Save yourself time and money by gathering information before you first meet with your estate planning attorney. Collect the following documents to give your attorney a good picture of your family and financial situation. This information is essential to forming your estate planning goals.   

Document Checklist

Documents important for estate planning include: 

  • Names and addresses of your immediate family members, other beneficiaries, and people you want to serve as executors, trustees and guardians for your children
  • Bank account information, such as balances, account numbers, locations of accounts and safe deposit boxes
  • Pension and retirement account information, including IRAs, Keoghs, profit sharing plans, stock options and government benefits
  • Detailed descriptions of any stocks and bonds owned, and the location where they're stored
  • Insurance policy information, including policy location and beneficiaries, as well as a copy of the actual policy
  • An inventory list of valuable and sentimental personal possessions, including family heirlooms
  • Copies of community property agreements, prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, divorce decrees and any previous wills or will codicils
  • An overall description of your income sources and assets, including real estate
  • Information about any trusts you may have created or benefit from
  • A list of debts you owe, including amounts and to whom they are owed, as well as a list of debts that are owed to you
  • A list of specific "bequests" you want to make in your will, such as "$5,000 to my niece, Tipper"
  • Recent tax returns (from at least the past three or four years)
  • A list of any assets not included above

Jumpstart Your Estate Planning

Print this list and check off the items as collect them. Working through the list will help focus your thinking about the distribution property and other arrangements you'd like to make for your family and heirs at your death.

Bring the documents with you to your first consultation with your attorney. Your attorney will review the information with you and let you know if anything is missing. Coming prepared will allow you and your attorney to dive right in to drafting your will and other estate planning documents.

Questions for Your Attorney

  • How do you charge for your services?
  • How can I reduce the taxes that my beneficiaries will owe after I die?
  • Do you see any potential problems with the bequests I want to make?
  • Have I made all of the necessary arrangements to take care of my young children?
  • How frequently should I update my will?