Wills

Overview

A will is the document that directs how your assets are distributed, names an executor to carry out your wishes, and — if you have minor children — names their guardian. It's often the starting point of an estate plan, though rarely the whole plan.

What a will does: directs distribution of assets not otherwise covered by a trust or beneficiary designation, names guardians for minor children, and names the executor responsible for carrying out your wishes.

What a will does not do: a will alone does not avoid probate, does not control assets held in a trust, and does not override beneficiary designations on accounts like retirement plans or life insurance.

What's Included

• A will drafted around your specific wishes and family situation
• Guidance naming an executor and successor executors
• Guardian designations for minor children
• Coordination with any trusts and beneficiary designations
• Guidance on when and how to update your will

Why It Matters

Without a will, state intestacy law decides who inherits — and a court decides who cares for your minor children. A properly drafted will puts those decisions back in your hands.