1. Appoint someone to represent you. Just in case.

    Create a legally binding plan to nominate someone your trust to oversee your plan if something happens to you.

    Create your plan
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Why it matters

  • Avoid confusion and conflicts by appointing someone yourself
  • Leave your plan in the hands of someone you trust

What you can do

  • Designate a legal representative and backups
  • Leave them specific instructions and wishes

A legally binding plan in 5 minutes.
No attorney needed.

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    Start a plan.

    Create a plan covering all the basics in 5 minutes or less. No need to be an expert, Posterity will walk you through everything in plain english.

    Get started
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    Make it official.

    Print and sign the the legal will generated for you to make your plan legally binding. You'll get a new one every time you make a change.

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    Loop everyone in.

    Invite your family and friends to share the roles and arrangements you'd want them to see if something happens to you.

Free 15-day trial, then $29.99/year.

  • Support for a growing list of topics
  • Unlimited sharing with family & friends
  • Unlimited automations
  • Legal documents for all 50 states
  • Manual verification of death certificate
Start Planning
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All the details

Is it different from an executor?

No, an executor and a legal representative are the same thing.

Some states use the term executor, while others prefer legal representative.

What are my options?

This is the most straight-forward option; one person, mentioned by name in your will.

Designate co-representatives

Technically, you can designate additional people to be co-representatives, in which case, they would share their powers and decide together. This is rarely recommended as it complicates decision-making at a time when decisiveness and transparency are highly desirable.

Designate backups

You can nominate backups, in case your primary choice is not able or available when the time comes.

Who can I choose?

You’re free to choose anyone you like, except minors and anyone who’s been convicted of a felony. About 80% of Americans choose a close family member, such as a spouse or an adult child.

It would certainly be more convenient for your legal representative to live relatively close from you, as they’ll be in charge of several tasks and administrative procedures where their physical presence may be required.

If you decide to go with someone that resides in a different state, bear in mind that many states only allow family members as out-of-state legal representatives.

How does it work?

The person you named in your plan will only become your legal representative after a court has officially appointed them as such. For that, they will need to meet all the eligibility criteria detailed above.

Once appointed, they will likely have a broad legal mandate to act on your behalf and always in the interest of your estate and beneficiaries. For example, they will be able to close bank accounts, sell property, hire tax advisors, shut down social media accounts, etc.

How can I help them be successful?

It’s important to put time and effort in setting your legal representative up for success.

When they’re efficient, your estate can be settled faster, for cheaper, and without putting your family under much stress. In other words, their success is yours and your family’s.

There are many things you can do to help them, the most important of which are:

  1. Make sure they know where to find your estate planning documents (e.g. Posterity);
  2. Maintain an inventory of all your assets, debts, financial accounts and valuables;
  3. Inform them of any changes or updates you make to your plan as soon as possible.

No matter how detailed your plan is, there will always be nuances around your wishes and intentions that cannot be captured in writing. This is why being as transparent and open as possible with your legal representative can help them be better prepared to face all situations, and answer any questions they may get from your beneficiaries.