Stuck on Your Estate Plan? Here’s How to Pick Up Where You Left Off.

If you started creating your estate plan and didn’t finish, you’re in good company. It’s one of the most common things we see. People get started with the best of intentions, and then life gets in the way, a question comes up they’re not sure how to answer, or they just need more time to think.

The good news: your progress is saved, your account is waiting for you, and finishing is usually easier than you think. Here are the most common reasons people pause and how to get past each one.

"I Wasn’t Sure if I Need a Will Plan or a Trust Plan"

This is the most common place people get stuck, and it’s completely understandable. The difference between a will and a trust isn’t something most people think about until they’re in the middle of creating a plan.

Here’s the short version: a will covers the basics, like naming a guardian for your children, specifying who gets your assets, and documenting your healthcare wishes. A trust includes everything in a Will Plan, plus a Revocable Living Trust that helps your family avoid probate, which is the court process that takes an average of 20 months to close. 

If you own real estate, have assets you want to protect from probate, or want more control over when and how your beneficiaries receive their inheritance, a Trust Plan is likely the better fit. If you’re looking for a straightforward plan that covers the essentials, a Will Plan is a great option.

Not sure which is right? Our free quiz walks you through a few quick questions to help you decide.

"I Got Overwhelmed by the Questions"

The estate planning questionnaire covers some big life decisions, and it’s natural to need time to think about them. Who should be your children’s guardian? How do you want your assets divided? What are your healthcare preferences?

You don’t have to answer everything in one sitting. Your progress saves automatically, so you can step away and come back whenever you’re ready. And you don’t need to have perfect answers. You can always update your plan later as your life changes.

If you’re not sure what certain terms mean or what a question is really asking, our guide on questions to ask yourself before creating your estate plan can help you think through the key decisions at your own pace.

"My Discount Didn’t Apply at Checkout"

If you came through a partner like AARP, Navy Federal, USAA, or another organization and your discount didn’t show up at checkout, this is usually a quick fix. The most common reason is that the partner link wasn’t carried through to checkout.

Here’s what to do: go back to the original partner page or email that contained your discount link, click through that link again, and then proceed to checkout. The discount should apply automatically. If it still doesn’t work, reach out to our member support team. They can apply your discount manually and get you back on track.

"I Had a Life Event and Needed to Pause"

Buying a home, getting married, going through a divorce, welcoming a new baby, dealing with a health issue - these are all common reasons to pause your estate plan. And here’s the thing: every one of these events is actually a great reason to complete it.

• Buying or selling property? A Trust Plan can help your family avoid probate on that property. Once the purchase closes, you can update your plan to include the new address. You'll also need to transfer the title into your trust by recording a new deed.

• Getting married or divorced? Your beneficiary designations, guardianship selections, and Power of Attorney choices may all need to reflect your new situation.

• New baby? This is one of the most important times to have a guardian named in your plan.

• Health concerns? Your Advance Healthcare Directive and healthcare agent designations are critical if you’re facing a medical situation.

You don’t have to wait for life to settle down. Your plan can evolve with you, and you can update it at any time.

"I Ran Into a Technical Issue"

If you experienced a problem saving your progress, logging into your account, or navigating the platform, we want to help you fix it.

• Can’t log in? Try resetting your password. If you’re still locked out, our member support team can help restore access.

• Edits not saving? This can sometimes happen on mobile devices. Try switching to a desktop browser, or reach out to support so we can troubleshoot.

• Charged but can’t access your plan? Contact our member support team right away. They can resolve billing and access issues quickly.

You can reach our member support team by emailing support@trustandwill.com or by submitting a request here. 

"I’m Not Sure the Platform Can Handle My Situation"

If you have multiple children, a blended family, properties in different states, or business interests, it’s natural to wonder whether an online platform is the right fit. Trust & Will was built to handle these scenarios.

Our guided experience includes dedicated sections for business interests, multiple properties, and complex beneficiary designations. You can set different inheritance percentages for each child, add age conditions, name unique guardians per child, and more.

If you want extra confidence, Attorney Support gives you a year of 30-minute phone consultations with a licensed estate planning attorney for a flat fee of $299. They can review your completed documents line by line and answer questions specific to your situation. For a closer look at how the options compare, read our comparison of Trust & Will vs. hiring an attorney.

You’re Closer Than You Think

If you’ve already started, the hardest part is behind you. Log back into your Trust & Will account to pick up right where you left off. Your progress is saved and waiting for you.

Trust & Will makes estate planning simple so you can create a customized, state-specific plan from the comfort of your own home. 

Is there a question here we didn’t answer? Browse more topics in our learn center, visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, or chat with our member support!

Trust & Will is an online service providing legal forms and information. We are not a law firm and we do not provide legal advice.