For life insurance as long as your brother is the beneficary no will is needed for that part of the estate.
I am not an attorney, but it is my understanding that no matter what the will says-the proceeds from a life insurance policy go to the beneficary.
For bank accounts-put the accounts in your name but list your brother on the account as POD (I think that is rght)
POD-payment on death-your brother presents an official death certificate and the money is transfered to him.
I understand there are forms on line. But if you had an exact list of your possessions and left them all to your brother the will would be pretty simple to do. However, there are issues such as funeral expenses and so forth.
I just had my will updated an the fee was $350.00.
Your advice is EXCELLENT.
POD and your estate gets hit with a gift tax because it was a gift.You dont want any name other than a spouce on any thing.
I am executrix of my dad’s will. He has a prepaid insurance policy for post-death funeral services: it can cover whatever you want - funeral/memorial service, embalming, cremation, burial, etc.
There is much you can do to set things up before hand, so either your brother or whoever is executor of your will, won’t have a lot to do except to assure your last wishes are met.