{"id":297120,"date":"2026-05-12T21:07:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T15:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/?p=297120"},"modified":"2026-05-12T21:07:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T15:37:10","slug":"what-is-the-role-of-an-estate-planner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/what-is-the-role-of-an-estate-planner\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Role of an Estate Planner and Do You Need One?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#what-is-an-estate-planner\">What Is an Estate Planner?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-an-estate-planner-actually-does\">What an Estate Planner Actually Does<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#estate-planner-vs-estate-attorney-what-is-the-difference\">Estate Planner vs Estate Attorney: What Is the Difference?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-an-estate-plan-actually-includes\">What an Estate Plan Actually Includes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#do-you-actually-need-to-hire-an-estate-planner\">Do You Actually Need to Hire an Estate Planner?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#when-you-should-hire-an-estate-planning-attorney\">When You Should Hire an Estate Planning Attorney<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#when-a-guided-online-platform-is-enough\">When a Guided Online Platform Is Enough<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#how-much-does-an-estate-planning-attorney-cost\">How Much Does an Estate Planning Attorney Cost?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#questions-to-ask-before-hiring-an-estate-planner\">Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Estate Planner<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#where-beem-fits\">Where Beem Fits<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#fa-qs-what-is-the-role-of-an-estate-planner-and-do-you-need-one\">FAQs: What Is the Role of an Estate Planner and Do You Need One?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1778599556909\">Is an estate planner the same as an estate attorney?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1778599563603\">Can I do my own estate planning without hiring a professional?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1778599569165\">How much does estate planning cost without an attorney?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1778599573859\">When is an estate planning attorney necessary?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq-question-1778599580096\">How do I find a qualified estate planning attorney in my state?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An estate planner helps you create, organize, and maintain the legal documents that determine what happens to your assets and your family when you die or become incapacitated. Whether you need to hire one depends on how complex your estate is, not how much money you have. For straightforward situations, a guided online platform handles the essentials well. For complex estates, professional guidance is worth every dollar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-an-estate-planner\">What Is an Estate Planner?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The term estate planner gets used loosely and often interchangeably with estate planning attorney, which creates confusion about who does what and what you actually need. An estate planner is anyone who helps an individual prepare documents and strategies to transfer and protect assets during life and at death. That definition is broad by design because professionals of multiple types can fill the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An estate planning attorney is the legal version of the role. They are licensed lawyers who draft legally enforceable documents, advise on state and federal estate law, and can represent the estate in court if a dispute arises.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A financial advisor may also serve as an estate planner by reviewing beneficiary designations, coordinating life insurance, and ensuring the investment side of the estate aligns with the distribution plan. A CPA may handle the tax strategy component. On a complex estate, all three professionals often work together with the attorney leading the document creation and the others advising on their respective areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The important distinction is this: only a licensed attorney can draft legally enforceable estate planning documents and give legal advice in most states. Anyone else offering guidance on what to include in a will or how to structure a trust is providing general guidance, not legal representation. Knowing this helps you understand exactly what you are paying for when you hire each type of professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/do-i-need-an-attorney-for-estate-planning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Do I Need an Attorney for Estate Planning?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-an-estate-planner-actually-does\">What an Estate Planner Actually Does<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The core of an estate planner&#8217;s job is helping you answer a set of fundamental questions about your life: who receives your assets, who manages your affairs if you cannot, who raises your children if you are not there, and how your wishes are legally documented so they are carried out. The documents that come out of that process form your estate plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In practice, working with an estate planner involves reviewing what you own, identifying how each asset is titled, discussing who should receive each asset and under what conditions, and selecting the right people for the key roles in your plan. The planner then drafts or helps create the following documents: a last will; a revocable or irrevocable living trust, depending on the situation; a durable power of attorney; a healthcare directive and medical power of attorney; and a letter of instruction for the executor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond document creation, a good estate planner reviews your beneficiary designations across all retirement accounts and <a href=\"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/how-life-insurance-policies-are-taxed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">life insurance policies<\/a> to make sure they align with the overall plan. They advise on how assets should be titled to work with the trust and avoid probate.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They provide funding instructions so the trust is not left empty after signing. And they flag situations where a more complex strategy, like an irrevocable trust for asset protection or a special needs trust for a dependent, is warranted. In short, an estate planner connects the legal documents to the full picture of your financial life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"estate-planner-vs-estate-attorney-what-is-the-difference\">Estate Planner vs Estate Attorney: What Is the Difference?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The terms overlap enough to cause real confusion, and it is worth separating them clearly. An estate planner has a broader role. It describes anyone helping with the strategy and organization of asset transfer and protection. An estate attorney is a licensed lawyer who has the authority to draft enforceable documents and advise on the law governing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A financial advisor who reviews your beneficiary designations and suggests increasing your life insurance is doing estate planning work. They are not acting as an estate attorney. They cannot draft your will or advise you on whether your trust is legally structured for your state. For that, you need a licensed attorney.