WillArbor
Estate planning documents
Estate planning documents help you protect the people you love and make your wishes easier to follow. Here is what the main documents do, in plain language, and when families often use them.
A will says who gets what and who is in charge after you die — here is what it does, what it costs, and how to set one up the right way.
Open → Living TrustsA living trust can avoid probate and add control over how and when your family receives what you leave — here is the plain version.
Open → Powers of AttorneyA power of attorney lets someone you trust act for you on money or health decisions if you can't — here is how the two main kinds work.
Open → Advance Directives & Living WillsAn advance directive states your medical wishes and who speaks for you if you can't — here is what to include.
Open → Probate After a DeathProbate is the court process of settling someone's estate — here is what it involves, how long it takes, and when an attorney helps.
Open → Full Estate PlansA full estate plan puts the pieces together — will, trust, POA, and directive — so your wishes are clear and your family is protected.
Open →What estate planning documents are
Estate planning documents are the papers people use to say who should handle their affairs, who should receive property, and who can make medical or financial decisions if they cannot speak for themselves.
The right set of documents depends on your family, your goals, and the state where you live. This page gives general educational information only. Estate planning and probate rules vary by state and can change over time.
WillArbor is a free matching service, not a law firm and not your lawyer. We do not draft documents or give legal advice. We help families connect with a licensed estate planning attorney in their state.
The main documents, in plain language
A will says who should receive your property after death and who you want to care for minor children. A will can also name the person who will handle your estate. If you die without a will, state intestacy rules decide who inherits, and that may not match what you wanted.
A living trust is a legal arrangement that can hold property during your lifetime and direct what happens to it after death. Many families use a trust to help avoid probate for assets properly placed into the trust. But a trust only works as intended if it is funded, which means assets are actually transferred into it.
A financial power of attorney lets you name someone to handle money and property matters for you if you cannot do it yourself or if you want help. An advance directive, sometimes called a living will, explains your medical wishes and may name someone to make health care decisions for you.
Some families also need related documents, such as a pour-over will, guardian nominations, HIPAA releases, or instructions for final arrangements. A licensed estate planning attorney can explain which documents are commonly used in your state.
How these documents work together
Most people do not need just one paper. They need a plan. A basic estate plan often combines a will or trust with powers of attorney and health care documents so there is help both during life and after death.
For example, a parent of young children may want a will to name guardians, a power of attorney in case of illness, and an advance directive for medical decisions. A homeowner or someone with more than one property may ask whether a trust makes sense. A person caring for an aging parent may need to understand probate after a death and whether there are existing documents to follow.
This is also where common mistakes happen. Families often discover there is no will, no named guardian, beneficiary designations are out of date, or a DIY form does not meet state signing rules. Another common problem is an unfunded trust, where the trust exists on paper but key assets were never moved into it.
What estate planning documents may cost
Many estate planning attorneys charge flat fees, not hourly rates, for common documents. The real cost depends on the documents you need, the complexity of your situation, and your state. These ranges are general information only, not quotes.
A simple will may cost about $300 to $1,200. A financial power of attorney or advance directive may cost about $100 to $500 each if prepared on its own, though they are often included in a package. A basic trust-based plan may cost about $1,500 to $5,000 or more. More complex plans, business interests, tax planning, blended families, or multiple properties can increase the price.
Before work starts, ask for the flat fee in writing and what is included. You stay in control: compare attorneys, choose who to hire, and make sure you understand the scope, the fee, and any later costs for updates or trust funding help.
How to choose the right help
Because these documents affect your family, it is worth speaking with a licensed estate planning attorney in your state. Ask whether they regularly handle wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, and probate matters like yours. You can also confirm the attorney's bar license with the state bar.
WillArbor is free for families. We only collect contact and planning intent information: your name, phone number, optional email, state, what you want to plan, and preferred language. We do not ask for asset values, account numbers, Social Security numbers, income, or the contents of your documents.
If you want, you can get matched with a licensed estate planning attorney near you. The attorney decides their own fee. Participating attorneys pay a flat fee to take part in the service, and it is always free for the family.
Estate planning documents are the basic papers that help protect your family, and a licensed attorney in your state can help you choose the right ones.
Thinking about a will or trust?
Get matched, free, with a licensed estate planning attorney near you. You compare attorneys and choose who to hire — and you confirm the flat fee before any work starts.