Estate Planning
Wills, Powers of Attorney & Living Wills
The four core documents every Kentucky adult should have, explained simply and tailored to your family.
The Foundation of Every Estate Plan
If you only do one piece of planning, start here. A will, a financial power of attorney, a healthcare power of attorney, and a living will work together to cover two different situations: what happens if you become unable to make decisions during your lifetime, and what happens to your property after you die.
Your will speaks after death. Your powers of attorney and living will speak while you are still living but cannot act for yourself — after a stroke, an accident, or the progression of dementia, for example. Without these lifetime documents, your family may have to go to court to get authority to help you.
We take time to talk through who you trust for each role, how much authority you want them to have, and what your wishes really are. Then we draft documents that reflect your choices in clear language, and we oversee the signing so everything is done correctly under Kentucky law. Before you leave, you will know where to keep the originals, who should receive copies, and when it makes sense to review your documents again.
What We Handle
- Drafting new wills, including guardian designations for minor children
- Durable financial powers of attorney with tailored authority
- Healthcare powers of attorney and surrogate designations
- Living wills and Kentucky advance directives
- Reviewing and updating older documents
- Coordinating wills with beneficiary designations and joint accounts
- Pour-over wills that work alongside a living trust
- Supervised signings with required witnesses and notary
How Each Document Works
Last Will and Testament
Your will says who receives your property, names the executor who will settle your estate, and lets parents name a guardian for minor children. It only takes effect at death, and property passing under a will generally goes through probate.
Power of Attorney
A financial power of attorney names an agent to handle money matters for you — paying bills, managing accounts, dealing with insurance, or selling property. A “durable” power of attorney keeps working if you become incapacitated, which is when it matters most.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
This document names a healthcare surrogate to talk with doctors and make medical decisions when you cannot. It gives that person legal standing to speak for you and to access the information they need.
Living Will
A living will records your wishes about life-prolonging treatment, artificial nutrition, and comfort care at the end of life. In Kentucky, it is often combined with the healthcare surrogate designation in a single advance directive.
How It Works
- 1
Talk Through Your Choices
We discuss your family, your property, and the people you trust to serve as executor, agent, and healthcare surrogate.
- 2
Review Your Drafts
We prepare your documents and explain every section in plain English. You ask questions and request changes until it is right.
- 3
Sign With Confidence
We supervise the formal signing so your documents are valid, then give you guidance on storing them and sharing copies.
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually, yes. Most people with a living trust also sign a “pour-over” will. It catches any property that was never moved into the trust and directs it there, and it is also where parents name guardians for minor children.
Kentucky law decides who inherits based on family relationships, which may not match your wishes. A court appoints an administrator, and there are no written instructions about who should care for your children. The process can also be slower and more expensive for your family.
Choose someone who is trustworthy, organized, and willing to serve — and who will follow your wishes even when it is hard. It does not have to be your oldest child or a spouse. It is also wise to name a backup in case your first choice cannot serve.
Review them after major life events such as marriage, divorce, a birth, a death in the family, a move, or a significant change in what you own. Even without big changes, a review every few years helps make sure your documents still fit your life.
No. A power of attorney ends when you pass away. At that point, your executor, named in your will, or a court-appointed administrator takes over handling your estate.
Kentucky recognizes some handwritten wills, but do-it-yourself documents often contain mistakes or gaps that cause problems later. Having an attorney prepare and supervise the signing helps make sure your wishes are clear and enforceable.
Put Your Core Documents in Place
Give your family clear instructions and the authority to help when you need it. Let’s talk about the right documents for you.
