Estate Planning Checklist

Things to bring with you when you visit an attorney to plan your estate:

1. 1. Personal Information
      1. Address, phone numbers, email address, social security number, date and place of birth, citizenship, marital status, previous marriages.
      2. Same information for spouse, if applicable.
      3. Name, date of birth and address of each child, and whether: natural, step or adopted.
      4. Name, date of birth and address of other individuals important to your estate plan, (e.g., grandchildren, siblings, friends, parents).
      5. Information about possible inheritances, if known.
      6. Charities you may wish to receive a gift from your estate.
      7. Name, address, phone number of the individual(s) whom you will name as your power of attorney to make financial and/or medical decisions in the event of your incapacity.
      8. Name, address, phone number of the individual whom you wish to act as your Personal Representative (executor of your estate), including an alternate designee.
      9. Name, address, phone number of the individual whom you wish to act as the guardian of your dependent children, if appropriate.
      10. Name, address, phone number of any closely related individuals you may wish to exclude from your estate.
      11. Optional: Burial, funeral wishes.
   2. Financial Information and Assets
      1. List of you and your spouse’s income sources (pensions, dividends, interest, rental income, employment, social security, etc.)
      2. Legal descriptions, addresses, title status, value and lien balances, if any, of real property you and/or your spouse own.
      3. A list of the securities accounts, numbers and names on the accounts (or a list of the companies, numbers of shares or bonds) and estimated value of all such securities.
      4. A list of the banks (including addresses and phone numbers), types of and names on the accounts, and estimated balances.
      5. A list of IRAs and 401(k)s and any other Qualified Plans, including the name and address of the institution, the owner of the plan, the beneficiaries, and the current value in your account.
      6. A list of vehicles you own, including the year, make, model, how titled, and any loan information.
      7. A list of your life insurance policies or annuities, including the policy number, the type of policy, cash value and beneficiary.
      8. A list of any other substantial assets such as valuable art work, jewelry, coins, collections of value, etc. including their estimated value.
   3. Liabilities
      1. A list of all credit cards and any debt associated with the card.
      2. A list of all lenders, terms of loans and any balances.
      3. A list of any other obligations, including loans from family members, pending uninsured litigation and outstanding guarantees.
   4. Other documents to bring
      1. Your existing will(s) and trust document(s), if any.
      2. Copies of deeds to any real estate you own.
      3. Copies of insurance policies or annuities.
      4. Any other documents that you deem relevant or have questions about.