Estate planning, in general, is the process of ensuring your assets and property are distributed according to your wishes in the event of your death. Creating a will or trust, naming beneficiaries and making additional arrangements for your estate are imperative.  A last will and testament, while an antiquated term, is a key piece of your overall plan. This is the most recent and precise version of your will – a record of the decisions you’ve made for your family. Determining the exact intent of your will, prior to your death, can be accomplished with a knowledgeable estate planning attorney like those readily available at Berlin Patten Ebling. We also recommend using an estate planning checklist to initially determine what documents, assets and investments need to be included.