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Plain answers about who acts for you
Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, executors and care plans, explained without the jargon, and what to do when there's no obvious person to name.
The next-of-kin gap
GuideWho decides for you when you can't? The next-of-kin gapWho is my next of kin, and who decides for me if I can't? How the law picks medical decision makers, heirs and executors, and how to close the gap.The next-of-kin gapWhat happens if you die without a will (and without close family)What happens if you die without a will and have no spouse or children? Who inherits your house, who settles the estate, and when the state steps in.The next-of-kin gapWho makes medical decisions if you have no power of attorney?Who makes medical decisions if there's no power of attorney? In Washington, doctors follow a ranked list of relatives, with a close friend last.The next-of-kin gapYour legal next of kin, in order: who the law picks firstYour legal next of kin depends on the job: medical care, inheritance, your estate, your funeral. The order for each, and what happens with no next of kin.The next-of-kin gapDementia before anyone is named to help: what happensWhat happens if I get dementia and have no family ready to step in? How decisions get made, when courts get involved, and what to sign while you can.The next-of-kin gapSolo agers: the planning checklist nobody hands youA plain checklist from the solo agers community: four documents, a first and backup name in every role, and the everyday details to write down by 65.The next-of-kin gapEstate planning for couples without childrenEstate planning for childless couples: who to name after each other as executor and agent, what happens if you die together, and who receives what.The next-of-kin gapEstate planning for single peopleEstate planning for a single person: the four documents to sign, how to choose a name for each role without a spouse, and how to decide who receives what.The next-of-kin gapWho should be your executor if you don't want to ask family?Who should be my executor if I'd rather not burden my siblings? What the job takes, how long it lasts, and how friends, professionals and trust companies compare.The next-of-kin gapCan a friend be your power of attorney? What to ask firstCan a friend be my power of attorney? Yes, in most cases. What to ask first when your friend is your own age, and what happens if they can't serve.The next-of-kin gapIn the hospital tomorrow: who pays bills and checks your house?What happens if you are incapacitated for a month? Who can legally pay your bills, talk to your bank, let in the dog walker and look after your house.The next-of-kin gapWhen your children live far away: naming people who can show upLong distance caregiving works best when roles are split. How to name people nearby who can act fast while children far away stay informed and involved.The next-of-kin gapAging alone: who checks on you, who decides, who paysPlanning for aging alone comes down to three questions: who checks on you, who can make medical decisions, and who pays the bills. Here's how people answer each.The next-of-kin gapWhat 'professional next of kin' means, and when it makes senseA professional next of kin is a trust company or other professional you name in your documents to make the medical and money decisions family would make.
The four roles
GuideThe four roles in an estate plan, and who should fill themWho should I name as power of attorney, executor and trustee? A plain guide to the four roles in every estate plan and how to choose who fills each.The four rolesWhat does a power of attorney do?What does a power of attorney do? It lets someone you choose act for you on money or health matters. Here is what an agent can and can't do.The four rolesFinancial power of attorney: what it covers and when it startsA financial power of attorney lets someone you choose pay bills and manage accounts. What it covers, what needs special wording, and when it starts.The four rolesWhat is a durable power of attorney?What is a durable power of attorney? One that keeps working if you can't manage your affairs. Why the wording matters, with Washington's rule.The four rolesSpringing vs immediate power of attorneyA springing power of attorney waits until a future event, usually incapacity. How it compares with an immediate one, who confirms the trigger, and the delays.The four rolesWhen does a power of attorney take effect?When does power of attorney take effect? In Washington, the day you sign unless it says later. When your agent can act, and what banks and doctors ask to see.The four rolesWhat is a medical power of attorney?What is a medical power of attorney? It names the person who makes health care decisions when you can't: what they decide, when they start, who can serve.The four rolesHealth care power of attorney vs living will: you probably need bothA health care power of attorney names someone to decide for you. A living will records your wishes. How they differ, and why most people need both.The four rolesHow to choose a medical power of attorney: 9 questions to askWho should be my medical power of attorney? Nine questions to ask about anyone you're considering, plus what to talk about before you sign the document.The four rolesExecutor vs trustee: what's the difference?Executor vs trustee, and fiduciary vs trustee: how the two roles differ, when each one starts, what each controls, and whether one person can do both.The four rolesWhat is a trustee?What is a trustee? The person or trust company that manages the property in a trust and follows its terms, with strict legal duties set by state law.The four rolesWhat does a successor trustee do?What does a trustee do after the person who made the trust dies or can't manage? A successor trustee's duties, step by step, with Washington's rules.The four rolesWhat is a fiduciary, and what does the duty mean?What is a fiduciary? The legal duty behind every power of attorney, executor and trustee: loyalty, care, records, and what happens if it's broken.The four rolesCorporate trustee vs individual trusteeCorporate trustee or a family member? How a trust company compares with an individual trustee on continuity, oversight, cost and the personal touch.The four rolesProfessional fiduciaries: what they do and what they costWhat a professional fiduciary does, how they're licensed in Washington and California, how they charge by the hour or percentage, and when one makes sense.The four rolesShould your oldest child be your executor?Should my executor be my oldest child? Birth order isn't a legal requirement. How to choose among your children, and when co-executors help or hurt.The four rolesNaming a backup in every role (and why most plans don't)Do you need a backup executor and a backup power of attorney? Yes. What happens in each role without one, with Washington's rules, and how to choose them.
