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Prepare to Meet with Estate Planning Lawyer
It is advisable that you seek the counsel of an experienced estate planning attorney to help you through the process of making an estate plan. In order to do the best possible job on your behalf, your attorney needs information about you, your assets, and your estate planning goals. At your first meeting with your attorney, you should be prepared to provide, as applicable, the following information:
NAMES AND ADDRESSES
Name(s):________________ Date of Birth: ________
________________ Date of Birth: ________
Mailing Address: _______________________________
________________________________________________
Telephone Nos.: (Work)_________ (Home)________
(Mobile)_________________
E-mail Address: ________________________
ESTATE PLAN
Do you have an existing Will(s)? [] Yes [] No
(If yes, provide your attorney with a
copy)
FAMILY INFORMATION
Marital Status:
[] Husband and Wife
[] Unmarried, Widow or Widower
[] Unmarried, Divorced
[] Married Person Establishing
Separate Trust
Children:
Indicate Whether
Date of Adopted or from a
Name Birth Previous Marriage
_______________ _________ ________________
_______________ _________ ________________
_______________ _________ ________________
_______________ _________ ________________
_______________ _________ ________________
Any deceased children? [] Yes [] No
If Yes, Name of Deceased Child:_________________
Did this deceased child leave any children?
[] Yes [] No
Name of Deceased Child:_________________________
Did this deceased child leave any children?
[] Yes [] No
Have any children received an advance on their
inheritance or are any children financially
indebted to you? [] Yes [] No
Is there any reason to treat your children other
than equally?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Are any of the children financially
irresponsible? [] Yes [] No
Are any of the children under a disability?
[] Yes [] No
Have you been married previously?
[] Yes [] No
If any child should predecease a parent,
should his/her share pass through to his/her
children? [] Yes [] No
If Yes to the above, please indicate
grandchildren, if any:
Name Date of Birth Parents
In the event of your death, who should be
guardian of your minor children? (a guardian has
physical and legal control over your children
until they reach the age of eighteen)
First choice:
Name(s): _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
________________________________________________
Relationship (if any):
________________________________________
Second choice:
Name(s): _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
________________________________________________
Relationship (if any):
________________________________________
Other Pertinent Family Information or
Explanation of Above Items:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
TRUST
Do you wish to have a trust established for the
benefit of your spouse and/or children?
[] Yes [] No
If yes to the above, please indicate who the
trustee(s) should be. (A trustee manages the
assets for your children or other beneficiaries
until they reach specified ages. If you do not
establish a trust, children inherit at age
eighteen. You may name an individual, bank or
trust company, or both.)
First choice:
Name(s): _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
________________________________________________
Alternate trustee:
Name(s): _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
________________________________________________
Terms of distribution (education, marriage,
etc.) __________________________________________
Ages(s) for distribution to children from the
trust (Ex.: 1/3 at age twenty-one, 1/3 at age
twenty-five, 1/3 at age thirty) ________________
________________________________________________
PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Who should be Personal Representative
("executor") of your estate? (A Personal
Representative is responsible for probating your
will, paying your debts, collecting your assets,
and settling your estate.)
First choice (Spouse is normally named first):
________________________________________________
Alternate:
Name:
________________________________________________
Address:
________________________________________________
Second Alternate:
Name:
________________________________________________
Address:
________________________________________________
SPECIFIC BEQUESTS
Do you wish to make reference in your will to a
separate list of any specific bequests of items
of personal property that you wish to give to
children or others? The advantage of such a list
is that it may be changed without changing your
will. [] Yes [] No
Do you wish to make any charitable bequests?
[]Yes [] No
Do you have a safe deposit box? If so, where?
________________________________________________
Does anyone else have access to your box?
________________________________________________
OTHER ESTATE PLANNING TOOLS
Are you interested in preparing a Power of
Attorney granting another person the power to
act on your behalf to manage your assets and pay
your bills if you become incompetent or unable
to sign your name? []Yes [] No
Are you interested in preparing a Health Care
Declaration ("Living Will") stating your
preference for health care if you are in a
terminal condition? []Yes [] No
If you are executing a Living Will or Health
Care Declaration, please give your primary
physician's name and address: __________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Do you have any special requests regarding
funeral or burial instructions or organ
donation? If so, this is best handled by a
Letter of Instruction or other statement from
your will to your family or other responsible
person. []Yes [] No
Do you have a financial planner, investment
advisor, or insurance agent? []Yes [] No
If Yes to the above, please give name and
address: ____________________________________
________________________________________________
INFORMATION REGARDING ASSETS
Married Couples:
[] Husband has separate assets.
