GoodTrust Estate Planning Services
An estate plan includes a will-based or trust-based plan, and a series of directives that outline your wishes for medical care, financial care and more. GoodTrust offers access to both will- and trust-based plans, and all supporting directives, which we’ll cover in detail below.
Whether you choose to create a will- or trust-based estate plan, keep in mind that GoodTrust includes planning for up to five adult family members in your household, at no extra cost. This is something you typically pay extra for with other companies.
All estate planning services pair your wishes with the precise language of GoodTrust’s attorney-crafted legal forms, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Last Will & Testament
Without the right documentation, the court will decide what happens to your assets, as well as the pets, children and adults in your care. That’s why creating a will is important, regardless of your age, wealth or health—it provides clarity for your loved ones and ensures your wishes are carried out.
GoodTrust makes it easy to create your will:
- Answer some basic questions about yourself, and GoodTrust will guide you through creating a personalized will-based estate plan.
- The info you provide is combined with GoodTrust’s attorney-crafted legal forms. Print your will and follow instructions to legalize the document based on your state’s requirements.
- Upload your finalized documents to the GoodTrust Digital Vault and decide who has access and when.
It’s important to note that you and your spouse will need separate wills, even if your wishes are identical. This is included in your plan at no extra cost, for up to five adult family members in your household.
Revocable Living Trust
A trust allows you to decide how, when and to whom your assets are distributed if you become incapacitated, and after you pass away. It also preserves your assets and potentially minimizes taxes and probate costs associated with transferring assets through a will. Once a living trust is signed, you transfer your assets into the trust and remain in complete control of your property. Revocable living trusts can be altered, amended or terminated by the trust creator at any time.
If you’re married, you can create a joint trust with your spouse, but you will each need separate “pour-over” wills, which ensures anything not transferred to the trust, such as newly acquired assets, are automatically transferred to your trust after you pass away. Pour-over wills are included in your GoodTrust plan at no extra cost.
The process of creating your trust with GoodTrust is similar to creating a will, with an additional step of funding your trust after finalized documents are uploaded into your Digital Vault. This involves physically changing the titles of your assets to the name of the trust, and GoodTrust will walk you through each step of the process.
Advance Health Care Directive
An advance health care directive is the part of an estate plan that allows you to outline your preferences for medical care in the event of an emergency, including what types of care you’re comfortable with and when to end treatments. You can also enter your preferred physician’s contact information and designate a health agent to carry out the directive on your behalf.
This process takes about 15 minutes with GoodTrust. Once your forms are signed and notarized, you can upload to your Digital Vault as part of your estate planning profile.
Funeral Directive
A funeral directive lets you choose what happens to your body and how your life should be celebrated after you pass away. This can be as specific as you want, including all of the details of your funeral service. Deciding these details ahead of time takes the burden off your family members and gives peace of mind that your wishes are carried out how you specify.
This directive takes less than 15 minutes to complete, and your finalized document can be uploaded to your Digital Vault along with your other estate planning documents.
Durable Financial Power of Attorney
This legal document is part of a will-based estate plan, and it allows you to decide how your finances should be managed if you’re not able to.
The process of creating a durable financial power of attorney is quick and easy. First, you’ll choose an agent to look after your finances if you become incapacitated, then you’ll decide what financial tasks you want them to be responsible for, like filing your taxes or paying medical bills. Once you print and sign your document, upload it to your Digital Vault to keep it secure along with your other estate planning documents. Like the other legal documents in an estate plan, requirements for signatures and form renewal differ from state to state; GoodTrust will provide guidance to help you stay compliant.
Pet Directive
Finally, a pet directive allows you to include information about your pet and your preferences for their care after you pass away. Unlike the other directives we’ve discussed, pet directives are not legally binding documents. But they can help pet owners leave specific, detailed instructions for how they want their pets to be cared for.
This process takes about five minutes with GoodTrust. You’ll provide your preference for pet guardian, vet care and more. Once complete, you can print copies for yourself and your designated pet guardian, and upload the finalized doc to your Digital Vault for safekeeping.
Pricing & Preparation
GoodTrust offers approachable, flat-rate pricing for their estate planning services. Their Estate+ Plan is a one-time fee of $149 and includes unlimited updates to your will for a year, access to your Digital Vault and creation of a funeral directive, pet directive, power of attorney, revocable living trust and a last will and testament.
After the first year, an estate planning services membership costs $39 per year. Although you can still access your will, you won’t be able to make updates, download your documents or create new documents unless you are a member. However, you can cancel your membership at any time, and re-subscribe when you need to make changes.
Once your estate plan is created on the GoodTrust platform, you will need to take the steps to legalize your documents. This process varies from state to state, and GoodTrust provides information and instructions to help guide you through this step.