Documents
GuideEstate planning documents: what you need and what each one doesEstate planning documents in plain words: what a will, trust, power of attorney and health care directive each do, and who has to act on every one of them.DocumentsEstate planning checklistAn estate planning checklist for your sixties: the documents to sign, the beneficiary forms to check, the people to name and the papers to gather, step by step.DocumentsWhat is a living trust?What is a living trust? A plain guide to how a revocable living trust works, from signing and funding it to what your successor trustee does later.DocumentsDo I need a trust?Do I need a trust if I own a house and a 401(k)? A plain walk through what each asset does at death, the simpler options, and when a trust earns its keep.DocumentsWill vs trust: which one do you need?Will vs trust, side by side: what each controls, how each is settled, what happens if you can't manage your affairs, and how to decide which fits you.DocumentsRevocable vs irrevocable trustIrrevocable vs revocable trust: a revocable trust can be changed or canceled while you live; an irrevocable one generally can't. Which one fits you?DocumentsWhat is a pour-over will?A pour over will catches anything left outside your living trust and sends it into the trust at your death. Why you need one, and what it can't do.DocumentsWhat is an advance directive? What to put in yoursAn advance directive puts your medical wishes in writing for a time you can't speak. What it is, what to put in yours, and how to make it count.DocumentsPOLST vs advance directive vs DNR: what each one doesA POLST form, a DNR and an advance directive all guide end-of-life care, but they work differently. Who each is for, who signs, and when you need one.DocumentsHow to get power of attorneyHow to get power of attorney, step by step: choose an agent, decide what it covers, and sign it the way your state requires, with Washington's rules.DocumentsHow much does a will cost?How much does a will cost? Real published prices from free and online will services and from law firms, checked October 2026, and what each price buys.DocumentsHow much does a living trust cost?How much does a living trust cost? Published prices from online services and two law firms, checked October 2026, plus the deed and funding costs people miss.DocumentsEstate planning attorney costEstate planning attorney cost, from published sources: hourly rates from a state bar survey and two firms' flat-fee plan prices, checked October 2026.DocumentsOnline wills: what they cover and what they leave outAre online wills good enough? What an online will covers, what it leaves out, what three services charged in October 2026, and how to sign one properly.DocumentsTrust & Will, LegalZoom and Kinly: an honest comparisonTrust and Will reviews, compared honestly: what Trust & Will, LegalZoom and Kinly include and cost as of October 2026, and which one also acts for you.DocumentsDigital estate planning: passwords, accounts and photosDigital estate planning in plain steps: how to let the right person reach your email, photos and online accounts, and what to keep out of your will.
