Guides
Estate planning, plainly explained.
What happens without a will. How probate works. Wills vs. trusts. When to update. Powers of attorney. Digital assets. Everything you need to understand before and after making your estate plan.
What Happens If You Die Without a Will?
Dying without a will (called dying 'intestate') means your state decides who gets your assets, who raises your children, and who handles your estate. Here's what that looks like in practice.
5 min read
Will vs. Trust: Which Do You Need?
A will and a trust both transfer assets after death, but they work differently and serve different purposes. Here's how to think about which one (or both) makes sense for your situation.
6 min read
What Is Probate, and How Do You Avoid It?
Probate is the court process that validates your will and supervises the transfer of your assets. It's not always as bad as people think, but there are legitimate reasons to plan around it.
5 min read
How to Choose an Executor for Your Will
Your executor handles everything after you die: collecting assets, paying debts, filing taxes, and distributing your estate. Choosing the right person matters more than most people realize.
5 min read
How to Choose a Guardian for Your Children
If both parents die, who raises your children? Naming a guardian in your will is the single most important decision parents can make in estate planning, and one of the hardest to think through.
5 min read
When Should You Update Your Will?
A will you made five years ago may no longer reflect your life. Here are the life events that should trigger a review, and a few that people miss.
4 min read
What Is a Power of Attorney?
A power of attorney lets someone you trust make financial or medical decisions for you if you can't. It's one of the most important documents in any estate plan, and one of the most overlooked.
5 min read
How to Protect Your Digital Assets
Email accounts, photos, cryptocurrency, domain names, and social profiles don't pass through a will the way physical property does. Here's how to plan for them.
5 min read
What Is Community Property?
If you live in one of the nine community property states, the rules for who owns what, and who can give what away, are different. Here's what you need to know before making your will.
4 min read
Do I Need a Lawyer to Make a Will?
Attorneys are not required for a valid will in any U.S. state. Here's how to decide whether your situation calls for professional help, and when a simple will is all you need.
4 min read
What Is Remote Online Notarization?
Remote online notarization (RON) lets you notarize documents over a video call instead of visiting a notary in person. Here's how it works, what ROW means, and how it applies to estate planning documents.
5 min read
What Is a Living Trust and Do You Need One?
A living trust holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them to your beneficiaries when you die, without going through probate. Here's how it works and who benefits most.
6 min read
How to Sign and Store Your Estate Plan
Creating your documents is the first step. Signing them correctly and storing them safely is what makes them legally effective. Here's exactly how to do both.
5 min read
What Is a Self-Proving Affidavit?
A self-proving affidavit is a notarized statement attached to your will that speeds up the probate process. Here's what it does, why it matters, and why you should get one even when it's optional.
4 min read
Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples
If you're not married, the law gives your partner nothing by default. No inheritance, no medical decisions, no financial authority. Estate planning is the only way to protect each other.
5 min read
What Is a Living Will?
A living will records your wishes about medical treatment if you can't speak for yourself. It's not a will for your assets. Here's what it covers, how it differs from a healthcare proxy, and why you need one.
4 min read