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many comprehensive estate plans are built by a team in which a financial advisor or planner coordinates the big picture, and an attorney handles the <a href=\"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/what-documents-are-needed-for-estate-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">legal documents<\/a>. Neither role replaces the other. Understanding the difference helps you build the right team and avoid paying attorney rates for work that a financial planner can do, or relying on a non-attorney advisor for tasks that legally require a licensed lawyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-an-estate-plan-actually-includes\">What an Estate Plan Actually Includes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An estate planner, whether an attorney, an online platform, or a combination, helps produce a specific set of documents. Knowing what belongs in a complete plan tells you what to expect and what to ask about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Last will:<\/strong> Names beneficiaries, appoints an executor, and nominates a guardian for minor children<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Revocable or irrevocable living trust:<\/strong> Holds and transfers assets without probate. The type depends on whether flexibility or asset protection is the priority.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Durable power of attorney:<\/strong> Names someone to manage finances and legal matters if you are incapacitated<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Healthcare directive and medical power of attorney:<\/strong> States medical wishes and names a healthcare agent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Beneficiary designation review:<\/strong> Confirms retirement accounts and life insurance align with the overall plan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Trust funding instructions and Schedule A:<\/strong> Lists assets to be transferred into the trust and explains how to retitle them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Letter of instruction:<\/strong> A non-legal document giving the executor practical guidance on accounts, passwords, and wishes not covered in the will.l<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A complete estate plan covers all of these. A plan that only includes a will is incomplete and leaves significant gaps in protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/what-are-the-key-components-of-an-estate-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What Are the Key Components of an Estate Plan?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"do-you-actually-need-to-hire-an-estate-planner\">Do You Actually Need to Hire an Estate Planner?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the question most people are actually asking when they research estate planning, and the honest answer is: it depends on the complexity of your estate, not its size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no law requiring professional involvement in estate planning. A properly signed and witnessed will created through a reputable online platform is just as legally valid as one drafted by an attorney. The question is not whether a DIY document is legal. The question is whether your situation is simple enough that a guided platform covers all the ground you need, or complex enough that getting it wrong has consequences no document template can prevent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For simple estates, one or two properties, a spouse and children as straightforward beneficiaries, no business interests, and no major tax exposure, a well-designed online platform creates valid, attorney-approved documents at a fraction of the cost.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For complex estates, involving a business with partners, a <a href=\"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/handle-estate-planning-for-blended-families\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">blended family<\/a> with children from multiple relationships, a dependent with special needs, significant assets approaching estate tax thresholds, property in multiple states, or a family member likely to challenge the will, professional guidance is not optional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cost of getting it wrong in those situations far exceeds any attorney&#8217;s fee. The decision is fundamentally about complexity, not wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"when-you-should-hire-an-estate-planning-attorney\">When You Should Hire an Estate Planning Attorney<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some situations are clear signals that professional legal involvement is worth the cost. If any of the following apply, an estate planning attorney is the right call:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You own a business with partners, an LLC structure, or significant business assets that need to be transferred correctly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You have a blended family with children from multiple relationships, where inheritance and guardian rights need careful structuring.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You have a dependent with a disability who receives SSI or Medicaid and requires a special needs trust to protect benefit eligibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your estate may be subject to federal estate taxes, which apply above $13.61 million per individual in 2024, or state estate taxes, which have lower thresholds in several states.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You own real estate in more than one state, which creates multi-jurisdictional probate exposure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You have reason to believe a family member will contest the will after your death. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You are pursuing Medicaid planning for long-term care and need an irrevocable trust that complies with the five-year look-back rules.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In these situations, the documents need to be right the first time. A licensed estate planning attorney brings the legal knowledge to anticipate and close the gaps that general templates cannot address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"when-a-guided-online-platform-is-enough\">When a Guided Online Platform Is Enough<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For the majority of American households, the complexity that requires an attorney does not exist. A guided online platform that generates attorney-approved, state-specific documents is genuinely sufficient in the following situations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Single individuals or married couples with clear, straightforward asset distribution<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parents whose primary need is a will, a guardian nomination for minor children, and healthcare directives<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Anyone creating an initial estate plan to get basic protection in place quickly, ly while deciding whether more planning is needed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>People with a single property, standard financial accounts, and no business interests or complex family dynamics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The key requirement is using a platform that produces state-specific, attorney-approved documents and provides clear guidance on signing and witnessing requirements. A generic template downloaded without state formatting is a different thing entirely. A properly structured online platform like GoodTrust, accessible through Beem, produces documents equivalent to those of a basic estate planning engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/what-documents-are-needed-for-estate-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What Documents Should Be Included in Your Estate Plan?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-much-does-an-estate-planning-attorney-cost\">How Much Does an Estate Planning Attorney Cost?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cost is one of the primary reasons most Americans have no estate plan. Understanding what professional services actually cost helps frame where the value is and where it is not necessary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Basic will only be:<\/strong> $300 to $600, depending on the state and attorney<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Will and trust package:<\/strong> $1,000 to $3,000 for a standard complete plan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Complex estate with business or tax planning:<\/strong> $3,500 to $10,000 or more<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hourly rate:<\/strong> $200 to $500 per hour, depending on location and specialization<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Online platform as comparison:<\/strong> $99 to $500 for a standalone package, or included in a Beem membership starting at $3.99 per month with no per-document fees<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The cost gap is significant for straightforward estates. A family that pays $3.99 a month for Beem and creates their will, trust, and healthcare directives through GoodTrust pays less in a year than a single attorney consultation hour.