Thinking about having AI create your estate plan?

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:45:15 GMT

Food for thought

Artificial intelligence, or AI, has worked itself into almost every industry. The legal realm is no different.

On the surface AI is great. Questions have almost instant answers. Feedback is thorough with, sometimes, multiple sources.

Thoughts. Ideas. All there.

A scroll through an AI chat lines up a ton of information on creating an estate plan. What documents you may or may not need. It also suggests a process to follow.

Time saver. All good, right?

What AI does not do is get much beyond rudimentary information. What happens if your situation, needs, or goals are not “basic”?

What should you do if you have multiple properties? What if those properties are in different states? Are those business interests? How would all of that tie into your personalized estate plan?

Is there more? Of course. There always is.

AI can only give you the information on questions you know to ask. Many people, do not know the questions they have or what to ask to get the proper plan to protect their family.

What is important is getting the personalized plan that meets your needs and goals. That is why a strategic approach with an attorney is so critical. Most people do not need “basic”.

It is the strategy behind the plan that matters, not just the actual documents, which is why working with an estate planning attorney is important.

An experienced estate planning attorney will know the right questions to ask and what information is critical to your situation.

Most importantly, an attorney has the knowledge and has the latest tools to make your plan compliant with state laws. AI can not say the same.

Log into AI chat for the first time and you will likely read something along the lines “the information provided may not be correct”.

Would you want to take a chance that your estate plan with AI is not correct?

Doing so may leave your loved ones unprotected, your wishes unfulfilled, and your plan in probate limbo.

To learn more about the essential estate planning documents every adult should have and how a licensed attorney can help guide you please visit www.thevaillncourtlawfirm.com

The Five Essential Documents Every Adult Should Have

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:43:20 GMT

Food for thought

“Adulting”. It’s a not so fun term that covers responsibilities like paying the rent/mortgage, auto loans, student loans and a bevy of other bills that come with being an adult.

While the joke is usually humorous, one part of adulting that should be taken very seriously is having an estate plan. In that plan, there are five essential documents each person should have in force.

The most basic and, arguably, important is a last will and testament, or will.

A will covers your final wishes when you pass away. A will sets the framework for who you want to carry out your final wishes. Additionally, it will name individuals, groups, or organizations whom you want to benefit from your estate. It will also name anyone whom you specifically designate to not benefit from your estate. Many will include a funeral directive within them. However, you can also develop a separate funeral directive document should your will not include one.

The next critical component of your plan is a HIPPA waiver. This waiver allows your medical professionals to share information with those you have named in your healthcare power of attorney, spouse or even adult children.

The HIPPA waiver tag-teams with a healthcare power of attorney.

This critical portion of your plan names trusted parties to carry out your wishes should you become incapacitated. Remember, a will only enters enforcement after you pass away.

A healthcare power of attorney teamed with the HIPPA waiver will allow doctors to share medical information with the person/people you name should you not be able to make medical decisions. Without it, there may be delays in needed medical care.

Dovetailing on a healthcare power of attorney which names a trusted person or people who can make decisions, a living will (in some cases called an advance directive) will say specifically what medical treatments are and are not allowed.

For instance: do you want to be kept on life support? If so, under what circumstances and for how long.

Again, remember, your will is only in effect once you pass away. Incapacitation will not bring any wishes listed into play.

Another key part of your plan is a financial power of attorney. Again, should you end up in a physical or mental condition that would not allow you to make decisions for yourself, you can appoint someone to make financial decisions on your behalf.

A financial power of attorney would allow your trusted representative to pay bills, access your accounts, manage investments, handle taxes and several other financial matters that may come about. You know, adulting.

Without this, should you end up in a condition where you are unable to make decisions, your loved ones may be left in financial limbo and, possibly, have to go to court to make sure their needs are taken care of.

While not 100% essential, a hospital visitation form is recommended. In the event you end up needing hospitalization, this would legally dictate who is and is not allowed to visit you.

Do you have questions about creating an estate plan? Take a look at our website and schedule a free consultation to have your questions answered.

Up next: the up-side and pitfalls of using AI to develop your estate plan.

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Thinking about having AI create your estate plan?

Food for thought

The Five Essential Documents Every Adult Should Have

Food for thought