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A Health Care Proxy is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf if you're unable to speak for yourself due to illness or injury. This person—called your health care agent—steps in when you’re unconscious, mentally incapacitated, or otherwise unable to communicate your wishes.

A Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) is a legal document that gives someone else (your "agent" or "attorney-in-fact") the authority to act on your behalf if you become mentally or physically unable to handle your own affairs. The word “durable” means it stays in effect even if you become incapacitated.

A Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives someone you trust the authority to act on your behalf in financial, legal, or medical matters—either temporarily or permanently. This trusted person is called your “agent” or “attorney-in-fact”

Probate is the legal process by which a deceased person’s will is validated, and their assets are distributed to heirs and beneficiaries. If there’s no will, the court appoints an administrator and distributes the assets according to state law.

Inheritance refers to the money, property, or assets that a person leaves to their heirs when they pass away. It’s often distributed according to the instructions in a will or through state laws if no will exists.

A beneficiary is a person (or entity) who is legally entitled to receive money, property, or other benefits from a financial product, legal agreement, or estate after someone dies or when certain conditions are met.

An executor is the person named in your will to manage your estate after you pass away. Their job? Handle your final financial affairs—think debts, taxes, and dividing up your assets to the people (or causes) you care about.

Your estate is everything you own at the time of your death—your money, property, investments, life insurance (sometimes), personal belongings, and even your debts.