Estate plans usually consist of a Will, a General Power of Attorney, a Health Care Power of Attorney, and a Living Will. Each family has different needs, so customized documents are usually the best choice (as opposed to online legal service plans or “free simple wills” found around the web). A little thought up front saves many headaches and expenses down the road.
Some families are good candidates for Trusts. Trusts give people a way to control how their assets are distributed to their children or other family members if those people are either too young (or otherwise unable) to manage money. Trusts give people more control and flexibility than a will alone, and, since they are customized to each situation, they usually cost slightly more than basic estate planning documents.
Disclaimer: we will not provide financial or investment advice.