Arrive prepared. Leave with better questions.
Preparation can make a conversation with an estate-planning attorney more focused. This checklist is a starting point—not a substitute for legal advice or a complete list for every family.
Bring your family, assets, and goals into focus.
A simple inventory gives your attorney a more useful starting point and helps make sure no important account, property interest, or person is overlooked.
Gather information, then prioritize the decisions.
You do not need every answer before meeting an attorney. A clear snapshot of your assets, people, and concerns gives the conversation a useful starting place.
- 1A current list of assets, debts, business interests, and digital accounts
- 2Account titles and beneficiary designations for retirement, insurance, and transfer-on-death accounts
- 3Names and contact details for potential executors, trustees, guardians, agents, and backups
- 4Questions about family circumstances, prior marriages, blended families, dependents, and charitable goals
- 5Existing estate-planning documents and any property agreements
- 6A plan for storing originals and telling the right people how to find them
What documents are appropriate for my family and goals under this state’s laws? How will my assets actually pass at death or incapacity?
What must be done after documents are signed—such as updating titles, beneficiary designations, or records? When should the plan be reviewed?
This material is educational and may not address all relevant issues. Consult a qualified attorney licensed in your state and a tax professional where appropriate.