What to Include in Your Estate Plan: A Complete Guide

A common misconception is that estate planning ends with a will. In reality, a complete estate plan is a coordinated set of documents designed to protect you and your family across multiple scenarios—incapacity, death, and everything in between.

The core documents

**Last Will and Testament** — Your will directs how your assets are distributed after death, names guardians for minor children, and names an executor to manage your estate. It goes through probate.

**Revocable Living Trust** — A trust allows your assets to pass to beneficiaries outside of probate, provides privacy, and allows for more nuanced control than a will alone. Many estate plans include both a will and a trust.

**Durable Power of Attorney** — This document authorizes someone you trust to make financial decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. Without it, a court must appoint a conservator—an expensive and time-consuming process.

**Healthcare Power of Attorney / Healthcare Proxy** — Designates someone to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself.

**Advance Healthcare Directive (Living Will)** — Documents your wishes regarding end-of-life care, including preferences around life-sustaining treatment.

**Beneficiary Designations** — Life insurance policies, retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s), and certain bank accounts pass directly to named beneficiaries—outside your will entirely. These must be kept current.

Common gaps in estate plans

Many families have some of these documents but not all. The gaps matter. A power of attorney that doesn't cover digital assets, a trust without a pour-over will, or a healthcare directive that names a deceased spouse—these create real problems.

Working with a licensed estate planning attorney ensures your documents are complete, consistent, and compliant with your state's requirements.

How ePlanHub helps

ePlanHub guides both attorneys and clients through a complete intake process that surfaces everything needed for a comprehensive estate plan. No question gets missed. No document gets overlooked.

Ready to get started? Connect with an estate planning attorney on ePlanHub today.