Four steps anchor the advice: create a will with an estate-planning attorney, consider lifetime gifts, make documents easy to find, and review them regularly.
A properly drafted will can reflect state rules and work with trusts or tax planning, while 2026 gifting limits let individuals give $19,000 per person tax-free, or $38,000 for married couples.
Findability is a practical risk: families often cannot locate the latest will, so the report urges storing it with account lists, adviser contacts and access details for items like safe-deposit boxes.
Regular reviews matter because outdated wills and beneficiary forms can override current wishes; beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and insurance policies supersede the will itself.
The broader aim is to spare relatives time, expense and family conflict after a death by settling possessions, access and inheritance plans in advance.