Getting Started FAQs
A guide to our most commonly asked questions for getting started.
Why would I choose to work with Steward over a traditional attorney?
Our platform offers the best of both worlds: best in class technology paired with personalized legal guidance. By combining cutting-edge tools with skilled independent attorneys, we provide a complete estate planning solution tailored to your needs—all at a reasonable cost.
Our technology allows attorneys to focus on what truly matters to you, ensuring your family's future is secure. Our onboarding process is designed to be educational and straightforward, making each step easy to understand.
Unlike most traditional attorneys, we assist in directly transferring assets into your trust, ensuring your estate plan is fully implemented. You can typically connect with an independent partner attorney within 48 hours, and our efficient processes maximize their time—giving you better value.
With a modest annual subscription, our platform also helps keep your estate plan current without the burden of hourly attorney fees. Plus, we're continually adding new features to enhance this subscription in the coming months.
In short, we combine personalized service and expert advice with modern efficiency to deliver a superior estate planning experience for you.
Where is Steward available?
Steward currently provides trust-based estate planning services for residents in more than a dozen states including California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Washington. We are adding more states each month to serve our growing client base. Please feel free to reach out to the Steward Team (support@usesteward.com) to see if we’re in your state yet.
We are expanding quickly! If you're interested in our services but live outside California, you can join our waitlist located on our website homepage and we'll notify you when we become available in your state.
What is estate planning, and why is it important?
Estate planning is more than just writing a Will – it's about creating a comprehensive strategy to protect what matters most to you and your loved ones. Think of it as crafting a roadmap that ensures your wishes are honored and your family is cared for, even when you are no longer here to guide them.
At its heart, estate planning addresses three fundamental questions:
How can you protect and provide for your loved ones?
What happens to your assets and possessions after your death?
Who will make important decisions about your care and finances if you're unable to?
Estate planning becomes important for several key reasons:
Peace of Mind for Your Family - Creating a clear plan helps prevent confusion and potential conflicts among family members during an already emotional time. It gives your loved ones clear guidance and reduces the burden of making difficult decisions under stress.
Protection of Assets - A well-structured estate plan helps preserve your wealth for future generations by potentially reducing taxes, avoiding probate costs, and protecting assets from unexpected claims. It's not just about how much you leave behind – it's about making sure what you've worked for gets to the right people in the most efficient way.
Control Over Healthcare Decisions - Estate planning isn't just about assets – making arrangements for your medical care and appointing someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you become incapacitated is a crucial part of a comprehensive estate plan. . This ensures your wishes are respected if you become unable to communicate them yourself.
Care for Minor Children - If you have minor children, estate planning allows you to name guardians and set up financial arrangements for their care in the event that you (and your spouse) are both deceased at a time when your child is a minor. This provides security and stability for your children's future and ensures your minor children’s safety and wellbeing.
Legacy Building - Beyond the financial aspects, estate planning lets you leave a meaningful legacy. Whether it's supporting causes you care about, preserving family traditions, or passing down values along with assets, your estate plan can reflect what matters most to you.
Remember: Estate planning isn't a one-time event – it's an ongoing process that should evolve as your life circumstances change. Starting early and reviewing your plan regularly helps to ensure that your plan continues to serve your goals and protect those you love.
How does Steward's estate planning process work?
Creating an estate plan with Steward combines simplicity with personalized attention at every step. Here's how our process works:
Onboarding After signing up, you'll connect with your dedicated concierge manager - your white glove support guide throughout the process who's available to answer any non-legal questions. Together, you'll complete our streamlined online questionnaire about your family, assets and goals.
Document Creation and Attorney Review With the information you’ve provided, our technology will carefully craft your trust package based on your specific needs. You'll have the opportunity to review everything with your attorney, ensuring you understand and feel confident about each document. This is your time to ask legal questions and make any necessary adjustments.
Signing Made Simple Once you're satisfied with your documents, we arrange for a notary to meet you with witnesses, making the signing process convenient and stress-free. This essential step transforms your wishes into legally binding documents.
Trust Funding Support We don't just create documents - we help protect your assets. Our team guides you through transferring assets into your trust, ensuring your estate stays protected from probate. This crucial step turns your trust from a legal document into a working financial tool.
Throughout the entire process, we combine modern technology with personal expertise to create an estate plan that truly serves your needs while providing the attention to detail you deserve.
What do I need to think through before the onboarding process?
Before starting your estate planning journey, it's helpful to reflect on key decisions that will shape your plan. Taking time to consider these choices now will create a smoother process and ensure your plan truly reflects your wishes.
Planning for your family's future is a deeply personal journey. While it may feel overwhelming at first, remember that you don't need to have everything figured out right away. We've created a thoughtful resource guide to help you navigate important decisions you'll encounter during the estate planning process.
Some questions in our guide might resonate strongly with your current situation, while others may not apply to your circumstances right now – and that's perfectly fine. Think of this guide as a helpful companion, offering considerations to explore at your own pace. It's designed to spark meaningful reflection about how you want to protect and provide for your loved ones.
As always, our team is here to help you think through these important choices whenever you're ready to begin.
What information will I need to provide during the process?
During our onboarding process, we'll ask you to share essential information that helps us create your personalized estate plan. Here's what you'll need to prepare:
During onboarding, you will need to provide:
Contact Information: Such as email, phone number and addresses for both yourself and those you name in the documents (Trustee, Guardian, Power of attorney and Healthcare Directive).
Family Information: Names and relationships of family members, including spouse, children, and other dependents.
Asset Information: Details about your real estate, bank accounts, investment portfolios, retirement accounts, business interests, and other significant assets.
Personal Representatives: Information about who you would like to appoint as your Trustee, Power of Attorney agent, and Healthcare Agent.
Goals and Preferences: Your wishes for asset distribution, guardianship of minors, and specific instructions for healthcare or financial management.
Remember, you don't need to have every detail perfectly organized before we begin. Our team will guide you through gathering this information step by step, making the process straightforward and stress-free.
What documents are included in my Steward estate plan?
Your estate plan with Steward includes a carefully crafted set of documents that work together to protect you and your loved ones:
Revocable Living Trust: The cornerstone of your estate plan, this flexible document manages your assets during your lifetime while providing clear instructions for their distribution after your passing. A living trust helps your family avoid the time and expense of probate, keeping your affairs private and streamlined.
Schedule of Assets: A comprehensive inventory that clearly identifies which assets are held in your trust, making it easier for your successor trustee to manage your estate.
Pour-Over Will: Think of this as your safety net - it ensures that any assets not already in your trust will still be distributed according to your wishes. It works in harmony with your trust to provide complete protection.
Additional Documents
Power of Attorney: Empowers someone you trust to handle financial and legal matters on your behalf if you're unable to do so. This ensures your affairs continue to be managed smoothly even during unexpected circumstances.
Living Will/Healthcare Directive: Guides your medical care when you need it most by clearly stating your healthcare preferences and naming someone you trust to make medical decisions if you cannot.
HIPAA Authorization: Gives your healthcare agents access to your medical information, enabling them to make informed decisions about your care while protecting your privacy.
Certification of Trust: A simplified version of your trust that allows financial institutions to verify your trust's existence without revealing its private details. This makes it easier to manage trust assets while maintaining confidentiality.
These documents work together as a comprehensive system, providing layers of protection for you and your family while keeping things as straightforward as possible.
