← Both starting points For your own household
It makes sense in your head. Make it useful to them. If you’re seriously ill, or after you’re gone, give the people you trust a way to follow your wishes, find your documents and keep everyday things running.
Start for my household → Free to start · First questions: about 3 minutes
Your family picture Fictional example
A few details. A clearer plan. Your will Study filing cabinet, top drawer
✓ ConfirmedExecutor Riley is named; practical details still needed
◐ KnownMortgage payment Which account pays it?
○ UnknownConfirmed means enough useful detail is saved here to act on. It does not mean legal or independent verification.
The knowledge you carry
The little details are part of the plan, too. Which account pays the mortgage? Who would Riley call first? Where are your care wishes written down? Start with what is already in your head
One useful detail at a time. You don’t need to upload a stack of documents to make something clearer.
01 Name the people. Record who is named to help and what they would need to know.
02 Make the practical details findable. Which bank, where the will is kept, how the mortgage is paid. Record locations, not passwords or full account numbers.
03 Put your wishes into words. Keep care preferences and open decisions alongside the documents and the people involved.
A name is a starting point
Does the person you’ve named know their part? Writing down a role is useful. Knowing what someone would need makes it practical.
Fictional role example
Riley · executor
Named in the plan Yes
Has been told Yes
Knows where the will is Still to discuss Recorded here, in your plan. Riley hasn’t been told yet.
Recording a role does not appoint someone, notify them, or give them access.
Something you can use
For the family. For the next conversation. Already have an estate plan? Capture changes in your family, accounts and wishes, keep unanswered questions visible, and bring that context to your next attorney meeting.
For someone stepping in The family packet A reference for the people who would pick things up.
Kin Illustrative excerpt
Family summary
Who is named Riley · executor · not yet briefed
Where the will is kept Study filing cabinet, top drawer
Still to answer Which account pays the mortgage? Summary and runbook · separate printable views
For an attorney meeting The planning brief For a first plan or the next review: bring your recorded wishes, decisions and open questions to an attorney.
Kin Illustrative excerpt
Questions to discuss Do the documents reflect the people named? Have any wishes changed? What still needs a decision? Bring the separate change summary alongside this brief for recorded updates and open items.
These organize what you record. They are not legal documents or legal advice, and do not replace the originals or an attorney.
Room for the plan you already have. What if I already have a will or trust? Start with the people named, the location of the documents and anything that has changed. You can use the change summary at your next review.
What if I haven’t made those decisions? Keep the open questions visible. The planning brief brings your recorded wishes and questions together for an attorney conversation.
Is this only for couples or parents? No. You can organize for yourself, a partner or the people you consider family. The first questions let you describe your situation.
A place to begin
Make one thing easier for them to find. You can stop after that. The picture can grow over time.
Photographs are illustrative. They show no customer and endorse nothing.