account
get our app
account sign up sign in

preparing for estate planning

let us help you know what you need to do to prepare for making your estate documents.

documents

prepare for estate planning faqs

  • what assets should be included in a will?

    before writing your will, you'll need to inventory your assets. assets can include items that have a monetary value or sentimental value. other considerations include what you may want to happen to your pets or livestock.

    property to include in a will:

    • real estate including homes, land, timeshares, commercial buildings, vacation property
    • cash such as bank accounts, savings accounts, business accounts, money market accounts
    • personal property like intellectual property and royalties
    • tangible property such as vehicles, jewelry, art, antiques and furniture
    • business assets, if dictated by your 世界杯2022赛程时间表
  • do i need a lawyer to make a will?

    no, you do not. it is simple to make a last will and testament using our document builder. if you have a large estate, you may benefit from consulting with your accountant and lawyer to make sure you create a will that would be difficult to dispute. you may also want to hire a lawyer if you own business assets with other owners that you may need to include in your will.

  • do my spouse and i need separate wills?

    yes. in most cases, you and your spouse will need separate wills. you may have separate assets and you likely will not die at the same time. in addition, some states do not support "joint wills." if you happen to die at the same time, both wills will go into probate.

    separate wills give you the opportunity to address issues such as:

    • children from previous relationships
    • sentimental family property that you may want to leave to someone other than your spouse
    • to assure that your children will inherit certain assets rather than your spouse's children or your spouse's future spouse
    • the distribution of business assets
    • leaving too many assets to an elderly spouse, making it difficult for them to receive benefits
  • can i arrange my own funeral?

    yes, you can. you can set aside funds in a trust to cover your expenses and create a memorial plan to outline your funeral details. you can plan any details you wish, such as whether you want your organs donated, where you want to be buried, which funeral home you want to use, and more. you can even write your own obituary. you can leave your instructions with your will and other estate planning documents. you should also leave your instructions with the person(s) who you want to carry out your funeral plan. if you don't want a family member or friend to arrange your funeral, you can assign a professional, who you have made payment arrangements to fulfill your desires for you.

ask a lawyer

our network attorneys are here for you.
characters remaining: 600
2022世界杯32强抽签时间 network attorneys

legal guides

  1. estate planning checklist: essential documents to get your affairs in order
    7 min read
  2. estate planning for heroes: honoring our military on memorial day
    4 min read
  3. estate planning essentials for new parents
    4 min read
  4. what to think about before you write your will
    5 min read
  5. legal will vs. estate plan
    2 min read
  6. how to pay for funeral and memorial service costs
    3 min read
  7. duties of a will executor
    2 min read
  8. people to exclude as will executors
    3 min read
  9. 15 important documents you need to protect your family, business and property
    4 min read
  10. certain asset distribution is unaffected by a will
    4 min read
  11. executor responsibilities
    1 min read
  12. organizing records for your will executor
    3 min read
  13. update your will and estate plan after divorce
    2 min read
  14. focus on financial planning: estate planning for individuals
    5 min read
  15. 5 legal documents for military service people
    2 min read
  16. 3 must-have documents for military families
    5 min read
  17. preparing for deployment: legal documents for you and your family
    4 min read
  18. the dad's guide to legal documents
    5 min read
  19. focus on financial planning: estate planning for married couples
    5 min read
  20. help loved ones with estate planning over the holidays
    3 min read
  21. what can go wrong? 5 pitfalls of not planning your estate
    5 min read
  22. six tips for combining finances after marriage
    4 min read
  23. what happens if my loved one dies without a will?
    4 min read
  24. 3 estate planning essentials to protect your family
    1 min read

looking for something else?