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For complex estates where professional guidance is genuinely needed, that attorney&#8217;s fee is the right investment because the cost of a poorly structured plan is measured in probate delays, lost assets, and family conflict rather than dollars paid upfront.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"questions-to-ask-before-hiring-an-estate-planner\">Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Estate Planner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you decide professional help is right for your situation, these questions sharpen the process and protect against vague engagements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Are you a licensed attorney in my state, or are you acting in a financial advisory capacity?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do you specialize in estate planning, or is it one part of a broader general practice?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is included in your flat fee, and what triggers additional hourly charges?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How do you handle document updates after a major life event, such as a divorce or a new child?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Will you review my existing documents, or will you only create new ones from scratch?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How do you handle trust funding after the documents are signed?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Who in your office will actually draft my documents and review them for accuracy?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A qualified estate planning attorney answers all of these clearly and up front. Vague answers about fees, scope, or who actually does the work are worth pushing back on before signing any engagement letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"where-beem-fits\">Where Beem Fits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For the majority of American families who need a solid, legally valid estate plan without the complexity that requires an attorney, Beem at trybeem.com connects members directly to GoodTrust&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/will-and-trust-planning\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">estate planning<\/a> platform. GoodTrust creates attorney-approved, state-specific wills, trusts, healthcare directives, and powers of attorney for all 50 states.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The platform guides through every decision in plain language, produces correctly formatted documents, and stores everything in a secure digital vault. Every Beem membership plan starting at $3.99 a month includes unlimited access to GoodTrust with no per-document fees and no limits on revisions. For the situations where professional legal guidance is genuinely needed, Beem&#8217;s platform still provides a strong starting point that reduces the time and cost of a professional engagement by handling the groundwork first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An estate planner connects your wishes to legally enforceable documents before circumstances decide for you. Whether that planner is a licensed estate planning attorney, a financial advisor working alongside one, or a well-designed online platform depends entirely on the complexity of your estate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For straightforward situations, professional involvement is a cost that does not deliver proportional value. For complex ones, it is exactly the opposite. The most expensive estate planning decision most American families make is not hiring the wrong professional. It is hiring no one, doing nothing, and leaving the outcome to a probate court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Create your personalized, attorney-approved wills, trusts, and healthcare directives in minutes using Beem. <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.useline.line\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><u>Download the app now<\/u><\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fa-qs-what-is-the-role-of-an-estate-planner-and-do-you-need-one\">FAQs: What Is the Role of an Estate Planner and Do You Need One?<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1778599556909\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h2 class=\"rank-math-question \">Is an estate planner the same as an estate attorney?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Not necessarily. An estate planner is a broad term for anyone who helps organize and prepare estate documents and strategies. An estate planning attorney is a licensed lawyer who drafts legally enforceable documents and provides legal advice. Only an attorney can give legal advice and draft binding documents in most states.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1778599563603\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h2 class=\"rank-math-question \">Can I do my own estate planning without hiring a professional?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes, for straightforward estates. Online platforms like GoodTrust, accessible through a Beem membership, create attorney-approved and state-specific documents without requiring direct professional involvement. Signing and witnessing requirements must still be followed correctly.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1778599569165\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h2 class=\"rank-math-question \">How much does estate planning cost without an attorney?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Online platforms typically charge $99 to $500 for a complete package. Beem includes unlimited GoodTrust estate planning documents with every membership plan starting at $3.99 per month, with no per-document fees and no revision limits.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1778599573859\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h2 class=\"rank-math-question \">When is an estate planning attorney necessary?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Business ownership, blended families, special needs dependents, property in multiple states, estate tax exposure, and contested will situations all call for professional legal guidance. The complexity of the estate determines the need, not the dollar value of the assets.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1778599580096\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h2 class=\"rank-math-question \">How do I find a qualified estate planning attorney in my state?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>State bar association directories are the most reliable starting point. Look for attorneys who list estate planning and elder law as primary practice areas rather than general practitioners who handle it occasionally. Ask about flat fee structures upfront before committing to hourly billing.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An estate planner helps you create, organize, and maintain the legal documents that determine what happens to your assets and your family when you die or become incapacitated. Whether you need to hire one depends on how complex your estate is, not how much money you have. For straightforward situations, a guided online platform handles [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":72,"featured_media":297185,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3819],"tags":[4790,19697,107],"edited-by":[],"class_list":["post-297120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wellness","tag-beem","tag-estate-planner","tag-financial-planning"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/72"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=297120"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297120\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":297188,"href":"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297120\/revisions\/297188"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/297185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=297120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=297120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=297120"},{"taxonomy":"edited-by","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trybeem.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/edited-by?post=297120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}