What documents are included in a basic estate plan?

• Last Will and Testament: A will says how your assets are split after death. It also names a guardian for minor children. In Arizona, you must sign your will in front of two witnesses under A.R.S. 14-2502. Without a will, Arizona's laws decide who gets your property. That may not match your wishes. To learn what happens with no plan at all, see our guide on what happens without an estate plan in Arizona.
• Revocable Living Trust: A living trust holds your assets and lets them pass to your loved ones without going through probate (court-supervised estate settlement). You keep full control while you are alive. You can change or cancel the trust at any time. Many Arizona families choose a trust for privacy and to skip the cost and delays of probate. For a side-by-side look, read our article on trusts vs. wills in Arizona.
• Financial Power of Attorney: This paper names someone you trust to handle your money if you become too sick to do it yourself. Without one, your family may need to ask a court for control. That can be costly and slow. In Arizona, powers of attorney fall under A.R.S. Title 14, Chapter 5.
• Healthcare Power of Attorney: This names someone to make medical choices for you when you cannot speak for yourself. This person works with your doctors to follow the care plan you set.
• Living Will (Advance Directive): A living will spells out your wishes for end-of-life medical care. For example, it says if you want life support like a breathing machine or feeding tube. It only kicks in when recovery is no longer expected.

Beyond the core papers, a few more items round out your plan:

• Pour-Over Will: If you have a living trust, a pour-over will acts as a safety net. It catches any assets not moved into the trust while you were alive. It sends them into the trust after your death.
• HIPAA Form: Federal privacy laws stop doctors from sharing your medical info without your written okay. A HIPAA form lets your family and healthcare agents see your medical records when they need to make choices for you.
• Beneficiary Form Review: Retirement accounts, life insurance, and payable-on-death accounts pass by the named person on the form, not by your will or trust. Checking these forms to make sure they match your plan is a key step most people skip.
• Community Property Agreement: Arizona is a community property state. A community property agreement with right of survivorship can make it easier for jointly owned assets to pass between spouses. Learn more in our article on community property with right of survivorship in Arizona.

Each paper in your plan covers a different scenario. Your will or trust handles asset transfer. Your powers of attorney cover money and medical choices if you cannot act. Your living will covers end-of-life care. Your HIPAA form lets your agents see your medical records.

The key is making sure all of these papers work as one plan. For example, if your trust says one thing but a beneficiary form says another, the form usually wins. That is why a professional review of all your papers and account forms matters so much.

Your estate plan is not a one-and-done project. Big life events should trigger a review. Marriage, divorce, a new child or grandchild, buying or selling property, moving to Arizona, or the death of a named trustee or loved one are all reasons to revisit your plan.

At RJP Estate Planning, we help Arizona families put together a full set of estate planning papers tailored to their case. Whether you need a simple will plan or a full trust package, every paper is built to work together to protect you and your family.