"When there's a discussion about preparing a will, the focus is usually on what's left to give — money, a car, and family heirlooms," said Michelle Singletary at The Washington Post. But you should come up with "an overall estate plan that covers more than your possessions." For instance, if you fall ill and become incapacitated, your living will determines how your treatment should be administered and "what life-prolonging procedures you prefer, if any." When you decide how your assets are dispersed, consider establishing a trust alongside your will to "bypass probate and keep your estate affairs private." Include a personal property memorandum in your will so you get your say in who gets personal items such as paintings and jewelry.
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