If the only issue were disposing of your property, estate planning would be rather simple. Unfortunately, the federal and local governments subject estates to very complex tax laws. In many cases, extra care must be taken to keep the amount of tax paid as small as legally possible. Also, each state has its own law regarding how property passes at death, and each state's law is slightly different. There is a real concern that some individuals might prey on the elderly and coerce them into preparing fraudulent wills, or that letters or other informal documents could be misconstrued as a will. To avoid the possibility of such a situation, there are a number of stringent requirements as to how a will is executed. These requirements, also called formalities, must be observed for a will to be valid. Finally, there are many other complex issues, such as the guardianship of minors, appointing a health care surrogate decision-maker, and planning for your own incapacity.