to provide for future education, health care, or general support. They may also be helpful in meeting ongoing expenses for dependent adults with special needs while safeguarding their government benefits (e.g., Medicaid).

Irrevocable trust: cannot be changed or revoked once created, but may provide some tax benefits and protection from legal action or creditors.

Special needs trust: can be used to meet the needs of an individual with a disability. The advantage of these trusts is that the assets in the trust are not considered “countable assets” for purposes of qualification for certain governmental benefits (e.g., Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid).

If you are considering creating a trust, you should consult an estate planning attorney who is experienced in your state’s trust and tax laws to ensure that your trust is set up properly.

Decisions About Your Finances

3. Powers of Attorney for Financial Affairs

There may be a time when you become unable to make financial decisions for yourself and you may need help. A Power of Attorney for Financial Affairs is a legal document where you can authorize a trusted adult to make financial decisions for you. Those decisions could be as simple as depositing or withdrawing funds from a bank account, or handling other personal matters, such as receiving mail or making travel arrangements. A durable Power of Attorney for Financial Affairs takes effect when you sign it and stays in effect even if you become incapacitated in the future, but it ends when you pass away. That is when your will takes over. A springing Power of Attorney for Financial Affairs “springs” into effect only if you become incapacitated.

Decisions About Your Health Care

4. Advance Health Care Directive

There may come a time when you can no longer express your wishes about your medical care. An advance health care directive is a legal document in which you can share your preferences and provide written instructions about your medical care, if you become unable to communicate. You can make decisions about whether or not you want to stop medical treatment at a future time when treatment may not be useful (e.g., stopping chemotherapy once it stops working). However, they can also be used to ensure the start or continuation of treatment at a future time when you may not be able to verbalize your consent (e.g., starting artificial hydration). You can also appoint a trusted adult to make medical decisions for you in the event you are unable to communicate. For the advance health care directive forms in your state, visit our State-Specific Estate Planning Toolkit.

When making decisions about end-of-life care, there are also other resources. The POLST (Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) Paradigm, encourages patients to talk with their health care providers about the kind of care they want. After talking, they document those decisions in a POLST Form, which can be used by emergency health care providers if patients are unable to speak for themselves. Depending on the state that you live in, a POLST Form might be called by another name. For more information, visit POLST.org.