Estate Planning
Getting Started
The following documents should be included in your estate plan:
Letter of Instructions
This informal document addresses financial and personal matters that must be attended to after your death.
Advance Directive
These documents refer to health care directives, living wills, health care (medical) powers of attorney, and other personalized directives.
Power of Attorney
This document delegates the power to legally handle your financial affairs should you become disabled or incapacitated.
Voices
Is My Will Still Valid?
Financial adviser Jonathan Pond suggests when to review or redo your will and other estate-planning documents.
Tools
Charitable Giving Calculator
Enter your donation amount and federal tax rate to determine your tax savings.
Checklists
Guide to Planning Wills and Trusts
Download this publication or these excerpts. (Adobe Acrobat required).
AARP Resources
AARP Legal Services Network
AARP members and their spouses or partners can access a large directory of lawyers, which can help with legal matters such as wills.
AARP Books
AARP Crash Course in Estate Planning
Lawyer Michael Palermo steers novices through the estate-planning wilderness.
Handing Off the Checkbook
If you are struggling with finances, here are five ways your family can help.
The Truth About Living Trusts
Just like a will, a revocable living trust is a written document that lets you direct how your property will pass after your death. Unlike a will, it also directs how you want your property managed during any disability.
Getting Your Will Right
You may need legal help with your will in order to have things turn out the way you want.
From the Online Community
Group: Retirement Possibilities
Discuss how you envision your retirement.
Join Group
Group: Living Wills
Share ideas about how to approach family or friends about this topic.
Join Group
Choice of a Lifetime
Most people consider a will the best tool to make their wishes known to relatives and to have those wishes carried out. Sometimes a living trust, alone or in combination with a will, offers a better solution.
Frequently Asked Questions About Power of Attorney
The power of attorney allows you to pick someone you trust to handle your affairs if you cannot do so yourself.
Inheritance Tips
If you are fortunate enough to receive an inheritance, make the most of it. Here are some tips on how to manage the money.
Checklist: What to Do After a Spouse Dies
Learn which financial steps you should take following the death of a spouse.
Your Estate-Planning Team
Estate planning is a complex task. To do it right, you may need to seek the advice of more than one expert.
Most Popular in Estate Planning
AARP Financial Benefits
Financial Guidance in a Volatile Market
Unsure What to Do? Call one of our experienced non-commissioned Financial Advisors at 1.888.778.6187
Learn more about our Banking, Insurance and Mutual Funds products.
More to Explore
Create The Good
AARP is calling on its members to Create The Good in their neighborhoods. Get involved.
Benefits QuickLINK
Find out what public or private benefits are available for older adults and families with children.
More From AARP
Member Benefit
Save on membership fees in AARP® Roadside Assistance from Allstate.
Healthy Couch Potato
Can watching the Super Bowl actually improve your health?
Our Movie Picks
The envelope, please: our annual Movies for Grownups® Awards.
Make Clothes Last
What's your oldest garment in your closet that you still wear?
AARP Needs You!
AARP seeks nine volunteers for its National Policy Council.
Doughnut Hole
Find ideas for avoiding Medicare's Rx coverage gap.
Driving for Less
Our driver safety course can lower car insurance costs for Montanans.
Tex-Mex Food
Willing to share your recipe for tacos? Tell us how you stuff your shell!
Spa Cuisine
The food served at spas today tastes better and is easy to prepare at home.
Vote for Your Fave!
We picked 10 heroic animals. Tell us which one should win $1,000.
Latin Music
Latin music has captured hearts and souls all around the world.
AARP Exclusive
See how grandparents affect the lives of children with autism.
