How to Create a Basic Estate Plan in 20 Minutes (Without a Lawyer)

An estate plan is a way to help make sure your wishes are followed related to what happens to your property, money, or even minor children when you’re not around. Normally, you’d want to hire a lawyer to help with this because it can get complicated. But if you’re in a hurry and need something basic right now, here’s how you can put together a bare-bones estate plan in about 20 minutes. Just remember, this is not the best way, and you should really get a lawyer to do it properly when you can.

Step 1: Make a Simple Will

The most important part of an estate plan is the will. A will says who gets your things and who takes care of your kids. Here’s how to make a very basic one:

• Write at the top: “Last Will and Testament of [Your Full Name].”

• Say you’re in your right mind: Write something like, “I am of sound mind and not being forced to make this will.”

• List your stuff and who gets it: For example, “I give my house to my sister Jane, my car to my brother John, and my savings account to my friend Alex.” Or, “I give everything to my wife, Brenda.” Be as clear as you can.

• If you have kids under 18: Say who you want to take care of them. For example, “I appoint my sister Jane as guardian of my children.”

• Choose someone to handle everything: This person is called the executor. They make sure your will is followed. Write, “I appoint my friend Alex as executor.”

• Sign it: At the bottom, put your signature and the date.

• Get two witnesses: Have two capable adults who are not getting anything from your will watch you sign it. Then, they sign it too. To make sure minimum legal requirements are met, everyone should sign one at a time (you first), while everyone not signing at the moment watches whoever is signing at the time.

That’s it for a very basic will. It should take about 15 minutes to write this down if you’ve already thought about who gets what.

Step 2: Think About Other Important Papers (If You Have Time)

If you have a few extra minutes, you can add two other things to your estate plan. These won’t be fancy, but they’re better than nothing:

• Power of Attorney: This lets someone make money decisions for you if you’re too sick or hurt to do it yourself. Write, “I appoint [Trusted Person’s Name] to make financial decisions for me if I can’t.” Don't sign it yet.

• Healthcare Decisions: This says who can make medical choices for you if you’re unable to. You can also say what you want, like, “I appoint [Trusted Person’s Name] to make healthcare decisions for me. I do/do not want to be kept alive by machines if I’m in a coma.” Don't sign it yet.

  
  

• Notarization: When you have time, visit a bank near you to sign these documents in the presence of a notary. In many states, your healthcare power of attorney will not be valid unless it is notarized. Wherever you are, a general power of attorney that is notarized is more likely to be recognized by third parties.  

These handwritten notes might not be official enough to work everywhere, but they can show your wishes until you get proper forms.

Step 3: Store Your Papers Safely

Put your will (and any other notes) somewhere safe, like a locked drawer or a fireproof box. Tell someone you trust where they are so they can find them if something happens to you.

Why This Isn’t the Best Way (Important Warnings)

Now, here’s the big catch: doing your estate plan this way is risky. Here’s why you need to be careful:

• Laws are different in every state. Your will might not count if it doesn’t follow your state’s rules. Laws can also change.

• It’s too simple for big problems. If you have a lot of money, a business, or a tricky family—like stepkids or an ex-spouse—this plan won’t cover everything.

• People might fight over it. If your will isn’t clear, or if it’s informal nature brings it into question, your family or friends could argue about what you meant or whether it’s valid. Third parties are also quite likely to acknowledge their authenticity and legal effect.

• Taxes or legal trouble. A lawyer knows how to avoid extra costs or problems that you might miss.

This quick plan is better than nothing, but it’s like using duct tape to fix a leaky pipe—it might hold for a short time, but you need a real fix soon. You should see a lawyer as soon as you can to make a proper estate plan. This is just a temporary idea for an emergency situation—like the day before you fly to Everest Base Camp—not a substitute for legal help.