PRESTIGE HAVEN
Leave them
a map.
A plain language guide to wills, trusts, and the papers that matter, so the people you love aren't left guessing.
Zataria BrownLicensed Life Insurance Agent
Plan. Protect. Prosper.
A note before we start
Grief is heavy enough.
When someone passes without a plan, the family isn't only grieving. They're searching.
Where are the papers? Was there a policy? Who's supposed to make the decisions? Nobody knows, so everybody guesses.
A plan is a map you leave behind, so the people you love don't have to guess.
I want to be clear with you. I'm not an attorney, and this guide won't make you one. It won't tell you which documents you need. That's a conversation for an estate planning attorney in your state.
What this guide will do is help you walk into that conversation knowing the words, knowing what to ask, and knowing where life insurance fits.
Grab a pen. Then decide what's right for you.
With care, Zataria
1The four papers, in plain words
4Questions to ask an attorney
2What your will does and doesn't cover
5Where everything is
3Kids and money
6Your next step
Part one
The four papers, in plain words
Most estate plans are built from some mix of these. Names and rules vary by state.
Will
What it does
Says who gets what, names the person who settles your affairs, and names a guardian for minor children.
Good to know
A will generally goes through probate, the court process that confirms the will, pays debts, and passes things on. It only controls what's in your name alone with no beneficiary.
Trust
What it does
Holds your assets under instructions you write. A trustee you choose follows those instructions if you pass away or can't manage things yourself.
Good to know
A trust only controls what's actually moved into it. Assets held in a trust generally avoid probate.
Power of attorney
What it does
Lets someone you trust handle your money and business if you're alive but unable to, like after an accident or illness.
Good to know
It ends when you pass away. After that, your will or trust takes over.
Healthcare directive
What it does
Names who can make medical decisions for you, and can put your wishes about care in writing.
Good to know
States call it different things, like a healthcare surrogate, proxy, or living will.
Part two
What your will does and doesn't cover
This is the part most people never hear. A lot of what you own may not go through your will at all.
Usually follows your will
In your name, no beneficiary
- Personal belongings
- A car titled only to you
- Bank accounts in your name only, with no payable on death person
- Property in your name aloneSome states offer ways around this, like a transfer on death deed.
Usually goes straight to the person named
Has a beneficiary or co-owner
- Life insurance
- 401(k)s, IRAs, and other retirement accounts
- Bank accounts with a payable on death person
- Property owned jointly with survivorship rights
- Assets held in a trust
Why this mattersYour beneficiary forms generally win, even if your will says something different. If your will leaves everything to your children but your life insurance still names an ex, the policy generally pays the ex. Your plan is only as current as your forms.
If no beneficiary is named, or the one named has passed away, the money may end up going through probate instead. Check your forms once a year.
Part three
Kids and money
Two different questions. Most people only answer the first one.
Question one
Who raises my kids?
That's a guardian. You name one in your will. Without one, a court decides.
Question two
Who manages their money?
That can be a different person. It often should be someone who is good with money, not just good with kids.
Why life insurance needs a plan for minors
An insurance company generally can't pay a death benefit directly to a child. If a minor is named, a court may need to appoint someone to manage the money until they're an adult. That can take time and cost money.
Common ways families plan for this:
- Name a trust as the beneficiary, with a trustee you chose.
- Name a custodian for the child under your state's transfers to minors law, where the carrier allows it.
- Talk it through with an estate attorney so your will, trust, and policy all point the same way.
Which option fits depends on your family and your state. That's a question for your attorney. How to name it on your policy is a question for your agent.
Part four
Questions to bring to an estate attorney
You don't have to know the answers. You just have to know what to ask.
1
Based on my situation, do I need a will, a trust, or both?
And why that, instead of the other.
2
What happens in my state if I do nothing?
Every state has its own default rules.
3
How do my beneficiary forms fit with this plan?
Bring a list of your policies and retirement accounts.
4
If I set up a trust, who moves my assets into it?
A trust only works for what's actually in it.
5
What's the total cost, and what's included?
Ask if it's a flat fee, and what updates cost later.
6
How often should I review this?
And what life changes should make me call you.
7
What happens if I move to another state?
Some documents may need to be updated.
Part five
Where everything is
Fill this in, then tell one trusted person where you keep it.
My willWhere it's kept, and the attorney
My trustWhere it's kept, and the trustee
Power of attorneyWho I named
Healthcare directiveWho I named
Life insuranceCompany and where the paperwork is
Retirement accountsWhere they're held
Guardian for my childrenWho I named
Important papersWhere they're kept
Call these people firstName and phone
Don't write passwords, PINs, or account numbers on this page. It's a map, not a vault. Just point to where things are.
Your next step
Your papers point the way. Is there money there?
A will or trust decides where things go. Life insurance is often what makes sure there's something there to pass on.
Take the IF Test. It's free, and it shows you where your protection stands today.
Zataria Brown is not an attorney. This guide is general education only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Estate laws vary by state; talk with a licensed estate planning attorney in your state before making decisions. Zataria Brown is a licensed life insurance agent, NPN 21634476, licensed in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia. Products and features vary by carrier and state. Coverage is subject to underwriting and approval. © 2026 Prestige Haven LLC.