An estate plan that clearly spells out what you want to have happen to your assets and possessions when you die or become incapacitated prevents the state from making those decisions for you. They do this through probate, which can be expensive, time consuming, and public. What estate planning documents do you need? At a minimum, a strong estate plan includes a healthcare power of attorney or proxy, a durable financial power of attorney, a living will, a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) release form, and a last will and testament.