Let’s be real for a second. Nobody actually wants to sit around on a Saturday afternoon thinking about what happens if they get hit by a bus. It’s depressing. It’s morbid. And honestly, it feels like one of those "I'll get to it next year" tasks that somehow stays on the to-do list for a decade.
But here’s the thing Suze Orman has been shouting from the rooftops for years: if you don’t have your paperwork in order, you aren’t just leaving a mess behind—you’re leaving your family in a cage match with the court system.
We’ve all heard of a Will. It’s the classic. The "who gets the cat and the china" document. But if you’ve followed Suze for any length of time, you know she thinks a Will is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, relying only on a Will is one of the biggest mistakes she sees people make.
Why? Because a Will only works when you’re dead. It does absolutely nothing for you if you’re alive but incapacitated. That's where the must have documents suze orman recommends come into play. It’s a specific "Big Four" (sometimes called the Big Five) set of legal tools designed to protect you while you’re still breathing and simplify things when you aren’t.
📖 Related: Don Peebles Net Worth: Why the Real Numbers Might Surprise You
The Big Four: What’s Actually in the Kit?
Suze’s philosophy is basically built on four pillars. You can get these through her "Must Have Documents" online program—which, by the way, has been a staple of her brand for years—or you can have a lawyer draft them. Either way, the "what" doesn't change.
1. The Revocable Living Trust
This is Suze’s favorite. She talks about it more than almost anything else. Most people think trusts are just for the "Monopoly Man" types with monocles and private jets.
Wrong.
A Revocable Living Trust is basically a bucket. You put your house, your bank accounts, and your big assets into this bucket. You still own them. You still control them. But when you pass away, the bucket goes directly to your heirs without going through probate.
Probate is the public, expensive, and painfully slow court process of proving a Will. It can take months. It can eat up 3% to 8% of your estate in fees. A trust bypasses all that. It’s private, it’s fast, and it keeps the lawyers’ hands out of your pocket.
2. The Will (But Not the Kind You Think)
Wait, didn't I just say a trust is better? Yeah, but you still need a Will. Suze calls this a "Pour-Over Will."
Its job is simple: it catches anything you forgot to put in the trust and "pours" it in after you die. More importantly, a Will is the only place where you can name a guardian for your minor children. You can't do that in a trust. If you have kids under 18, this is non-negotiable.
👉 See also: Convert USD to TT Dollar: Why the Bank Rate Isn't What You Actually Pay
3. Financial Durable Power of Attorney
Imagine you’re in a car accident. You’re alive, but you’re in a coma. Who pays your mortgage? Who talks to your credit card company?
If you haven't signed a Financial Durable Power of Attorney, your spouse or kids might actually have to go to court to get "guardianship" just to touch your bank account. It’s a nightmare. This document gives someone you trust the legal right to handle your money when you can’t.
4. Advance Directive & Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
These two are often bundled together.
- The Advance Directive (or Living Will) tells the doctors exactly what you want: "Yes, keep me on life support," or "No, let me go."
- The Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare names the person who makes the decisions that aren't written down.
Suze often says this is the most important document of all because it’s about your dignity. It's about making sure your sister doesn't have to guess whether you'd want a feeding tube while she's standing in a hospital hallway crying.
Why a Will Alone Is a Dangerous Bet
You've probably heard someone say, "I have a Will, I'm fine."
Honestly, that’s a gamble.
A Will is essentially a letter to a judge. It says, "Hey Judge, here is what I want to happen." The judge then has to oversee the process. In states like California or Florida, probate is notorious for being a "lawyer’s retirement fund."
If you only have a Will, your family has to wait for the court to grant permission to move money or sell a house. With a Revocable Living Trust, your successor trustee (the person you pick) can often start handling things within days. No judge. No public records for the neighbors to snoop through.
The 2026 Reality: Digital vs. Paper
We’re living in a world where "paperwork" isn't always paper. Suze’s current system is almost entirely digital. You fill out a questionnaire, it generates the forms based on your state’s specific laws (because a trust in Texas looks different than one in New York), and then you print them out.
Crucial Step: You still have to sign them. You still have to notarize them.
A common "fail" Suze mentions is people buying the kit, filling it out, and then leaving the documents on their hard drive. If it isn't signed, witnessed, and notarized, it’s just a digital scrap of paper. It won't hold up in court.
Also, you have to fund the trust. This is the part people miss. You have to actually change the title of your home from "John Doe" to "John Doe, Trustee of the John Doe Revocable Trust." If the house isn't in the trust, the trust can't protect it.
👉 See also: Lulu Bang Net Worth: Why This Shark Tank Brand Is Still Kicking
Is the "Suze Kit" Worth It?
You can find the "Must Have Documents" program online for around $100–$150 depending on the current promo.
Is it better than a $3,000 lawyer?
It depends. If you have a straightforward life—one house, some savings, a few kids—the DIY route is usually fine. Suze’s documents are drafted by top-tier attorneys.
But if you have a child with special needs who requires a specific type of trust, or if you’re trying to dodge massive estate taxes on a $20 million fortune, go see a human lawyer. The kit is great for the "everyman," but it isn't a substitute for complex legal advice.
Common Misconceptions That Mess People Up
- "I'm too young." If you're over 18, you need at least the Power of Attorney and Healthcare documents.
- "My spouse automatically gets everything." Not always. Without a Will or Trust, state law decides. Sometimes that means your estranged parents get a cut of your house.
- "The bank will just let my kids in." Nope. Banks are terrified of lawsuits. Without that Power of Attorney, they’ll freeze your accounts the second they hear you’re incapacitated.
Steps You Can Take Right Now
Stop overthinking it. You don't need to finish everything today, but you do need to start.
- Inventory your stuff. Write down your bank accounts, your retirement funds, and your property.
- Check your beneficiaries. Look at your 401(k) or Life Insurance. Those "beneficiary designations" actually override a Will. If your ex-spouse is still listed there, they get the money. Period.
- Pick your people. Who is your "Successor Trustee"? Who is your "Healthcare Agent"? Talk to them. Don't surprise them with this responsibility.
- Decide: DIY or Lawyer. If your situation is simple, look into the must have documents suze orman offers. If it’s messy (blended families, business ownership, etc.), book a consultation with an estate attorney.
- Get it Notarized. A document sitting in a drawer without a seal is just a suggestion. Make it legal.
Don't wait for a "wake-up call." Usually, by the time the wake-up call happens, it's too late to sign the papers.