Executors and settling an estate
GuideExecutor of an estate: the job, start to finishWhat an executor of an estate actually does, step by step: opening probate, notifying heirs and creditors, paying debts and taxes, and closing the estate.Executors and settling an estateWhat is probate, and why does everyone want to avoid it?What is probate? A plain guide to the court process for settling an estate, what it involves in Washington, and why so many people plan around it.Executors and settling an estateHow long does probate take in Washington?How long does probate take? Washington's actual deadlines, from the four-month creditor period to nine-month tax returns, and what stretches an estate.Executors and settling an estateHow to avoid probate: the simplest ways that workHow to avoid probate in Washington: beneficiary forms, payable-on-death accounts, transfer-on-death deeds and a funded living trust, with the catch for each.Executors and settling an estateThe probate process, step by stepThe probate process in Washington, step by step: delivering the will, the court petition, letters, notices, creditors, the inventory and closing the estate.Executors and settling an estateProbate fees: what an estate actually paysProbate fees in Washington: the $200 statutory filing fee, what one county clerk charges, plus lawyers, appraisers and executor pay, and who decides each.Executors and settling an estateHow much does an executor get paid?How much does an executor get paid? It depends on the will and the state: some set a percentage, Washington allows reasonable pay. Here is how it works.Executors and settling an estateExecutor checklist: the first 30 days and the first yearAn executor checklist for the first 30 days and the first year: what to do first, what can wait, and the Washington deadlines to keep on your calendar.Executors and settling an estateWhat to do when someone dies: a checklistWhat to do when someone dies, a checklist for the first week: who to call, the funeral, death certificates, Social Security, and what can safely wait.Executors and settling an estateWhat to do when a parent diesWhat to do when a parent dies: a gentle, practical order for the first days, the first month and the year after, written for grown children far or near.Executors and settling an estateHow long does it take to settle an estate?How long does it take to settle an estate? No law sets a typical length. Here are Washington's legal deadlines and the work that fills the months between.Executors and settling an estateCan an executor refuse or step down?Can an executor refuse the job? Yes. Here is how to decline before you're appointed, how to step down after, and who takes over, using Washington law.Executors and settling an estateWhat happens if the executor dies or can't serve?What happens if the executor dies or can't serve? Who steps in, before and during probate, using Washington's rules, and why naming a backup saves months.Executors and settling an estateExecutor fees in Washington StateExecutor fees in Washington State: no percentage, just reasonable pay under RCW 11.48.210, how the fee is disclosed to heirs, and how a court reviews it.
Incapacity and care
GuideIf you can't speak for yourself: incapacity, explainedWhat happens if you become incapacitated without a power of attorney, who decides for you, and how guardianship, care plans and wishes fit together.Incapacity and careGuardianship vs power of attorneyGuardianship vs power of attorney, explained simply: who chooses the person, when each starts, what a court does, and Washington's rules on each.Incapacity and careConservatorship vs power of attorneyConservatorship vs power of attorney: when a court has to manage someone's money, what a financial power of attorney does instead, and Washington's rules.Incapacity and careHow to avoid guardianshipHow to avoid guardianship: the documents to sign, the backups to name and the nomination to write, so a court rarely needs to step in. Washington's rules.Incapacity and careDementia and power of attorney: when it's too late to signDementia and power of attorney: why a diagnosis alone doesn't end the ability to sign, why sooner is easier, and what happens in Washington if it's too late.Incapacity and careWho decides that you can no longer decide?Who decides if you are incompetent to make your own decisions? A doctor, the person your power of attorney names, or a judge, depending on the decision.Incapacity and carePower of attorney for an elderly parentHow to get power of attorney for an elderly parent: your parent signs it, not you. How to raise it, what Washington requires, and what to do if it's late.Incapacity and careLong-term care planning: a plan, not just a policyLong term care planning is more than paying for care. Where you'd live, who checks in, who pays the bills and who can sign for you, written down early.Incapacity and careAging in place: the plan behind staying homeAging in place takes more than grab bars. Here is the plan behind staying home: who checks on you, who can act for you, home safety and help at home.Incapacity and careYour ICE card: what to carry so the hospital calls the right personAn in case of emergency card tells a hospital who to call and where your wishes are. What to put on yours, what to leave off, and how to set up your phone.Incapacity and careWhat to put in your emergency contacts (if you'd rather not list family)Choosing an emergency contact if you have no family nearby, or would rather list a friend: who to pick, how to ask, and how to give them real authority.Incapacity and careEnd-of-life planning checklistAn end of life planning checklist in one place: the legal documents, the people to name, your wishes, the papers to gather, and the conversations to have.Incapacity and careEnd-of-life wishes: how to write them so they're followedHow to write end of life wishes that doctors can act on: the right documents, clear words instead of vague ones, a named agent, and copies where they count.Incapacity and careHospice and your wishes: who speaks for you at the endHow the Medicare hospice benefit works and who makes decisions in hospice if the patient can't speak: your agent, your written wishes, and state law.
