Estate planning checklist
Gather what you can.
Bring the questions you still have.
You do not need every account number or every decision before a consultation. This checklist helps you collect the information that can make the conversation more productive.
Preparation guide
Use this as a working list—not a test.
Check what is easy to gather. Make a note beside anything you cannot find or do not understand. Those gaps are useful topics for the consultation.
People and family
- Legal names and contact information for close family members
- Children, stepchildren, and anyone who depends on you
- People you may trust as executor, trustee, agent, or health care representative
- Backup choices if a first choice cannot serve
Existing documents
- Current wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives
- Prenuptial, postnuptial, divorce, or separation agreements that may affect planning
- Business agreements or succession documents
- Any document you no longer understand or believe is out of date
Property and accounts
- Homes, other real estate, and how each property is titled
- Bank, investment, and retirement accounts
- Life insurance and current beneficiary designations
- Business ownership, vehicles, and significant personal property
- Debts, mortgages, and other major obligations
Your wishes
- Who should receive property and whether any gifts need special handling
- Who should administer the estate
- Who should care for minor children if a guardian is needed
- Whether property should be managed over time for a beneficiary
- Charitable gifts or personal items with special meaning
Financial decision-making
- Who should handle financial and legal matters if you cannot
- What authority that person may need
- Who should serve as the backup agent
- Any business, property, benefits, or family responsibilities the agent should understand
Health care decisions
- Who should serve as health care representative and alternate
- Treatment preferences or values you want that person to understand
- Physicians and family members who should receive a copy
- Existing forms that may need review or replacement
Questions for the consultation
- What prompted you to consider planning now?
- What are you most concerned could become confusing or difficult?
- Are there family relationships or special needs the documents should account for?
- Which decisions are you ready to make, and which ones still feel uncertain?
- How soon do you need assistance?
Start with clarity
You do not need to finish the checklist before calling.
A free initial consultation can help you decide what information matters and what can wait until later.