The Basics

GoGo Estate's Essential Plan includes the following documents:

  1. Last Will and Testament
  2. Advanced Directive(s)
  3. Health Care Power(s) of Attorney
  4. Durable General Power(s) of Attorney

A will is a document that outlines how your estate and assets are distributed after death. Unlike trusts, wills are not living documents (they only come into effect after your death) and wills must go through probate. However, wills can be useful for individuals with relatively simple estates.

The Details

The will in the Essential Plan covers a wide range of matters, including the appointment of a personal representative. The personal representative (sometimes called the "executor") is the person responsible for handling your estate and shepherding the will through probate.

The will also includes distribution provisions. Prior to distribution of probate assets, the personal representative must pay any remaining debts, taxes, and expenses out of your estate. Once those are paid, then the personal representative can distribute the remaining assets.

Some states allow for you to keep a separate written list disposing of your tangible personal property to specific beneficiaries. For states that allow for written lists distributing tangible personal property, GoGo Estate includes that list in your Essential Plan. For states that don't allow it...well, we don't.

Speaking of beneficiaries, for married couples or those in domestic partnerships, your spouse or partner will be considered your primary beneficiary (unless you tell your attorney otherwise). If your spouse or partner dies before you, then you can designate who the remainder beneficiaries will be. If you are single, then your assets go to whomever you designate as primary beneficiaries.

A word of caution: if you have a blended family, the surviving spouse or partner inherits the assets and can then do with them as they please. In other words, once you die, your spouse or partner can write your family line out of the will entirely. This is why many couples consider purchasing a Blended Family Plan.

Other Documents

Below is a description of the other documents included in GoGo Estate's Essential Plan:

  1. Advanced Directive(s): These documents state your end-of-life wishes and authorize your doctors, family, and friends to withdraw care in the event that you cannot communicate care for yourself.
  2. Durable Health Care Power(s) of Attorney: This document allows someone else to make health care decisions for you in the event you cannot make those decisions for yourself.
  3. Durable General Power(s) of Attorney: This document allows someone to do everything else (except for health care) that you are legally allowed to do for yourself.

Create an Essential Plan

If you want to protect your family and leave a lasting legacy, purchase your Essential Plan today!