An estate plan usually contains a trust, last will and testament, power of attorney, healthcare proxies, beneficiary descriptions, account information, and many other entries dealing with assets and where they should end up. But not many people think about the nonmaterial aspect of their legacy that can be transferred through an ethical will.

Estate Planning Documents are legal instruments that help your family and the Court, in certain situations, determine how you would like your affairs handled when you are unable to manage on your own. Ideally, the planning documents you have created will ease a difficult time in your family’s lives. It is very important to ensure that everything is executed in the legally required manner or the documents will not be effective.

In cases in which probate is required, the executor of the estate or the next of kin cannot take the actions necessary to administer the estate without the authority granted by the probate court. Probate is a complicated process that requires executors to prepare forms, meet deadlines, keep records, generate reports, submit filings to the court, and serve notices to creditors, heirs and local newspapers.