[] Wife has separate assets.
[] All assets are held jointly.
1. Estimated net worth of estate: $____________
2. Cash or cash-equivalent accounts held at
financial institutions:
[] Checking and savings accounts, or
certificates of deposit, with banks,
savings and loans, or credit unions. How
many different financial institutions?
_________________________________________
3. Investments (check all that apply):
[] Cash or money fund accounts, or
certificates of deposit with stock broker
firms. How many different broker firms?
________________________________________
[] Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds where
your broker holds the certificates and
sends you periodic statements showing
your account balance. How many different
stock brokerage firms? __________
[] Mutual funds where you deal directly with
the issuing company rather than through
your stock broker. How many different
mutual fund companies? _______________
[] Stocks and bonds (other than U. S.
Savings Bonds) where you hold the
certificates in your possession. How many
different companies/issuers?____________
[] U. S. Savings Bonds.
[] Treasury bills or other government
securities.
[] Limited partnerships. How many limited
partnerships?_______
[] Oil and gas royalty or working interests.
How many?________
[] Oil and gas mineral rights in land. How
many parcels of land?______
[] Other securities [describe]______________
___________________________________________
4. Retirement plans:
[] Individual retirement accounts (IRAs),
Keogh, or other individual plans providing
tax deferment for deposits and income. How
many different financial institutions hold
IRA accounts for:
Husband_______ Wife______
[] Employer-provided profit sharing,
retirement, or other benefit plans. How
many different plans for:
Husband_______ Wife_______
5. Complete this section if you own real estate.
[] Personal residence located in state of
___________________
[] Other property. How many different parcels
of real estate do you own, other than your
personal residence? _____________
In what state(s) are these parcels
located?_______________
Are you purchasing any of the above
properties on a contract for deed?
[] Yes [] No.
If Yes, provide details: ________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
6. Complete this section if you are engaged in
business.
Do you own a business, or are you a partner
in a business? [] Yes [] No
If Yes, complete the following:
[] Business is organized as a corporation.
How many corporations? _______
How many corporations are subchapter S
corporations?_______
[] Business is organized as a partnership.
How many partnerships?________
[] Business is a sole proprietorship. How
many different firms?__________
7. Receivables: If any money is owed to you, as
payments on contracts, where you have sold a
business, as payments on obligations secured by
real estate, or where you have loaned money
to someone and you hold a note, indicate each
type of indebtedness that you hold.
[] Promissory note(s) secured by real estate.
Amount(s) owed:____________
[] Installment contract(s) of sale of
personal property. Amount(s) owed:_______
[] Unsecured promissory note(s). Amount(s)
owed:_____________
8. Life Insurance Policies: Please indicate the
name of the person insured, the name of the
insurance company, the face amount of the
policy, and the type of policy.
Name of Insurance Face Type of
Insured Company Amount Policy
___________ ______________ ________ _________
___________ ______________ ________ _________
___________ ______________ ________ _________
___________ ______________ ________ _________
9. Annuities: Please indicate the name of the
annuitant and the type of annuity. Do not list
annuities under which no benefits are payable
after the death of the annuitant.
Regular annuities payable for guaranteed
minimum term or amount:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Tax-deferred annuities:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
10. Personal property other than automobiles,
trucks, boats, and trailers:
[] Household furniture and appliances
[] Collections, art, antiques, valuable
jewelry
[] Automobiles
[] Boats
[] Recreational vehicles
[] Motor home
[] Business machinery and equipment
[] Personal equipment and tools
[] Farm or ranch machinery and equipment
(other than general tools)
[] Livestock
QUESTIONS
(Make a list of pertinent questions to ask your
attorney)
FAQs
- How can I find a lawyer to help me plan my estate and write any necessary documents?
- Why can't I just use a book, or one of those computerized "will kits" I've seen in bookstores and do it myself?
- Why should I go to the trouble of planning my estate and writing a will?
- Isn't a will all I need?
- If I use a lawyer, how much should I expect to pay?
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