F.A.Q – Estate Planning

An estate plan is a group of legal documents that explain your wishes during your lifetime and after your death. It usually includes a Will, Power of Attorney, Health Care Directive, and sometimes trusts, depending on your goals and needs. The purpose of an estate plan is to make sure your voice is heard in situations where you may not be able to speak for yourself and to give clear direction for those you leave behind.

Most people do. A Will lets you choose who receives your assets, who will care for your children, and who will handle your affairs. Without one, Connecticut law decides these things for you, which might not reflect your wishes.

Your estate goes through probate, and the court follows Connecticut’s intestacy laws to decide who inherits your assets. The court may also choose who becomes guardian of your children. A Will allows YOU to make these decisions rather than relying on default laws.

A Will takes effect after you pass away. It explains how your assets should be handled and who should care for your children. A Power of Attorney is used while you are alive. It allows someone you trust to help with financial or legal matters if you become unable to manage them yourself. Because they serve different purposes, most people benefit from having both in place.

A Will explains what happens after you pass away. It directs how your assets are distributed, names a guardian for your children, and appoints someone to handle your estate.

A Living Will applies while you are still alive. It outlines your medical wishes, including the type of care you want or do not want if you cannot communicate for yourself. In Connecticut, this usually works together with your Health Care Representative, who speaks on your behalf if needed.

A Health Care Directive allows you to name someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf and to clearly express your wishes for treatment and end-of-life care. It gives your family and medical team the guidance they need to honor your choices if you cannot speak for yourself.

Most estate planning documents do not expire, but they should be reviewed and updated when your life changes. Events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a move, or a change in health or family relationships can all be good reasons to revisit your plan.

It is also important to know that a Power of Attorney automatically ends at the moment of your death. After that, only your Will or Trust control what happens next.

For most people, the process is simple. After our first meeting, I prepare your documents and schedule a signing as soon as everything is ready. Many people complete their entire plan within a few weeks.

Not legally, but it is highly recommended. Online forms often leave out important protections or do not comply with Connecticut law. A lawyer makes sure your documents are valid, tailored to your needs, and enforceable in court.

In many cases, yes. Most estates in Connecticut go through probate. A good estate plan can make the process simpler, faster, and less stressful for your loved ones.

The cost depends on the documents you need and the complexity of your situation. After we talk about your goals, I can give you a clear, upfront estimate so you know exactly what to expect.

You do not need much to get started. Before your appointment, I will send you a short questionnaire to help you think about your wishes and gather basic information. It is perfectly fine if some answers are incomplete or you are unsure about certain sections. It is simply a tool to guide our conversation. If you have any prior estate planning documents, such as an old Will, Power of Attorney, or Health Care Directive, feel free to bring them so we can review whether they still reflect your wishes. It is also helpful to have a general sense of what you own and the people you may want to name in your documents. If anything feels confusing or you are not sure where to begin, that is completely okay. I will walk you through everything during our meeting.

You are not alone. Many people feel unsure about where to begin. The good news is that your first step is simply a conversation. We will talk about what matters most to you and build your plan from there. You do not have to have everything figured out before we meet.