Documenting Your Wishes
Decide It Now, So a Court Doesn't Later
"Here's a hard truth I share gently: if you don't make an estate plan, your state has already made one for you — and you almost certainly won't like it. Without a will, a court decides who raises your children and who gets your assets, following a rigid formula that doesn't know your family or your wishes."
"Estate planning isn't about being rich. It's about being a parent, a spouse, a person who loves someone. It's the difference between leaving your family a clear plan and leaving them a slow, public, expensive mess in probate court during the worst week of their lives. We've located your documents already — now let's make sure they actually exist and say what you mean."
This module scores your estate readiness across the documents that matter and helps you see exactly what's missing — so your wishes, not a court's formula, decide what happens.
No plan is still a plan — the court's.
The Core Documents
What Every Estate Plan Needs
Tap each card. None of this is only for the wealthy.
The foundation. It names who gets what and — if you have minor children — who raises them. Without a will, the state decides both by formula. A will also names your executor. This is the one almost everyone needs and far too many people don't have.
A durable power of attorney names who handles your finances if you're alive but incapacitated. A healthcare power of attorney names who makes medical decisions. These protect you during your life — without them, your family may need a court to do simple things on your behalf.
Your living will states your wishes for end-of-life medical care, so your family isn't forced to guess during an agonizing moment. It's one of the kindest documents you can leave — it lifts an impossible decision off the people you love.
A trust isn't just for the rich — it can avoid probate, keep things private, and control how/when heirs receive assets (helpful for minors or blended families). And remember from Module 10: beneficiary forms override the will, so they must align with your overall plan. The pieces have to work together.
Your Turn — Live Tool
Estate Readiness Score
Tap each item that's truly done and current. Your score updates live and saves to this device. The unchecked items are your to-do list.
Think Fast
The Drill
One estate call.
You're a healthy 40-year-old parent of two young kids. You figure estate planning is something to deal with when you're older and wealthier. Is that a safe assumption?
Hands-On Drill
Estate Checklist
Check what's in place and current. Open boxes are conversations to have with an estate attorney.
- A current willNaming heirs, executor, and guardian for minors
- Durable power of attorneyFor finances during incapacity
- Healthcare proxy & living willMedical decisions and end-of-life wishes
- Trust consideredIf it fits your family or goals
- Beneficiaries aligned with the planFrom your Module 10 audit
- Documents are currentReviewed after any major life change
"This is one place I always say: bring in a qualified estate attorney. DIY forms can work for very simple situations, but the cost of a mistake here lands on the people you love, at the worst possible time. Getting it done right is a gift — and it's usually more affordable than people expect."
Knowledge Check
Run the Estate Drill
Which core document is missing or out of date — and what's your first step (draft a will, call an attorney, update a directive)?
Your Wishes Are on Record
You know exactly where your estate plan stands and what to finish. Next, we make sure your family actually knows the plan exists.
Decide it yourself, on purpose. — Let's Start the Conversation.