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Plain-English articles on the questions people ask while making a will.
Basics
Advance Healthcare Directive vs. Living Will vs. Healthcare Power of Attorney
Three overlapping terms for medical planning documents, untangled: what each covers, how they fit together, and where HIPAA fits in.
6 min read
Durable Financial Power of Attorney, Explained
A durable financial power of attorney lets a trusted person manage your finances if you cannot. What it covers, when it starts, and how to choose an agent.
6 min read
What Happens If You Die Without a Will?
Dying without a will means state intestacy law picks your heirs, your administrator, and your children's guardian. Here is how that works.
6 min read
What Is a Last Will and Testament?
A plain-English explanation of what a will does, what it cannot do, who is involved, and what makes one legally valid.
6 min read
When to Update Your Will: Life Events That Should Trigger a Review
Marriage, divorce, births, deaths, moves, and asset changes can all make a will outdated. A checklist of events that call for a review.
6 min read
Beneficiaries
Does a Beneficiary Designation Override a Will?
Yes. Life insurance, retirement accounts, and POD/TOD accounts pass by their beneficiary forms, not the will. Here is why that matters.
6 min read
Per Stirpes vs. Per Capita: What the Difference Means for Your Family
Per stirpes passes a deceased beneficiary's share to their children; per capita divides among survivors. Worked examples in plain English.
6 min read
Executors
How to Choose an Executor (and an Alternate)
What makes a good executor, who is legally eligible, why an alternate matters, and how to ask someone to take the job.
6 min read
What Does an Executor Do? A Plain-English Guide to Executor Duties
An executor gathers assets, pays debts, files taxes, and distributes the estate. Here is the full job, step by step, in plain English.
7 min read
Family
Choosing a Guardian for Your Minor Children
How guardian nominations in a will work, what courts consider, questions to ask before choosing, and why naming an alternate matters.
6 min read
Estate Planning for Blended Families: Protecting a Spouse and Children From a Prior Relationship
Why a simple will often fails blended families, how the spouse-then-children problem arises, and the tools that address it.
7 min read
Signing
How to Sign a Will So It Holds Up: Witnesses, Notaries, and Self-Proving Affidavits
A will that is signed incorrectly can fail entirely. Here is the signing ceremony, who can witness, when a notary is needed, and what to avoid.
7 min read
What Is a Self-Proving Affidavit and Why Does It Matter?
A self-proving affidavit lets a will be admitted to probate without tracking down witnesses. What it is, how it is signed, and why it helps.
5 min read
Where to Keep Your Original Will (and Who Should Know)
The original signed will is what the court needs. The options for storing it, the pitfalls of safe deposit boxes, and who needs to know where it is.
5 min read
Wills vs Trusts
Will vs. Living Trust: Which One Do You Actually Need?
An honest comparison of wills and living trusts: what each does, what each costs, and the specific situations where a trust earns its keep.
7 min read