Estate and Legacy Planning
Your wishes deserve more than good intentions.
Estate planning involves more decisions than most people expect, and each one carries real weight. It touches family relationships, finances, healthcare, and who gets to act when you cannot. Starting this process at all says a lot about how much you care. There is no reason to figure it all out alone.
8 guides · 27 steps
What the plan covers
8 guides. 27 concrete steps.
Each guide covers one part of this event. Inside it, Gaite walks you through specific steps with the documents, deadlines, and people that go with them. Your plan includes the guides that fit your situation. Anything you do not pick stays ready for later.
01Readiness and Planning ScopeName why this matters now, what risks cannot wait, and how large the planning effort actually is. This guide turns vague awareness into a concrete sense of scope and urgency.3 steps
- Name what is driving this planning now
- Audit the current state of existing planning
- Define the full scope of what needs to happen
02Core Decision-Makers and Incapacity PlanningChoose who can act if the person becomes unable to make their own decisions. This guide covers healthcare agents, powers of attorney, and backup decision-makers.4 steps
- Identify who should hold decision-making authority
- Choose a healthcare agent and document care preferences
- Establish durable power of attorney
- Name backup decision-makers and document contingencies
03Wills, Trusts, and Beneficiary AlignmentMatch legal tools to the person's actual assets, family situation, and goals. This guide helps distinguish what a will covers, when a trust is warranted, and why beneficiary designations must align with the overall plan.4 steps
- Determine what legal instruments are needed
- Inventory assets and ownership structures
- Align beneficiary designations across all accounts
- Address probate and tax exposure
04Dependents, Guardianship, and Special SituationsCover the extra complexity that standard planning templates miss. This guide addresses guardianship for minor children, special needs trusts, pet provisions, business succession, and blended family protections.4 steps
- Evaluate guardianship options for minor children
- Set up protections for disabled dependents or pets requiring ongoing care
- Plan for business succession or ownership transfer
- Resolve blended family and non-standard beneficiary protections
05Document Execution and State-Valid CompletionTurn drafted documents into legally enforceable instruments. This guide covers signing, witnessing, notarization, and jurisdiction-specific requirements so nothing is left in draft status.3 steps
- Verify execution requirements for each document
- Execute all documents with proper formalities
- Confirm legal enforceability of completed documents
06Storage, Access, and BackupsMake sure the right people can find and use what exists when it matters. This guide covers where to store originals, how to ensure emergency access, and how to maintain secure backups.3 steps
- Choose storage locations for originals and copies
- Create a master document inventory
- Set up emergency access for trusted individuals
07Family Communication and Expectation ManagementReduce surprise and avoidable conflict by deciding what to communicate, to whom, and when. This guide helps navigate difficult conversations around unequal choices, estrangement, blended families, and unconventional directives.3 steps
- Decide what to communicate and to whom
- Prepare for difficult conversations
- Have the conversations and document outcomes
08Review and Update CadenceKeep the plan current by building a review cycle tied to specific life triggers. This guide covers when updates are needed, what to check, and how to avoid quiet drift between the plan and reality.3 steps
- Identify life triggers that require plan updates
- Schedule a regular review cycle
- Create a plan review checklist
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