The care plan and the small things
GuideThe care plan: everything only you know, written downWhat a care plan is, how it differs from a will, and how to write down the treatments you'd want, who to call first, your pet's routine and more.The care plan and the small thingsLetter of instruction: what to write and where to keep itA letter of instruction tells your family and executor what your will can't: accounts, contacts, the dog's routine. What to write and where to keep it.The care plan and the small thingsThe 'in case I die' binder (and why a binder isn't enough)What to put in an in case I die binder, section by section, where to keep it, and the honest catch: a binder can be lost or outdated, and it can't act.The care plan and the small thingsPet trusts: how to make sure your pet is cared forHow to set up a pet trust: who keeps your pet, who holds the money, who checks on both, and how Washington's law on trusts for animals (RCW 11.118) works.The care plan and the small thingsWho takes care of your dog if you're in the hospital tomorrow?A pet care plan for the sudden day: who has a key, who knows the routine, who pays the dog walker, and the one-page note that tells a stranger what to do.The care plan and the small thingsFuneral wishes: writing them down so nobody has to guessHow to write down your funeral wishes, from burial or cremation to the music, and how to make them legally count, using Washington's rules as the example.The care plan and the small thingsWho to call first: building your notification listWhat to put in emergency contact fields, and how to build a short notification list of who should be called, and in what order, if you're hospitalized or die.The care plan and the small thingsPersonal property memo: who gets the things that matterHow a personal property memo leaves your quilt, ring or recipe box to specific people without redoing your will, and why it belongs with, not in, a legacy binder.The care plan and the small thingsWriting down your medical treatment preferences in plain languageAdvance care planning in everyday words: how to write down which treatments you'd want or refuse, what matters most to you, and how to make it usable by doctors.
Money, Medicaid and fees
GuidePaying for care and protecting what you leaveHow to pay for long-term care in plain words: savings, long-term care insurance, Medicare's limits, Medicaid spend-down, the look-back and fees.Money, Medicaid and feesLong-term care insurance costLong-term care insurance cost at 60 and beyond, from the 2026 AALTCI price index, what drives the premium, and how Washington's WA Cares Fund fits in.Money, Medicaid and feesMedicaid spend-down, explainedHow the Medicaid spend-down works for long-term care, with Washington's figures: the $2,000 limit, what doesn't count, the spouse at home and the look-back.Money, Medicaid and feesThe Medicaid look-back periodThe Medicaid look-back period is the 60 months before you apply for long-term care. How gifts are reviewed, how a delay is figured, and the exceptions.Money, Medicaid and feesMedicaid estate recovery: what the state can take backMedicaid estate recovery explained with Washington's rules: what counts as the estate, which costs are repaid, when recovery waits, and how liens work on a home.Money, Medicaid and feesHow to protect assets from Medicaid (legally)How to protect assets from Medicaid legally: the planning concepts elder law attorneys use, how each works under Washington's rules, and what tends to backfire.Money, Medicaid and feesDaily money managers: who pays your bills when you can'tWhat a daily money manager does and doesn't do, how they differ from a financial power of attorney or trustee, how they charge, and how to check one out.Money, Medicaid and feesElder financial exploitation: how to protect yourselfElder financial exploitation, explained: what Washington law counts, the warning signs, the scams to know, simple protections and where to report it.Money, Medicaid and feesTrust company fees: what professional trustees chargeWhat trust companies charge to act as trustee or executor, from two published fee schedules: annual percentages, minimums, hourly work and settlement.Money, Medicaid and feesCaregiver burnout: when a parent's plan lands on youCaregiver burnout often hits the adult child doing everything for a parent. Signs to watch for, how to share the load, respite options and what to hand off.Money, Medicaid and feesCaring for aging parents: what to put in place nowCaring for aging parents starts with a few legal papers: powers of attorney, a health care directive, a will and a list. What each does, in Washington.
Choosing professional help
GuideChoosing professional help: your options, honestly comparedWant a professional executor, trustee or power of attorney? Here are the honest options: family, attorney, professional fiduciary, trust company and more.Choosing professional helpNaming a friend vs a professional: an honest comparisonWho can be my executor, a friend or a professional? An honest side-by-side look at both across all four roles, with Washington law as the example.Choosing professional helpAttorney, trust company or family: who should act for you?Corporate trustee vs individual trustee, and executor too: how an attorney, a trust company and family compare, and when each is the better choice.Choosing professional helpWhat is a standby fiduciary?A standby fiduciary is a professional named in your documents now who acts only when needed. What the term means, and what to ask before naming one.Choosing professional helpWho decides for you? Default decision-maker laws in all 50 statesSurrogate decision maker laws by state: who can make your medical decisions if you never named anyone, in what order, and whether a close friend can.