Every estate plan requires finishing touches to be effective.
The drafting and signing of estate planning documents does not mean the work is complete.
Like delivering a baby is the first step in parenting a child, creating estate planning documents is only the beginning of implementing the estate plan.
According to a recent Forbes article titled "What Others Need To Know About Your Estate And Estate Plan," individuals and families who work with an experienced estate planning attorney to create powers of attorney, a trust, and a last will and testament must still take action to ensure the estate plan works as designed.
What actions must individuals and couples take to place the finishing touches on their estate plans?
They must provide key information and documents to the individuals they have appointed to oversee the estate.
Failing to provide the necessary paperwork to these agents will leave them struggling to gather the information they need to administer the estate.
This will leave appointed executors and loved ones stressed and even irritated at the loved one who died.
An estate plan is only mostly complete without the finishing touches of organization and communication.
Although access to the estate planning documents themselves is key, other forms and information are also essential.
Executors should be able to access key identifying and legal information, such as the decedent's full name, date of birth, Social Security number, driver's license number, Medicare number, and veteran's information.
Appointed agents should also be provided with directions on how to locate documents such as marriage certificates, divorce records, birth certificates, and passports.
At some point, information for auto insurance, life insurance, homeowners insurance, or flood insurance policies will be helpful for your supervising spouse, agents designated in your Power of Attorney, executor, and trustees.
You should provide your representatives with information to contact your CPA, financial advisor, estate planning attorney, and other financial professionals with whom you actively work.
Death is not the only trigger for estate planning documents to take effect.
Incapacity initiates the implementation of documents like Advance Health Care Directives, Powers of Attorney, and even Revocable Living Trusts.
These instruments would have been prepared with an estate planning attorney to address incapacity.
Anyone designated to serve in specific roles by the documents should be given notice of the designation.
It is not wise to surprise loved ones with the responsibility of acting on your behalf.
To support these loved ones, you should give them access to medical information.
Such information includes names of doctors, contact information for physicians and pharmacies, and lists of allergies and prescriptions.
Because many medical records are kept in patient portals, you should determine in advance how to grant access to these records to loved ones when needed.
To manage personal affairs seamlessly, family members and agents will need to understand finances and medical insurance.
They will need to locate your Medicare card and have information on Medicare supplement policies, Part D prescription drug coverage, employer coverage, and any other medical coverage.
In the case of death, executors must access and retrieve the original last will and testament.
Why?
Many states require the original last will and testament to be filed with the probate court rather than a copy.
Direct family members should know who has been appointed as the primary executor of the estate, and who has been designated as the successor executor should the first choice be unable to serve.
For estate plans with a trust, loved ones should know where to find the trust agreement and be told who will serve as the trustee or successor trustees.
Information on which assets are governed by the trust and which are subject to probate is generally found in the trust agreement.
Although not legally binding, individuals should compile an inventory of their physical and digital assets.
Instructions for accessing websites and other digital assets should include URLs, usernames, passwords, and other key information.
Without this step, there will be little to no way to manage your digital footprint.
Many surviving loved ones benefit from advance planning around funeral and burial arrangements.
If you have made preparations or have strong opinions on how you would prefer these handled, you should document and clearly communicate your wishes.
It is unrealistic to assume a former comment or casual conversation will be remembered by loved ones who are mourning.
Documenting your preference and arrangements will support your grieving family.
Can you simply include your wishes in your last will and testament?
This is unwise and a common mistake.
Because this document is often not reviewed until after the funeral, it is best to leave these instructions separately and clearly labeled.
The finishing touches of an estate plan involve more than signing the documents.
To truly complete an estate plan, information and documents must be compiled and provided to those designated to serve in support of incapacity and in estate administration.
Doing so clarifies your wishes and sets your loved ones up for success.
This post is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice on any specific issue or problem. Nothing herein creates an attorney-client relationship between Harvest Law KC and the reader.
Reference: Forbes (Dec. 29, 2025) “What Others Need To Know About Your Estate And Estate Plan”
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